WASHINGTON, CITY OF

Buyer Contact:

Will Long, City Administrator, wlong@wga.gov , 706-678-3277

Description

The City of Washington requests Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from professional engineering design firms to provide preliminary engineering, design, permitting, bidding and construction phase services for the City’s upcoming water and sewerage system improvements.

This solicitation regards projects that may receive federal funding. As such, all responding firms should provide an assurance of their familiarity with and willingness to comply with all federal requirements imposed by the funding agency. These regulations include, but are not limited to, Build America Buy America (BABA), American Iron and Steel (AIS), Davis-Bacon and Fair Labor Standards, Byrd Anti-Lobbying requirements, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) non-discrimination requirements. The required format and details for submitting the SOQ may be obtained at the City’s website at wga.gov . Qualification Packages must be sealed, delivered and received by the Clerk's Office and marked SOQ on the outside of the envelope. The SOQs will be received by the City of Washington at 102 E Liberty St. Washington, GA 30673 until 2:00 P.M. EST on Thursday, July 30th , 2026 . Any proposal received after that time and date will not be considered.

NIGP Codes

Code Description

92587 Sewage Collection, Treatment, and Disposal Engineering

92597 Water Supply, Treatment, and Distribution Engineering mailto:wlong@wga.gov

City of Washington (“Owner”)

Request for Qualifications

To Provide

Engineering Services For

Public Infrastructure Improvements

Request for Qualifications

Engineering Services Public Infrastructure Improvements

The City of Washington (“Owner”), is soliciting statements of qualifications from professional engineering firms interested in providing Engineering Services for water, sewer, stormwater and/or other public infrastructure projects. This Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) seeks to identify potential providers of the above- mentioned services. One or more firms that respond to this RFQ and who are determined by the Owner to be especially qualified, may be deemed eligible and may be invited to discuss and negotiate for these services. All respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire RFQ and follow instructions carefully. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all statements of qualifications or proposals and to waive technicalities and informalities at the discretion of the Owner. Please note: The issuance of this RFQ invokes a Restriction of Communication on potential respondents, which, if violated, may result in proposal rejection (See Section 8 for details).

1. General Project Information

Project Description

Under the guidance of the local government, it will be the responsibility of the selected firm to provide initial consultation and evaluation, funding assistance, Preliminary Engineering Reports (PER), final design, construction administration, and observation and close-out services for public infrastructure projects. The expectation is that the selected firm will provide the technical skills necessary for capital improvement or maintenance projects, or evaluate such projects on very short notice, and on an as-needed basis, as determined by the City.

The delivery method for this projects will be a traditional Design-Bid-Build.

Project Goals

It is envisioned that the successful Firm will provide engineering services for:

• WWTP Treatment Plant Upgrades

• Sewer Collection System Improvements

• Water Treatment Plant Upgrades

• Water System Improvements

• Stormwater System Improvements

• Other infrastructure rehabilitation and expansion projects

This solicitation regards projects that may receive federal funding. As such, all responding firms should provide an assurance of their familiarity with and willingness to comply with all federal requirements imposed by the funding agency.

These regulations include, but are not limited to, Build America Buy America (BABA), American Iron and Steel (AIS), Davis- Bacon and Fair Labor Standards, Byrd Anti-Lobbying requirements, and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) non-discrimination requirements.

Project Schedule

The selected firm shall have capacity to begin work immediately as required on project needs. The project schedule for milestones and deliverable will be established by the Owner in consultation with the selected firm and shall be based on project complexity.

2. Engineering Consultant Requirements

• History of firm and resources

• Familiarity with the community

• Key personnel/qualifications

• Proof of licensure

• Current workload and ability to provide proposed services

• Proposed approach, ability, scope and level of service

• Experience with similar state and federally funded projects and list of references

• Errors and Omissions Insurance, please provide a copy

• Engineering Statement of Qualifications Form

The final scope of services will be developed by the Owner and communicated to eligible firm(s) prior to actual agreement. The Owner will provide additional details and a list of general duties required in Engineering Consulting Services for this Project to eligible finalists.

3. RFQ Schedule of Events

The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed. All times indicated are prevailing times in Georgia. The Owner reserves the right to adjust the schedule as the Owner deems necessary.

4. Selection Process

A Selection Committee, consisting of representatives of the Owner, will identify the finalist firm through a qualifications-based selection process. The Selection Committee will receive and evaluate Statements of Qualifications submitted in response to this RFQ using the following criteria:

Criteria for evaluation of Statements of Qualifications

10% Firm’s familiarity with the community, including prior work, knowledge of local infrastructure systems, and regulatory environment. Evaluation will consider the firm’s understanding of local needs, challenges, and coordination requirements.

10% Stability of the firm, including the firm’s corporate history, growth, resources, form of ownership, financial information, and other evidence of stability.

a. Owner issues public advertisement of RFQ for a period of 30 days (Date:07/01/2026) ----------

b. Deadline for written questions/requests for clarification (see section 6) (Date:07/24/2026) 4:00 PM

c. Deadline for submission of Statements of Qualifications (see sections 5, 7) (Date:07/30/2026) 2:00 PM

d. Owner completes evaluation, posts results, and issues Notification to Finalist firms (Date:08/04/2026) ----------

e. Selection Committee interviews finalist firms TBA TBA

25% Firm’s relevant project experience and qualifications, including the demonstrated ability of firm in effective Consulting Services for projects comparable in complexity, size, and function. This includes relevant experience and qualifications of the principal Consulting Services lead staff and level of experience in a leadership role over multiple providers and phases of construction for GEFA, EDA, CDBG, USDA, OneGeorgia, REBA, and/or ARC Projects.

25% Past performance of the firm including references about the quality of leadership of the firm in Consulting Services, the overall services of the firm to previous customers, the firm’s ability to meet established project goals, the firm’s response to the Owner’s needs throughout the project, and the financial and technical success history of the of projects in which the firm provided leadership.

30% Firm’s apparent suitability to provide services for Project, including the firm’s apparent fit to the project type and/or needs of the Owner, any special or unique qualifications for the Project, current and projected workloads, proximity of office or lead staff to Project location, and services offered by the firm. The firm’s non-discrimination policies, any policies and past efforts for W/MBE inclusion will be a part of this evaluation, as well as the firm’s record and methodology of addressing public safety and environmental concerns.

Consultant Selection

Upon completion of the evaluation and interview process by the Selection Committee, the firms will be ranked using criteria described herein in descending order of recommendation. Negotiations may then be initiated with the highest-ranking firm to finalize the terms and conditions of the contract, including the fees to be paid. In the event a satisfactory fee agreement cannot be reached with the highest ranking firm, the Owner will formally terminate the negotiations in writing and enter into negotiations in turn with the second highest ranking firm, and so on until a mutual agreement is established and the Owner awards an Engineering Consulting Services contract.

The actual Form of Contract shall be developed by the Owner.

Finalist Notification

All submitting firms will receive written communication notifying them if they are a finalist. The firms selected as finalists will receive written notification (Finalist Notification) from the Owner which will address the necessary elements of the remainder of the selection process. These elements include, but may not be limited to, the following:

Interview

In the Finalist Notification, each finalist firm shall be informed of the place and time for the interview session. The time allotted to each firm will not exceed 90 minutes to include: 15 minutes for setup, 30 minutes for proposer presentation, 30 minutes for Committee questions, and 15 minutes for knockdown. Electronic presentations, such as PowerPoint presentations, are allowed but may not comprise more than 15 minutes of the 30 minute presentation. Although the Owner will have a screen and projector available in the interview room, presenter must be prepared with own projector and laptop for quick setup within the allotted 15 minutes as a backup. The remainder of the presentation may involve flip charts or boards along with oral presentation.

Additional interview instructions and guidelines will be provided in the Notice to Finalists, as well as the criteria which will be used to evaluate the interview.

5. Instructions for Preparing Statements of Qualifications

Each submittal format (See Section 7) must include a transmittal letter. Emailed submittals must be able to print on standard (8 ½” x 11”) paper The pages of the qualification submittals must be numbered. A table of contents, with corresponding tabs, must be included to identify each section. Responses are limited to 20 pages or less using a minimum of an 11-point font. Any exhibits, affidavits, or other enclosure information called for may be included in an appendix and will not count toward the page limit. Each Statement of Qualifications shall provide a straightforward, concise delineation of respondent’s capabilities. Fancy, colored displays, and promotional materials are not desired. Emphasis must be on completeness, relevance, and clarity of content. The content of all Statements of Qualifications must be categorized and numbered as outlined below, and responsive to all requested information:

A. Description and Resources of Firm

i. Provide basic company information: Company name, address, name of primary contact, telephone number, fax number, email address, and company website (if available). If the firm has multiple offices, the qualification statement shall include information about the parent company and branch office separately. Identify office from which project will be managed and this office’s proximity to the project site. Provide form of ownership, including state of residency or incorporation, and number of years in business. Is the offeror a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), joint venture, or other structure?

ii. Briefly describe the history and growth of your firm(s). Provide general information about the firm’s personnel resources, including disciplines and numbers of employees and locations and staffing of offices

iii. Provide a statement of disclosure, which will allow the Owner to evaluate possible conflicts of interest. Respondents must provide, in their own format, a statement of all potential legal or otherwise significant conflicts of interests possibly created by the respondent’s being considered in the selection process or by the respondent’s involvement in the project. Respondents should include information as to the nature of relationship(s) with parties in such potential conflict.

iv. Has the firm ever been removed from a Services contract, had a contract terminated for default, or failed to complete a contract as assigned?

B. Experience and Qualifications

i. Provide professional qualifications and description of experience for principal Consulting Services personnel. (At this stage, firms are asked for information on lead staff only, but may list qualifications and experience on more than one lead individual who is qualified and available for proposed project. If the firm is selected as finalist, the Owner will request detailed information on the exact proposed expanded team and their relevant experience.) Firms that respond as joint teams will be expected to clearly demonstrate their team members’ shared experience, as a joint team, on prior projects of similar magnitude and complexity.

ii. Provide information on the firm’s Engineering Consulting Services experience on projects of similar type, size, function, and complexity. Describe no more than 10 and no less than five projects, in order of most relevant to least relevant, which demonstrate the firm's capabilities to perform projects listed herein. For each project, the following information should be provided:

a. Project name, location, and dates during which services were performed.

b. Brief description of project and physical description.

c. Services performed by your firm.

d. Owner’s stated satisfaction level in the Consulting Services and/or overall service of your firm.

e. Owner contact information.

iii. Include any certifications, industry ratings, and achievement recognitions, etc., to attest to the level of experience and success. Describe innovations that the firm might have introduced or employed to increase project adherence to technical standards.

C. Statement of Suitability

i. Provide any information that may serve to differentiate the firm from other firms in suitability for the project. Suitability may include, but is not limited to, the firm’s fit to the project and/or needs of the Owner, any special or unique qualifications for the project, current and projected workloads, the proximity of office to Project location, and any services offered by the firm that may be particularly suitable for this project.

ii. Provide any non-discrimination and affirmative action policies of the firm and the firm’s history of W/MBE inclusion in sourcing for projects.

D. Familiarity of Community

i. Provide any information on the familiarity of the Company with the City’s water, sewer, and stormwater system and its challenges including any previous experience in the City working on its utility infrastructure.

6. Submittal of Questions and Requests for Clarification

Questions about any aspect of the RFQ, or the project, must be submitted in writing (email is preferable) to: Will Long, City Administrator (wlong@wga.gov). The deadlines for submission of questions relating to the RFQ are the times and dates shown in the RFQ Schedule of Events in Section 3. Proposers are cautioned to review and adhere to the Restriction of Communication (See Section 8) for this Project.

7. Submittal of Statements of Qualifications

One or both of the following submittal formats may be used and the submittal format must be clearly indicated in the transmittal letter:

A) A single PDF file of the statement of qualifications shall be prepared and emailed to Will Long, City Administrator (wlong@wga.gov). prior to the submittal deadline. Each submittal must include a transmittal letter. Submittals must be able to be printed on standard (8 ½” x 11”) paper and the words “Statement of Qualifications” and Project number must be clearly indicated in the filename. Statements of Qualifications must be received by the Owner prior to the deadline indicated in the Schedule of Events (See Section 3) at the exact address below:

B) Mailed submissions must come in one envelope. The outside of the qualification envelope must be clearly labeled with the Company’s name, address, contact information and labeled “Statement of Qualifications, Engineering Services for Water And Wastewater Improvements”. The qualification envelope must only contain five (5) copies and one digital copy on a CD or flash drive of the Company’s response. Each submittal must include a transmittal letter. Statements of Qualifications must be received by the Owner prior to the deadline indicated in the Schedule of Events (See Section 3) at the exact address below:

Will Long, Washington City Administrator 102 E Liberty Street

P.O. Box 9 Washington, GA 30673 wlong@wga.gov

(706) 678-3277

8. Additional Terms and Conditions

Restriction of Communication

From the issue date of this (RFQ) solicitation until a successful proposer is selected and the selection is announced, proposers are not allowed to communicate about this solicitation or this Project for any reason with any members of the Selection Committee, the Owner, except for submission of questions as instructed in the RFQ, or during the proposer's conference (if applicable), or as provided by any existing work agreement(s). For violation of this provision, the Owner reserves the right to reject the proposal of the offending proposer.

Submittal Costs and Confidentiality

All expenses for preparing and submitting responses are the sole cost of the party submitting the response. The Owner is not obligated to any party to reimburse such expenses. All submittals upon receipt become the property of the Owner. Labeling information provided in submittals “proprietary” or “confidential”, or any other designation of restricted use will not protect the information from public view. Subject to the provisions of the Georgia Open Records Act, the details of the proposal documents will remain confidential until final award.

Award Conditions

This request is not an offer to contract or a solicitation of bids. This request and any statement of qualifications submitted in response is not binding upon the Owner and does not obligate the Owner to procure or contract for any services. Neither the Owner nor any party submitting a response will be bound unless and until a written contract mutually accepted by both parties is negotiated as to its terms and conditions and is signed by the Owner.

The Owner reserves the right to waive non-compliance with any requirements of this Request for Qualification and to reject any or all responses. Upon receipt and review of responses, the Owner will determine the party(s) that in the sole judgment of the Owner is in the best interest of the Owner (if any is so determined), with respect to the evaluation criteria stated herein. The Owner then intends to conduct negotiations with such party(s) to determine if a mutually acceptable contract may be reached.

Statement of Agreement

With submission of a proposal, the Proposer hereby certifies: (a) that this proposal is genuine and is not made in the interest or on behalf of any undisclosed person, firm, or corporation; (b) that Proposer has not directly or indirectly included or solicited any other Proposer to put in a false or insincere proposal; (c) the Proposer has not solicited or induced any person, firm, or corporation to refrain from sending a proposal.

ENGINEERING STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS FORM

NAME OF FIRM _____________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS _____________________________________________________________________

CONTACT PERSON ____________________________________________________________________

TITLE _____________________________________________________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS ____________________________________ PHONE #__________________________

1) Years in Business: ______________________________________________________________

2) Firm’s History and Resource Capability to perform requested services:

3) Titles, Names, and Addresses of all Officers:

4) List categories in which firm is legally qualified to do business. Please include licenses and

Registration where applicable.

5) Does your company carry Errors and Omissions Insurance? _____________________________

If so, please submit proof.

6) List up to five projects which demonstrate skills to be used on GEFA/EDA/USDA/ARC projects. Please note the project name, location, owner, year, contract amount, and nature of the firm’s responsibility.

7) List key personnel that are likely to be involved on these projects and their qualifications. Please explain their specific role in GEFA/EDA/USDA/ARC work.

8) List three references for your Engineering firm along with their contact information:

Mr./Mrs./MS_________________________________ certifies that he/she is qualified to answer the questions on this form and that answers and statements on this form are true and correct to the best of his/her knowledge.

Signature _____________________________________ Date__________________________

Title _________________________________________

Attested by: ____________________________________ Date__________________________