Setback_Levee_Projects_-_Architecture_and_Engineering_Services.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION

2026-RFQ-260

SETBACK LEVEE PROJECTS - ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING

SERVICES

Pierce County

1501 Market St, Suite 420

Tacoma, WA 98402

RELEASE DATE: November 4, 2026

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS: undefined

RESPONSE DEADLINE: November 25, 2026, 3:00 pm

RESPONSES MUST BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO:

Request For Qualification #2026-RFQ-260 Title: Setback Levee Projects - Architecture and Engineering Services https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/piercecountywa https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/%7bproject.government.code%7d

Pierce County

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION

Setback Levee Projects - Architecture and Engineering Services

1. Introduction

2. Scope of Work

3. Submittal Criteria

4. Evaluation and Award Process

5. Evaluation

6. RFQ General Terms and Condition

7. Vendor Questionnaire

Attachments:

A - Exhibit A - Sample Professional Services Agreement

B - Exhibit B - 128th Street East Comprehensive Setback Levee Feasibility Study

(May 2023)

1. Introduction

1.1. Summary

Pierce County Planning and Public Works, Surface Water Management Division, requests qualifications from consulting engineering firms capable of performing and preparing an initial design and delivery strategy as well as complete (15, 30, 60, 90, and 100%) PS&E designs for the 1428 - 128th ST E

Northeast, Southwest, and Northwest Quadrants Setback Levee projects. The selected consultant shall perform and provide engineering services listed in the attached Scope of Work Summaries. The first task is to review the three quadrants and provide an overall design and delivery strategy.

1.2. Background

Pierce County has obtained the majority of known property rights for the NE quadrant setback project, likely allowing the NE Quadrant to be able to accelerate into construction, prior to the other setback projects.

1.3. Contact Information

Joel Stanger

Procurement & Contracts Specialist

1501 Market St, Suite 420

Tacoma, WA 98402

Email: joel.stanger@piercecountywa.gov

Phone: (253) 798-4250

Department:

Planning and Public Works

Department Head:

Planning and Public Works

Director

1.4. Timeline

Release Project Date November 4, 2026

Question Response Deadline November 18, 2026, 1:00pm

Proposal Submission Deadline November 25, 2026, 3:00pm mailto:joel.stanger@piercecountywa.gov tel:(253)798-4250

Proposal Evaluation Approximately three weeks after proposal submission deadline, proposals will be evaluated and interviews may be held if multiple proposers are deemed capable of meeting the requirements.

Estimated Notice of Intention to Negotiate a Contract

Approximately six weeks after proposal submission deadline.

Estimated Date of Contract Execution Approximately eight weeks After proposal submission deadline.

2. Scope of Work

2.1. Scope of Work

Project Locations:

• NE Quadrant Setback Revetment:

North side of 128th St E along the East side of the Puyallup River (River Miles 15.8–16.7). The setback feature will be approximately 3,600 Feet.

• SW Quadrant Setback Levee/Revetment:

South side of 128th St E along the West side of the Puyallup River (River Miles 16.7–17.5). The setback feature will be approximately 5,300 Feet.

• NW Quadrant Setback Levee/Revetment:

North side of 128th ST E along the West side of the Puyallup River (River Miles 15.8 – 16.7). The setback feature will be approximately 6,300 Feet.

• SE Quadrant Setback Levee

South side of 128th ST E along the east side of the Puyallup River (River Miles 17.0 – 15.8). The setback feature will be approximately 4,600 Feet.

*Project location maps and conceptual maps from the 128th Street East Comprehensive Setback Levee

Feasibility Study (May 2023) are provided in the Setback Conceptual Maps attachment for reference.

Project Purpose and Primary Goals

The projects aim to:

• Reduce flood risk,

• Improve aquatic habitat and water quality

• Construct modern setback levee/revetment systems consistent with long-term river corridor resilience.

Major Scope of Work

The consultant will complete an overall delivery strategy for all engineering design stages (15%, 30%, 60%, 90%, and 100%) and provide a bid-ready full PS&E package for the NE, NW, and SW Quadrants. The consultant will prepare and complete 15% and 30% engineering design stage plans for the SE Quadrant setback project. The design process will follow the PPW-SWM’s Stage-Gate process.

Major tasks include:

• Design and delivery strategy for the four quadrants. This will need to include a range of potential future setback alternatives for the Southeast Quadrant project area, that may be constructed in the future.

• Full PS&E development (plans, specifications, and cost estimates) for the NE, SW, and SW

Quadrant setback projects and 30% plans for the SE Quadrant setback project (including cost estimate and property acquisition plan) ;

• Development and Preparation of a Recommended Delivery Strategy and Timelines for each of the NE, NW, SW, and SE Quadrant Setback projects.

• Technical analyses and basis-of-design (hydrologic/hydraulic, geotechnical, geomorphic);

• Preparation of property acquisition plans.

• Support for stakeholder and public outreach.

• Preparation of FEMA CLOMR application(s), including required modeling and documentation.

• Refinement of the chosen setback levee alternatives for the NE, NW, SW, and SE Quadrants

(from the 2023 feasibility study).

• See the attached Detailed Scope of Work Summaries for the NE, SW, NW, and SE Quadrant

Setback Projects.

Conceptual Project Elements

• Delivery Strategy Plan: A plan that addresses how the design, property rights, funding, permitting, and construction are progressed. This may include all three quads advancing together and times where a specific quadrant may be accelerated forward. The delivery strategy will also need to include identification of potential setback alternatives in the Southeast

Quadrant area and a recommended preferred alternative. The SE quadrant recommended alternative will need to be included in the hydraulic modeling for the NE, SW, and NW Quadrant setback projects.

• NE Quadrant: Engineered bio-revetment (with toe/facing rock as needed), engineered log jams, wood/habitat features, plantings, Maintenance and Operations (M&O) access, and existing levee removal.

• SW Quadrant: Setback levee transitioning to a setback revetment; levee prism (upstream), engineered bio-revetment, engineered log jams, wood/habitat features, plantings, M&O access, and existing levee removal/notching.

The SW Quadrant Setback project must meet the following design objectives and criteria:

• Remove approximately 3,500 linear feet of existing levee face rock.

• Notch levee fill material in several places.

• Include a new setback levee structure of approximately 4,200 linear feet or a combination of a setback levee structure and other bank protection measures conducive to fish habitat.

• Reconnect the river to approximately 60 acres of floodplain.

• NW Quadrant: Engineered bio-revetment transitioning to a setback levee: levee prism

(downstream), engineered bio-revetment, engineered log jams, wood/habitat features, plantings, M&O access, and existing levee removal/notching.

• SE Quadrant: Setback Levee, engineered log jams, wood habitat features, plantings, McCutcheon Road alignment modification (as applicable), M&O access, and existing levee removal/notching.

Standards and Deliverables

The following deliverables and files shall include but are not limited to:

• Plans: AutoCAD Civil 3D 2022+ (.dwg), following Pierce County drafting standards.

• Specifications: Microsoft Word (docx).

• Estimates: Microsoft Excel (xlsx).

• All associated digital files (both native and PDF), documents, data files, reports, maps, notes, exhibits, analysis files, reports, and other files that are produced.

• Final sealed PS&E: PDF format, stamped by a Washington-licensed Professional Engineer.

• Traffic control plans must comply with current MUTCD standards; all work must follow applicable Pierce County and WSDOT standards.

Survey and Mapping

Pierce County will provide above-water topographic mapping. The consultant will provide river channel and bathymetric data and will identify required extents of supplemental topographic mapping. County-provided survey will be delivered in .dwg format and prepared under a Washington-licensed

Professional Land Surveyor. Consultants must verify mapping completeness and request any additional information promptly.

3. Submittal Criteria

2026-RFQ-260, Setback Levee Projects - Architecture and Engineering Services

3.1. Submittal Checklist

For proposals to be considered the following must be included in your submittal:

• A letter of interest from the prime consultant/contractor, signed by the principal professional intended to lead the project effort. The letter needs to include contact information, number of years the consultant/contractor has been in business under current or previous names or additional assumed business names. Provide similar information concerning each subcontracted contractor.

• Provide a comprehensive organizational chart with key personnel for your firm and potential subconsultants, clearly identifying the estimated participation of Minority, Women, and Veteran owned (MWV) businesses and estimated percentage of total work anticipated to be performed by each sub-tier partner.

• Your approach to this type of work and explain how you have the experience, qualifications, size, and resources to provide the services listed in the scope of work.

• The name and brief resume of the key individual(s) who would be assigned to this project and an individual assigned to back up the key person in their absences, together with similar information for each individual to be provided under any subcontract.

• A proposal that outlines your firm approach to the work, capacity and availability, as well as any additional services or procedures of benefit to the County not specifically required by this

Request for Qualifications, which the Consultant offers to provide.

• The name and title of the person authorized to execute a contract on behalf of the firm.

• The caption, cause number, Court, Counsel, and general summary of any litigation pending, or judgment rendered within the past three (3) years involving the firm. (if applicable)

• A statement outlining any proposed exceptions to the County’s requirements or requested clarifications to the requirements, including any exceptions to the terms of the County’s standard Services Agreement, a sample of which is attached hereto as “Attachment A.” Firms should understand, however, that the County is typically unwilling to change the terms of its standard Services Agreement and a firm’s inability to agree to those standard terms may be a basis for the County to instead negotiate with one or more other firms.

• References listing customers with contracts for similar services.

• Acknowledgement (via the County's eProcurement Portal) of each addendum issued. (if applicable)

Before you submit, please ensure your company profile in OpenGov and MRSC are up-to-date with your current business designations. Use the provided links below for instructions on updating your profiles.

OpenGov: Updating User Profile, Company Profile, Email Address, Adding an Additional User

MRSC Log In: Public Agency Membership - MRSC Rosters

By submitting a proposal, proposer agrees that all documents, reports, proposals, submittals, working papers, or other materials prepared by the Contractor pursuant to this proposal shall become the sole and exclusive property of the County, and the public domain, and not property of the Contractor. The

Contractor shall not copyright, or cause to be copyrighted, any portion of said items submitted to the

County because of this solicitation.

Only electronic submittal via the County's eProcurement Portal shall be accepted. No hard copies, emails or fax submittals are acceptable.

3.2. Submittal Format

Please use the following as a guideline to format your qualifications:

• Font Size: Please fonts no smaller than 11 points

• Format: In order for Pierce County to adequately compare and evaluate qualification objectively, each response to specific requests and criteria should be clearly labeled.

• Page Count: Maximum qualifications length should not excess 20 pages - NOT including title page, letter of interest (cover letter), table of contents, resumes and required forms.)

These requirements are in addition to any other requirements identified herein.

3.3. Procurement Documents & RFQ's Holder List

BIDDERS WHO REGISTER AND DOWNLOAD BID DOCUMENTS will be automatically added to the

FOLLOWER'S list in the County's eProcurement Portal. Notifications for bid updates, addendum and other bid information will be sent to all bidders who register on the Pierce County eProcurement Portal.

3.4. Procurement Questions

All questions must be submitted within the County's eProcurement Portal, under the Questions and Answer Section not later than NO VALUE on TBD. Bidders must be registered in the eProcurement Portal software in order to submit questions, receive addenda, notifications and ultimately submit a proposal.

Proposals must be received by the Procurement & Contract Services and the Finance

Department before 3:00 pm on Wednesday, November 25, 2026. The proposer is responsible for https://opengov.wistia.com/medias/vvpsufzgl0 https://mrscrosters.org/public-agencies/public-agencies-membership/ https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/piercecountywa submission of proposal before the deadline. The County shall not be responsible for late submittals.

3.5. Expected Term of Resulting Agreement

The initial contract period is anticipated to be for 12 months The County has the option of renewing for an additional three years after initial contract is executed. The actual schedule will be negotiated with the selected firm based on consultant and agency staff availability and finalized scope of work.

Value of Resulting Contract: NO VALUE

4. Evaluation and Award Process

An evaluation team will review the SOQ and evaluate all responses received based upon the criteria listed herein. The County may request clarifications or additional information, if needed.

A selection may be made based on the Firms and initial evaluation criteria alone or the firms determined to be most qualified through the initial evaluation phase may be interviewed and the final determination will also consider reference checks and interviews.

The County intends to select the Consultant who represents the most qualified team (or teams, as determined by the evaluation team) to Pierce County and begin the negotiation and award process based on the evaluated scores.

Selected Consultant will be invited to enter contract negotiations with the County. Should the

County and the selected consultant not reach a mutual agreement, the County will terminate negotiations and move to the next highest ranked consultant and proceed with negotiations. A

Consultant’s inability to agree to the terms of the County’s Professional Service Agreement

"Attachment A" may be a basis for the County to terminate negotiations and begin negotiating with one or more other Consultant.

Selected Consultant(s) may be asked to provide the following for negotiation

A. Per Employee Direct Labor Rates

B. Provide the most recent audit of the firm received from WSDOT or a State or Federal agency that can establish the overhead rate.

C. Subcontractors (if used) fully burdened, per-employee labor rates direct labor rates (if available). If subcontractors are on an ad hoc basis no rates needed.

The County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submitted SOQs, and to waive as informalities any irregularities, and to contract as the best interest of the County may require.

The County also may reject SOQs that are non-responsive or that are submitted by non-responsible firms

5. Evaluation

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Experience and Qualifications

In a narrative, identify the team (to include working titles, degrees, certificates, and licenses), describe the roles and responsibility of each team member, and how each team member will contribute to the successful completion of the scope of work of the overall contract.

Describe the team’s experience and capacity for providing the services being requested. Describe how team members meet or exceed the preferred experience being requested in this RFQ.

• Provide an organizational chart demonstrating the relationships and hierarchy of the team described above. Identify individuals by name, position, discipline, and contractor.

Identify key backup personnel.

• Resumes of the team members may be included as an appendix. Resumes are to be limited to one single-sided, letter-size page for each team member. Resumes exceeding this limit will not be reviewed.

Points Based 40

(40% of Total)

2. Project Approach Narrative

Describe the team’s general approach, methodology and goals for accomplishing the various services outlined in the Scope of

Services section for providing the requested services. Approach should include information on:

• General information for supporting the services at

Pierce County as outlined in the Scope of Services.

• Innovative offerings and

Service offered

• Communication Plan:

Describe the flow of information and project communications with team members, the County’s project manager, and various stakeholders.

• QC/QA: Explain the Quality

Control and Quality

Assurance program for the requested services.

Points Based 30

(30% of Total)

3. Capacity and Availability

The firm has the size, resources, and commitment to provide timely services based on the County’s needs. Please outline your team organization for this account.

Points Based 15

(15% of Total)

4. Accuracy and Completeness of the

Statement of Qualification (SOQ)

Statement of Qualification will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Formatting and layout.

• Spelling and grammatical accuracy.

• Coherent and logical flow of written responses.

• Completeness

Points Based 5

(5% of Total)

5. Past Performance

• Include a list of, at a minimum, five (5) recent contracts/projects in the last ten years, to include a point of contact, contact information (phone and email), and brief description, for services relevant to the items listed in the Scope of Services as performed by the team members. Only projects completed by team members of the project team will be considered.

Supplemental project information may be included as part of the appendix.

Points Based 10

(10% of Total)

6. RFQ General Terms and Condition

6.1. Pierce County expressly reserves the following rights

A. To waive any and/or all irregularities in the proposals submitted.

B. To reject any or all proposals or portions thereof.

C. To base awards with due regard to quality of services, experience, compliance with specifications, and other such factors as may be necessary in the circumstances.

D. To make the award to any vendor or combination of vendors whose proposal(s), in the opinion of the County, is in the best interest of the County.

Pierce County will not accept late proposals. Pierce County may return unopened any proposal or modification received after the hour and date specified.

6.2. Reimbursement

The County will not reimburse proposers for any costs involved in the preparation and submission of responses to this RFQ or in the preparation for and attendance at subsequent interviews.

6.3. Title VI Compliance

Pierce County, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to

2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of

Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises as defined at 49 CFR Part 26 will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

6.4. Cooperative Purchasing

The Washington State Interlocal Cooperation Act, Ch. 39.34 RCW, authorizes public agencies to cooperatively purchase goods and services if all parties agree. By responding to this RFQ, Consultants agree that other public agencies may purchase goods and services under this solicitation or contract at their own cost and without Pierce County incurring any financial or legal liability for such purchases.

Pierce County agrees to allow other public agencies to purchase goods and services under this solicitation or contract, provided that Pierce County is not held financially or legally liable for purchases and that any public agency purchasing under such solicitation or contract file a copy of this invitation and such contract in accordance with RCW 39.34.040.

6.5. Public Records and Proprietary Material

Proposals submitted under this Solicitation will be considered public documents and, with limited exceptions, will become public information and may be reviewed by appointment by anyone requesting to do so following the conclusion of the evaluation, negotiation, and award process. This process is concluded when a signed contract is completed between the Pierce County and the Proposer. If a firm considers any portion of its response to be protected under the law, the vendor shall clearly identify each such portion with words such as “CONFIDENTIAL,” “PROPRIETARY” or “TRADE SECRET” on each page for which the protection is sought. If a request is made for disclosure of such portion, Pierce

County will notify the vendor of the request.

6.6. Contract Compliance For Professional, Technical, Supply or Services

It is the policy of Pierce County to foster an environment that encourages economic growth and diversification, business development and retention, increases competition and reduces unemployment.

In support of that policy, Pierce County reaffirms its commitment to maximize opportunities in public contracting for all contractors including minority and women owned business enterprises.

Proposers are encouraged to utilize qualified, local businesses in Pierce County and Washington State where cost effectiveness is deemed competitive. In addition, Proposers are encouraged to subcontract with firms certified by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises

(MWBE).

A. MWBE DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE

1. A directory of MWBE firms is published quarterly by the Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE). Copies of the directory are available from the

State OMWBE (360-753-9693) or may be viewed at the Public Works Department, 2702 S

42nd St Suite 201, Tacoma 98409, and the Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Avenue

South, Tacoma, 98402. Contact the Contract Compliance Office for additional information at

(253) 798-7250.

7. Vendor Questionnaire

1. Proposal * Upload Proposal

*Response required