26-0088-2 Design Engineering Consultant for Wahlstrom/Forbes Pavement & Drainage Reconstruction

Chatham County is requesting proposals for design engineering consultant services for pavement and drainage reconstruction on Wahlstrom Road and Forbes Road under RFP 26-0088-2, with proposals due September 8, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. The selected firm must be prequalified by the Georgia Department of Transportation in area class 3.03 for Complex Urban Roadway Design — the primary capability gate.

The scope requires survey and base data collection; engineering design and construction plans per the Georgia Department of Transportation Plan Presentation Guide; utility coordination with a Quality Level C Subsurface Utility Engineering investigation; pavement and soils evaluations; environmental permitting; two stakeholder meetings; and comprehensive project management. The roadway serves both passenger vehicles and significant heavy truck traffic; the consultant must evaluate existing pavement structure and drainage conditions and provide recommendations for resurfacing and structural improvements to extend service life and support current traffic demands. The project duration is twelve months, with preliminary plans and cost estimates due within eight months of survey completion and final plans due four months thereafter.

Evaluation follows a three-step process: Step One scores written qualifications on experience (30 points), qualifications (30 points), project understanding (25 points), and MBE/WBE participation (15 points) for a total of 100 points. Step Two may include interviews or presentations worth up to 30 points. Step Three involves fee and schedule negotiation with the highest-rated firm. The consultant must maintain professional liability insurance with a minimum limit of $1 million per claim and general liability insurance of $1 million bodily injury and property damage per occurrence. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for August 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. via Webex. No contract shall be awarded until the successful consultant obtains a current Chatham County business license and all real and personal property taxes have been paid.