26Q-135 NW 44th Avenue Preliminary Engineering Report

Marion County Office of the County Engineer is requesting proposals for engineering services to prepare a Preliminary Engineering Report and design construction plans, specifications, and permitting documents for the NW 44th Avenue – Add 2 Lanes project, with proposals due October 29, 2026. The project involves a 1.4-mile corridor from NW 60th Street to West Highway 326; the selected consultant will serve as Design Consultant and Engineer of Record.

The scope encompasses traffic analysis, environmental and cultural resources review, public involvement coordination, alternatives evaluation, survey and right-of-way services, roadway design with ADA-compliant pedestrian facilities, drainage and stormwater management, utility coordination, signalization design if warranted, maintenance of traffic plans, quantity estimation, permitting coordination with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Army Corps of Engineers, and geotechnical engineering services. The consultant must design a minimum 120-foot right-of-way four-lane divided roadway with 12-foot lanes, 4-foot paved shoulders, curb and gutter, grassed median, and 5-foot sidewalks conforming to Marion County standards, Florida Department of Transportation specifications, and applicable local and federal requirements. The consultant will conduct site visits at each design milestone (30%, 60%, 90%, 100%, and Final stages), attend a pre-bid conference, provide cost estimates at specified phases with detailed quantity takeoffs at 60%, 90%, 100%, and Final stages, and furnish post-design construction support, ongoing site inspections, permit coordination, and as-built review.

The contract term is twenty-four months with provisions for extension at the County's discretion pending mutual agreement and Board approval. Evaluation is weighted 25% on ability of firm and professional personnel, 25% on experience with similar projects, 20% on willingness and ability to meet schedule and budget, 25% on recent and projected workload, and 5% on location (maximum points within Marion County, reduced for surrounding counties or elsewhere in Florida, minimal for firms without a Florida office), for a maximum of 1,000 points. Marion County may conduct interviews with highest-ranked proposers before final selection. All submissions must be uploaded to the Marion County Procurement Services Bonfire portal. Mandatory insurance includes Workers' Compensation at Florida statutory limits, Commercial General Liability of $1 million per occurrence, and Business Automobile Liability of $500 million. Conflict of Interest Statements, Vendor Information Forms, Disclosure of Subcontractors and Suppliers, and Similar Work Detail Forms (minimum three references) are required. All communication occurs through Bonfire; vendor lobbying with county officials during evaluation is prohibited.