Civil Engineering Design and Construction Administration Services for Paper Goods Pond Dam Repair

The Town of Berlin, Connecticut is soliciting proposals from qualified Architectural/Engineering firms to provide comprehensive civil engineering design and construction administration services for the repair of the Paper Goods Pond Dam (CT ID #707), a stone masonry arch structure approximately 73 feet long with a maximum height of 30 feet that was constructed in the 1890s. The scope of work encompasses eight base phases: desktop review and base mapping, detailed investigations and testing, preliminary design development, final design development, permitting coordination, bidding and award assistance, construction administration, and project closeout, plus an optional ninth phase for grant application support. The October 2025 inspection report rated the dam's overall condition as Poor with a Hazard Classification of B (Significant Hazard), identifying multiple deficiencies including cracking at the crest, spalling in shotcrete on the downstream face, bulging on both upstream and downstream sections, damaged mortar skim coat, and potential seepage issues that require corrective action. Eligible proposers must demonstrate a minimum of three years of relevant experience in Connecticut performing similar services for municipal governments, maintain proper Connecticut licensure, possess a documented internal control environment, maintain a business continuity plan, and carry professional liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000, general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, worker's compensation at statutory limits, and umbrella liability of $1,000,000. Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: 30% for Firm Qualifications and Safety/Experience, 30% for Cost Proposal, 20% for Capacity and Availability, and 20% for References and Past Project Performance, with proposals scored on a 0-5 scale. The RFP was released on April 28, 2026, with written questions due by May 21, 2026, and proposals due by May 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM through the OpenGov Procurement Portal; the Town anticipates contract commencement in June 2026.

The Town of Berlin is an equal opportunity employer and does not restrict proposals based on organization type or disadvantaged enterprise status; however, all proposals become the property of the Town and are subject to Connecticut Freedom of Information Act disclosure requirements. No incumbent contractor is identified in the procurement documents. Proposers will submit pricing on a lump-sum basis for each of the eight base scope phases and the optional grant application support alternate using the Town's electronic pricing table, with vendors required to identify any additional services or costs not included in the base scope. The RFP does not disclose a specific budget amount or funding source for the project. The Town reserves the right to reject all proposals, terminate the RFP at its discretion, conduct interviews with short-listed proposers, and award the contract based on factors beyond price, including experience, references, service quality, and responsiveness to the Town's best interests rather than solely on fee proposals.