Design/Build Services for US 52 Transmission Main Replacement Project

The City of Albemarle, North Carolina is requesting qualifications for design-build services to replace a water transmission main on US Route 52, with statements of qualifications due May 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST. The project is subject to a 10% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)/Women Business Enterprise (WBE) participation goal under North Carolina General Statutes 143-128.2 and 143-182.4.

The scope encompasses design and construction of approximately 14,000 feet of new water transmission main (20 or 24 inches in diameter) connecting the US52 Water Treatment Plant to the City's distribution network near the Snuggs Road/US52 Highway intersection. The existing transmission main, currently under the northbound travel lane of US52, is out of service due to frequent leaks. Pipe size and final route will be determined collaboratively between the City, the design-builder, and the Owner's representative (OA), with budget as a potential factor. Multiple connections to existing pipelines must be made with minimal service disturbance. The project will be implemented in two phases: Phase 1 concludes with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) proposal at 60–90% design completion; Phase 2 includes final design, permitting, construction, and startup services contingent upon GMP approval. The City reserves the right to terminate and engage the designer for competitive bidding if a GMP cannot be negotiated within budget expectations.

The total budget is $6.5 million including contingency, engineering, and soft costs. The selected design-builder must obtain a performance and payment bond of $6 million and carry general aggregate liability of $1 million, professional liability of $2 million per occurrence, and workers' compensation coverage. Evaluation weighting: qualifications and abilities of key individuals (30%), experience with similar projects (30%), project approach including GMP preparation and construction methodology (20%), references (10%), and percentage of work to be self-performed (10%). The contract will use DBIA Progressive Design-Build Agreement for Water and Wastewater Projects (Form 545) and DBIA Standard Form of General Conditions (Form 535).

The non-mandatory pre-submittal meeting is April 30, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST at Albemarle City Hall. Questions close May 8, 2026. Selection is anticipated by July 6, 2026 with potential interviews in late May or early June. Submissions must include seven bound printed copies and one USB flash drive in PDF format in a sealed envelope. Funding source: SL2023-134 state funds.