Engineering Structures

The City of Madison Engineering Division issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 8751-0-2018-BO on July 23, 2018, seeking qualified vendors to provide comprehensive engineering structures consulting services. The procurement focuses on structural analysis, design, and review for small to mid-size public works structures, including storm sewer manholes, treatment structures, retaining walls, wingwalls, bridge abutments, and footings. Initial deliverables include a structural review and recommendations for five standard detail drawings (SDDs) covering various infrastructure components, with a report due by December 1, 2018. Proposers must have at least two civil engineering Professional Engineers on staff, each with a minimum of seven years of structural design experience, and be capable of delivering documents in Autodesk AutoCAD or Civil 3D format. The RFP established a question submission deadline of July 30, 2018, with answers posted by August 3, 2018, and proposals due by August 17, 2018, at 2:00 PM CST. Evaluation criteria included team qualifications, past project experience, and pricing, with the City reserving the right to award the contract to the most advantageous proposal considering both cost and technical merit.

The solicitation included local vendor preference scoring and specific requirements for larger contractors. Firms employing 15 or more employees with $25,000 or more in annual business with the City must comply with affirmative action requirements and file a corresponding plan within 30 days of contract award. Professional liability insurance of $1,000,000 is mandatory and must be maintained for six years after service completion. The estimated project design fees typically range between $5,000 and $25,000, with proposers required to submit a not-to-exceed cost for the initial deliverables. Two vendors ultimately submitted proposals: MSA Short Elliot Hendrickson Inc and Strand Associates, with Strand Associates ultimately being awarded the contract based on a comprehensive evaluation that considered factors beyond the lowest cost. The contract includes provisions for price increases of 2.00%, 1.50%, and 5.00% in subsequent years, suggesting a multi-year engagement with potential for ongoing structural engineering services as needed by the City of Madison.