Fairway Drive and Hospital Area Improvements

The Town of Boone, North Carolina is requesting letters of interest from qualified engineering firms to provide design, permitting, bidding, construction administration, and inspection services for new and replacement public water lines along Fairway Drive and near Watauga Medical Center, with letters due August 14, 2026.

All performing engineers must hold current North Carolina professional engineer licenses, and the selected firm must be registered with the North Carolina Office of the Secretary of State and the North Carolina Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. North Carolina firms maintaining in-state offices with adequate staffing will receive priority consideration.

The total project budget is $1,789,650, funded through the North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure. The contract is a lump-sum engagement. The selected firm will report directly to the Town and assume full responsibility for project oversight, ensuring compliance with all contract and permit requirements. Professional liability insurance coverage of at least $1,000,000 is required, and the firm must demonstrate adequate financial ability and accounting systems.

Key project milestones include permit applications as soon as possible, bid and design package submittal to the Division of Water Infrastructure by January 8, 2027, approval by July 9, 2027, advertisement and bid receipt by October 8, 2027, and construction contract execution by January 7, 2028. Selected firms will be notified by August 21, 2026.

Evaluation weighted 40 percent on the firm's experience with public water line design and construction inspection services, 30 percent on proposed staff experience, and 30 percent on understanding of project-specific issues. Letters of interest are limited to eight pages and must address firm qualifications, relevant experience from the past seven years, proposed personnel qualifications, approach to project delivery, and capacity to meet established milestones.