Harnett county schools #RFQ-2025-09 nutrition freezer/cooler design consultant services

Harnett County Schools (HCS) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ-2025-09) seeking professional design consultant services for a specialized school nutrition freezer/cooler facility project. The procurement specifically requires a qualified design professional to develop comprehensive plans for a metal structure with an integrated freezer/cooler and a specialized vented foundation, to be located adjacent to 1500 South Main Street in Lillington, NC. The solicitation requires submission of a comprehensive Statement of Qualifications, with responses limited to 25 pages and due by July 31, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST. Evaluation criteria will assess firms across five key areas: firm experience (30%), project team qualifications (25%), project understanding (25%), work capacity (10%), and references (10%). The selection process will follow a two-part approach, beginning with a qualifications-based ranking and followed by fee negotiations with the top-ranked firm, conducted under the Mini-Brooks Act principles of selection based on demonstrated competence. Submissions must include a cover letter, firm overview, relevant experience, project team details, references, current workload information, and project understanding.

The procurement encourages participation from minority-owned, women-owned, and Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs), demonstrating a commitment to diverse vendor engagement. Respondents can submit proposals via email to gmcdowell@harnett.k12.nc.us or as hard copies to the Director of Purchasing. Harnett County Schools reserves the right to select the firm that best meets its needs and may conduct interviews at its discretion. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly detailed in the documentation, the project involves professional design services for a specialized school nutrition facility infrastructure project. The procurement approach emphasizes qualitative assessment of consultant capabilities rather than focusing primarily on cost, with the ultimate goal of selecting a design consultant capable of executing a complex facility design that meets the specific technical requirements of a school nutrition freezer/cooler facility.