Marine Facilities Inspections

Beaufort County is seeking a qualified engineering consultant to perform comprehensive marine facilities inspections through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ #052725) issued by its Procurement Services Department. The project requires detailed engineering assessments of county-owned marine assets, including upland structures, parking areas, ADA compliance zones, boat ramps, boarding piers, floating docks, and fishing piers. Inspections must encompass both above and below waterline examinations, following standards such as the ASCE Manual of Practice for Waterfront Facilities Inspections and FHWA NBIS guidelines. The selected consultant will develop baseline condition reports, provide detailed construction cost estimates for potential repairs, and create a 5-year recurring inspection schedule. Proposals will be evaluated using a 100-point scoring system with criteria including experience (25 points), capability (25 points), budget control (20 points), project approach (15 points), and familiarity with Beaufort County (15 points). The proposal submission deadline is Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 3:00 pm EST, with a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 2:00 pm EST. The contract will have an initial 3-year term with potential 1-year renewals up to 5 years total, with initial inspections and reports to be completed within 6 months of notice to proceed.

While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly mentioned, the procurement process requires electronic submission through the Beaufort County Procurement Portal, necessitating vendor registration. The contract is structured as a lump sum agreement with comprehensive insurance requirements, including Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability (minimum $1M per occurrence), Comprehensive Automobile Liability, Umbrella Liability, and Professional Liability. Funding is subject to annual appropriation by the County Council, and the contract can be terminated without penalty if sufficient funds are not allocated. The project does not specify a precise budget range, but the scope suggests a substantial investment in infrastructure assessment and maintenance planning. Major rehabilitation or replacement projects requiring detailed engineering design will be procured separately, with this contract focused on comprehensive documentation and assessment of marine infrastructure. The county reserves the right to reject any proposals and negotiate with qualified firms, indicating flexibility in the procurement process.