Professional Engineering Services for Watershed Master Plan FEMA HMGP

The City of Tallahassee is requesting statements of qualifications from professional engineering firms to develop a comprehensive Watershed Master Plan funded through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, with qualifications due September 25, 2026. No set-aside or local preference applies; evaluation is identity-neutral and merit-based under Florida's Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act, with no geographic preference.

The scope encompasses watershed and drainage data collection, GIS analysis and mapping, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, flood-risk analysis, evaluation of current and future watershed conditions, development of flood-mitigation strategies, and preparation of preliminary and final plan deliverables. The project supports the City's National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System standing and provides decision-making tools for flood-risk assessment in future development scenarios. Key personnel required include a project manager, professional engineer, hydrologic/hydraulic modeling lead, GIS specialist, and floodplain management/CRS specialist. Respondents must demonstrate experience with TUFLOW hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, CRS Activity 452.b requirements, watershed master planning, and federal grant compliance. The federal grant period of performance runs from March 11, 2026, through May 31, 2028, with all deliverables and supporting documentation due at least 30 days prior to grant expiration.

No pricing information is submitted with qualifications; compensation will be negotiated after qualifications-based evaluation and ranking. Evaluation is scored across firm experience (20 points), key personnel and project team (20 points), project understanding and technical approach (30 points), project management and capacity (15 points), quality assurance and federal grant compliance (10 points), and client references (5 points), for a maximum technical score of 100 points.

The evaluation committee will score and shortlist firms on October 1, 2026, with discussions and final ranking on October 5, 2026. Contract award is anticipated in October 2026. The selected firm must carry $1,000,000 commercial general liability and professional liability insurance, provide suspension and debarment certifications, and comply with E-Verify employment verification. The project is administered by the Florida Division of Emergency Management under FDEM Agreement No. H1434 and subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 200.