Request for Proposals - Materials Testing and Special Inspections Horace Mann Elementary

The Fargo Public School District is soliciting proposals through a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for materials testing and special inspection services for the Horace Mann Elementary School construction project in Cass County, North Dakota. The District seeks a qualified third-party testing and inspection agency to ensure contractor compliance with materials standards and International Building Code Chapter 17 requirements throughout the construction process. The scope of services encompasses earthwork and soils testing, concrete sampling and testing, masonry inspection, structural steel and welding inspection, precast concrete panel connection inspection, structural framing inspection, roofing systems observation, fire-resistive assembly verification, and other permit-required special inspections. The selected firm must conduct subgrade observation and bearing capacity verification, perform soil compaction testing (40 tests), concrete sampling and testing (60 sets for sampling with 240 individual cylinder breaks), reinforcing steel inspection, field weld inspection, non-destructive testing, and roof-related inspections including insulation observation, fastener verification, and flashing detail verification. Proposers must complete the attached Inspection Quantity Schedule with their anticipated quantities, unit rates, and extended prices on a Time and Materials basis, providing hourly rates for all personnel classifications including Project Manager, Senior Special Inspector, Field Technician, Certified Welding Inspector, NDT Technician, and Laboratory Technician roles. The District will evaluate proposals based on firm qualifications and accreditations (15%), relevant K-12 experience (20%), staff and key individual experience (20%), technical approach and response time (15%), workload and availability (10%), and proposed fee (20%). The deadline for submitting questions is April 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. CST, with proposals due April 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. CST through the online Euna Procurement (Bonfire) portal at https://fargok12.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities, with Board approval anticipated for May 12, 2026.

The procurement documents do not identify specific set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendors for these services. Respondents must maintain current professional liability and general liability insurance, with a minimum Contractor's Professional Liability Insurance limit of $2,000,000 where delegated design services are provided; however, no explicit restrictions limiting response to minority-owned, women-owned, or other designated business enterprises are stated in the available materials. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible proposal meeting all specifications, though the District reserves discretion to consider suitability to purpose, design quality, and other factors in its best interest. The construction project utilizes a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method with demolition scheduled for summer 2026 and substantial completion targeted for February 2028, with the contract term coinciding with the construction schedule and extending through substantial completion plus three years thereafter for insurance purposes. The precast concrete panels will be fabricated by Taracon Precast, a PCI-certified producer, which eliminates the need for in-plant fabrication inspections. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the RFP documents; pricing will be evaluated as part of the proposal review process on a Time and Materials basis with reimbursable expenses including mileage, per diem, nuclear density gauge daily rental, and other equipment costs, with all delivery charges required to be included in the bid price.