Request For Qualifications

The Development Authority of Dawson County, Georgia is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to procure Architectural and Engineering (A/E) services for Project No. BIP-0001-2026, a Business and Innovation Park development located at 487 Burt Creek Road in Dawsonville, Georgia. The scope of services encompasses the development and design of a 77-acre site and includes architectural design, engineering, geotechnical analysis, archaeological services, design and construction drawings for water and wastewater infrastructure, archaeological review and studies, geotechnical site analysis, and conceptual designs for the Business and Innovation Park. Key deliverables and objectives include completion of design work and construction drawings by August 31, 2026, with design work commencing on June 8, 2026. Qualified firms must demonstrate relevant project experience with comparable water and wastewater infrastructure projects, firm stability, qualifications of principal personnel, and past performance with references. The RFQ evaluation criteria weights firm stability at 25 percent, relevant project experience and qualifications of principal personnel at 35 percent, past performance and references at 25 percent, and suitability to the project at 15 percent. Statements of qualifications are limited to 20 pages and must include company information, litigation history, conflict-of-interest statements, and descriptions of five to ten comparable projects. Critical dates include the statement of qualifications submission deadline of May 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM, finalist notification on May 26, 2026, a mandatory pre-proposal conference and site visit on June 1, 2026, written question submission deadline of June 3, 2026, and project proposal due date of June 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

The project is subject to Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant funding and compliance with the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 and the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act. The Development Authority follows Appalachian Regional Commission policy ensuring small businesses, female-owned businesses, and minority-owned businesses have fair and equal opportunity to participate. Firms are required to demonstrate non-discrimination policies, affirmative action commitments, and a documented history of Women/Minority Business Enterprise (W/MBE) inclusion in project sourcing, with contractors and subcontractors potentially qualifying for Georgia state income tax credits under O.C.G.A. Section 48-7-38 for qualified payments made to minority subcontractors. A communication restriction applies to all proposers from the RFQ issuance date until final selection is announced, with violations subject to proposal rejection. The RFQ documents do not specify a total award value or contract amount; the final scope of services and contract form will be developed by the Owner and communicated to finalist firms prior to contract execution following the qualifications-based selection process and fee negotiations with the highest-ranked firm.