RFQ - Engineering Services for Water Main Upgrade Project

The City of Elberton in Dooly County, Georgia, through technical assistance provided by the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission (NEGRC), is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to procure engineering services for the Water Main Expansion Project. The procurement seeks qualified engineering firms to provide design and engineering services for the replacement and upgrade of approximately 7 miles of new water main within city limits. Key deliverables include the preparation of a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) due in two phases—a draft PER by June 15, 2026, and a full PER by July 5, 2026—to support an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) pre-application deadline of June 19, 2026, along with subsequent design, bid, and construction management services contingent upon federal or state funding approval. Responding firms must demonstrate current licensure for design and engineering services, technical qualifications in infrastructure projects, and submit statements of qualifications including firm history and resources, ARC and DCA grant program experience, key personnel qualifications, current workload, proposed scope and level of service, experience with similar projects and references, fees or cost percentages for PER and construction management services, and Errors and Omissions Insurance information. Selection will be based on project approach, timing, experience, quality of work, capacity to perform, costs, past performance on similar projects, ability to complete work within budget, and knowledge of the community. Statements of qualifications must be submitted in one hard copy and one digital copy directly to Jason Hackett, Utilities Director, at the City of Elberton no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on May 12, 2026, with the vendor list to be prepared by May 13, 2026, and vendors officially selected by June 1, 2026.

The procurement encourages Section 3 businesses to apply, although no specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting eligible respondents are noted in the RFQ. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The project is expected to be funded through federal and/or state sources, including the Appalachian Regional Commission, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), or similar funding agencies, though specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the RFQ summary. All contracts will be subject to federal and state contract provisions, including compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Buy America provisions. Interested firms should submit statements of qualifications by the May 12, 2026 deadline to be considered for vendor selection.