RFQ to Provide Engineering Services for Public Infrastructure Improvements

The Harris County Board of Commissioners in Georgia is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify and select qualified engineering firms to provide comprehensive engineering services for public infrastructure improvements. The procurement seeks statements of qualifications from professional firms capable of delivering services across water, sewer, stormwater, and related public infrastructure projects, including water treatment plant upgrades and expansions, transmission main replacements and extensions, distribution system rehabilitation, elevated and ground storage tank improvements, booster pump station upgrades, SCADA modernization, metering and AMI deployment, rail-to-trail conversions, hydraulic modeling, master planning, and asset management and condition assessments. Selected firm(s) may also be considered for additional related professional services over a five-year period. Submissions are due by May 4, 2026, at 4:00 PM, with written questions required by April 24, 2026, at 4:00 PM. The RFQ advertisement runs for 30 days beginning April 2, 2026, with finalist notification scheduled for May 11, 2026, and interviews beginning May 12, 2026. Evaluation will be based on a qualifications-based selection process using weighted criteria: firm stability (10 percent), relevant project experience and qualifications (30 percent), past performance and references (30 percent), and apparent suitability including project fit, current workload, office proximity, local government experience, non-discrimination policies, and W/MBE inclusion history (30 percent). Statements of qualifications must not exceed 20 pages, use a minimum 11-point font, and be submitted as a single PDF file to Andrea Dzioba, County Clerk, at adzioba@harriscountyga.edu. The estimated project timeline includes approximately 8 months for engineering design, 3 months for permit approval, 1 month for contract bidding, 2 months for contract award, and 12 months for construction.

This procurement is subject to requirements outlined in 23 CFR Part 172 and 2 CFR Part 200 for federally funded engineering and design-related services, as projects may be funded wholly or in part with federal funds from state or federal programs. All applicable federal, state, and local procurement requirements must be met, including prevailing wage, Buy America provisions, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation requirements. The RFQ emphasizes the Owner's evaluation of W/MBE inclusion history as part of the apparent suitability criterion. A strict communication restriction applies from the RFQ issue date until a successful proposer is selected and announced; proposers may not communicate with Selection Committee members or Owner staff except for submitting written questions, during a proposer's conference if applicable, or through existing work agreements, with violations subject to proposal rejection. No specific award value or budget range is stated in the available documentation; however, the final scope of services and fee structure will be negotiated between the Owner and the selected consultant prior to service commencement. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the RFQ materials.