RFQ - Town of Benson Elevated Storage Tank & I-95 East Water Main Design

The Town of Benson, North Carolina is requesting qualifications from North Carolina-licensed engineering firms to design an elevated water storage tank and I-95 East water main extension, with submissions due September 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST. This is a Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) process; firms do not compete on price at the submission stage.

The scope encompasses preliminary and final design, permitting, cost estimating, environmental reporting, surveying (easement, topographic, and engineering), construction documents, bidding assistance, construction administration, weekly observation reporting, payment and change order review, and project closeout. The elevated storage tank will have a capacity of 750,000 gallons; the water main is a 12-inch diameter line extending from the tank to the east section of town to support future growth. The project is funded by S.L. 2023-134 Appropriations Act Directed Project (DWI Project No. SRP-W-134-0223); the Town is applying for additional funding for the water line extension east of I-95.

Evaluation will be weighted as follows: Qualifications and Technical Competence in elevated storage design (30%), Experience and Qualifications of Designated Key Personnel (25%), Project Approach, Understanding, and QA/QC Process (20%), Past Performance and Client References (15%), and Proximity to Project and Knowledge of Local Regulatory Requirements (10%). Submissions are limited to 20 pages double-sided and must include a cover letter, firm background and experience summary, project team organizational chart with key personnel resumes, three to five representative elevated tank projects with capacity and performance details, project methodology, and proof of Professional Liability, Commercial General Liability, and Workers' Compensation insurance.

Written questions are due September 17, 2026. Final addenda will be issued September 18, 2026. Interviews with top-ranked firms are scheduled for the week of September 28, 2026. Contract award and scope negotiations are anticipated for October 22, 2026, with contract execution on November 12, 2026. Submissions must be delivered by courier, USPS, or hand-delivery to Town Hall; electronic submissions will not be accepted.