RFSQ Pipeline Trail Phase 3 - Architecture and Engineering Services

Pierce County Parks and Recreation is soliciting Statements of Qualifications under RFQ 2026-RFQ-257 from multidisciplinary architecture and engineering teams for Phase 3 of the Pipeline Trail, with responses due November 20, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. and questions due November 13, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. No set-aside or preference program applies. Pierce County encourages participation by certified minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses.

The scope covers design, engineering, permitting, and construction administration for a 2.2-mile nonmotorized, multimodal trail connecting the South section of Orangegate Park to the Fruitland Avenue E termination along an existing Tacoma Public Utilities Pipeline Road corridor. Required services include public outreach to support design, grant acquisition support, and deliverables from concept design through 100% bid-ready construction documents. Proposers must submit relevant experience, team organizational charts identifying key personnel with licensing documentation, project approach narratives, capacity and availability statements, and references from a minimum of five recent relevant projects. Submissions go through Pierce County's eProcurement Portal.

The anticipated contract term is 30 months with an optional one-year renewal. Pierce County will select one firm for negotiation and award of a Professional Services Agreement. Work is scheduled to begin January 2027, with schematic design through January 2028, design development and permitting through March 2029, public bidding in March 2029, and construction administration completion anticipated by September 2030.

Phase 1 scores submissions on relevant experience and qualifications (40 points), project approach (20 points), capacity and availability (20 points), accuracy and completeness (10 points), and past performance (10 points). Phase 2 may include interviews scored on a pass/fail basis. During negotiation, the selected consultant must provide per-employee direct labor rates, the most recent firm audit establishing overhead rates, and subcontractor fully burdened rates where applicable. Pierce County retains the discretionary right to reject all submissions and re-advertise the project.