Installation of Floating Wetland Islands (Construction Services)

Raleigh, North Carolina
Request for Proposals (RFP)
#63-KGS1189177 - Installation of Floating Wetland
Islands (Construction Services)
For internal administrative processing, including tabulation of proposals for posting to Bonfire
and the State of North Carolina Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) , please provide your company's
Federal Employer Identification Number or alternate identification number (e.g. Social Security
Number). We HIGHLY recommend you register in order to see bid tabulations and award
results. Pursuant to G.S. 132-1.10(b) this identification number shall not be released to the
public. This page will be removed and shredded, or otherwise kept confidential, before the
procurement file is available for public inspection.
THIS PAGE IS TO BE COMPLETED AND INCLUDED WITH
YOUR PROPOSAL. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY SUBJECT
YOUR PROPOSAL TO REJECTION.
Federal ID
Number or Social
Security Number:
SUPPLIER NAME:
DATE:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
RFP # 63-KGS1189177
TITLE: Installation of Floating Wetland Islands (Construction
Services)
USING DEPARTMENT: Biological and Agricultural Engineering
ISSUE DATE: September 22, 2026
DUE DATE: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 22, 2026
ISSUING AGENCY: NC State University
Procurement Services Department
Campus Box 7212
Raleigh, NC 27695
Proposals subject to the conditions made a part hereof will be accepted until 2:00 p.m.,
Thursday, October 22, 2026 for furnishing services described herein.
Proposals must be submitted electronically at:
https://ncsu.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/255217
Upload scanned pages from this RFP document included with your proposal response where
indicated on the Bonfire website.
Direct all inquiries (via email) concerning this RFP to: Kristen Shelton, NCCM, CPPB
NC State University
Procurement Services
Email: kgshelto@ncsu.edu
NOTE: Questions concerning the RFP requirements must be submitted in writing via email to
kgshelto@ncsu.edu , Subject Line: RFP #63-KGS1189177 - Questions , no later than 5:00 p.m on Monday,
October 5, 2026 . Questions will be answered in the form of an addendum to this RFP. No other contact with
university representatives regarding this RFP is allowed during the proposal process. Attempts to obtain
information directly from university personnel, or by any other means, may subject your proposal response to
rejection. Please use the following template to submit your questions:
Reference Supplier Question
RFP Section, Page Number Supplier question ...?
Insert rows as needed
Page 2 | 19

GENERAL INFORMATION ON SUBMITTING PROPOSALS
1. EXCEPTIONS: All proposals are subject to the terms and conditions outlined herein. All
responses shall be controlled by such terms and conditions and the submission of other terms
and conditions, price lists, catalogs, and/or other documents as part of an offeror's response
will be waived and have no effect either on this Request for Proposals or on any contract that
may be awarded resulting from this solicitation. Offeror specifically agrees to the conditions
set forth in the above paragraph by signature to the proposal.
2. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL : NC State University uses a third-party eProcurement strategic
sourcing provider, Bonfire, for accepting and evaluating proposals digitally. All proposals must
be received by the issuing agency not later than the date and time listed on the cover sheet of
this proposal. Proposals shall be uploaded to:
https://ncsu.bonfirehub.com/opportunities/255217
Request for Proposals (RFP) documents are advertised on the State of North Carolina
Electronic Vendor Portal System ( eVP ) and Bonfire . An addendum to this RFP may be issued.
If required, any subsequent addenda must be signed and submitted with the proposal upload.
It is the vendor's responsibility to verify that all a pplicable addenda are submitted as
required.
For support or technical questions related to your submission, please contact Bonfire at
support.bonfire@eunasolutions.com or visit their help forum at
https://help.eunasolutions.com/hc/en-us
3. BONFIRE REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION & INFORMATION: Elaborate proposals in the
form of brochures or other presentations beyond that necessary to present a complete and
effective proposal are not desired. In an effort to support the sustainability efforts of the State
of North Carolina we are receiving proposals via electronic submission.
Please note the type and number of files allowed. The maximum upload file size is 1000 MB.
Uploading large documents may take significant time, depending on the size of the file(s) and
your Internet connection speed. Please do not embed any documents within your uploaded
files, as they will not be accessible or evaluated. Minimum system requirements: Microsoft
Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox. Javascript must be enabled. Browser cookies must
be enabled.
Name File Type # of Files Requirement
Completed NC State University PDF Multiple Required
RFP Document
Technical Proposal PDF Multiple Required
Section 7 Cost Proposal BidTable: Excel 1 Required
(BT-14KQ) (.xlsx)
Certificate of Insurance PDF Multiple Required
All documents required to complete your submission must be downloaded from the supporting
documentation and/or requested information sections of Bonfire. You will receive an email
confirmation receipt with a unique confirmation number once you finalize your submission.
Each item of Requested Information will only be visible to NC State University after the
Closing Time.
4. ORAL PRESENTATIONS: During the evaluation and at their option, the evaluators may
request oral presentations from any or all offerors for the purpose of clarification or to amplify
the materials presented in any part of the proposal. However, offerors are cautioned that the
Page 3 | 19

evaluators are not required to request clarification; therefore, all proposals should be
complete and reflect the most favorable terms available from the offeror.
5. PROPOSAL EVALUATION: Proposals will be evaluated as outlined herein. The award of a
contract to one offeror does not mean that the other proposals lacked merit, but that, all
factors considered, the selected proposal was deemed to provide the best value to the
University, and/or the State.
6. COMMENCEMENT OF SERVICES: After proposals are evaluated, and an offer is made,
accepted and approved by appropriate authorities, the University will issue a purchase order,
a contract or a letter of agreement as an indicator to commence services.
7. REQUEST FOR OFFERS: Offerors are cautioned that this is a request for offers, not a
request to contract and the University/State reserves the unqualified right to reject any and all
offers when such rejection is deemed to be in the best interest of the University or State.
8. ORAL EXPLANATIONS: The University shall not be bound by oral explanations or
instructions given at any time during the competitive process or after award.
9. REFERENCE TO OTHER DATA: Only information which is received in response to this RFP
will be evaluated; reference to information previously submitted shall not be evaluated.
10. COST FOR PROPOSAL PREPARATION: Any costs incurred by offerors in preparing or
submitting offers are the offerors' sole responsibility; the University will not reimburse any
offeror for any costs incurred prior to award.
11. TIME FOR ACCEPTANCE: Each proposal shall state that it is a firm offer which may be
accepted within a period of forty-five (45) days from the proposal opening. Although the
contract is expected to be awarded prior to that time, the 45-day period is requested to allow for
unforeseen delays.
12. TITLES: Titles and headings in this RFP and any subsequent contract are for convenience
only and shall have no binding force or effect.
13. CONFIDENTIALITY OF PROPOSALS: In submitting its proposal the offeror agrees not to
discuss or otherwise reveal the contents of the proposal to any source outside of the using or
issuing agency, government or private, until after the award of the contract. Offerors not in
compliance with this provision may be disqualified, at the option of the State, from contract
award. Only discussions authorized by the University are exempt from this provision.
14. RIGHT TO SUBMITTED MATERIAL: All responses, inquiries, or correspondence relating to or
in reference to the RFP, and all other reports, charts, displays, schedules, exhibits, and other
documentation submitted by the offerors shall become the property of the State when received.
15. OFFEROR'S REPRESENTATIVE: Each offeror shall submit with its proposal the name,
address, and telephone number of the person(s) with authority to bind the firm and answer
questions or provide clarification concerning the firm's proposal.
16. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION: To the extent permitted by N.C.G.S. 132-1.3 trade secrets
which the Contractor does not wish disclosed other than to personnel involved in the evaluation
or contract administration will be kept confidential identified as follows: Each page shall be
identified in boldface at the top and bottom as "CONFIDENTIAL". Any section of the proposal
which is to remain confidential shall also be so marked in boldface on the title page of that
section. Cost information is not confidential. In spite of what is labeled as confidential, the
determination as to whether or not it is shall be determined by North Carolina law.
Page 4 | 19

17. HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES: Pursuant to N.C.G.S. 143-48, the
University invites and encourages participation in this procurement process by businesses
owned by minorities, women, disabled, disabled business enterprises and non-profit work
centers for the blind and severely disabled.
18. PROTEST PROCEDURES: A party wanting to protest a contract award pursuant to this
solicitation must submit a written request to the Director of Purchasing, North Carolina State
University, Purchasing Department, Campus Box 7212, Raleigh, NC 27695-7212. This request
must be received in the University Purchasing Department within thirty (30) consecutive
calendar days from the date of the contract award, and must contain specific sound reasons
and any supporting documentation for the protest. NOTE: Contract award notices are sent only
to those actually awarded contracts, and not to every person or firm responding to this
solicitation. Offerors may call the purchaser listed on the first page of this document to obtain a
verbal status of contract award. All protests will be handled pursuant to the North Carolina
Administrative Code, Title 1, Department of Administration, Chapter 5, Purchase and Contract,
Section 5B.1519.
19. CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION AND SOLICITATION NOTIFICATION SYSTEM: Contractor
Link NC allows Contractors to electronically register free with the State to receive electronic
notification of current procurement opportunities for goods and services available on the
Electronic Vendor Portal System. Online registration and other purchasing information are
available on the web site: http://www.state.nc.us/pandc/ .
20. RECIPROCAL PREFERENCE: N.C.G.S. 143-59 establishes a reciprocal preference law to
discourage other states from applying in-state preferences against North Carolina's resident
offerors. The "Principal Place of Business" is defined as the principal place from which the
trade or business of the offeror is directed or managed.
21. ENTERPRISE-LEVEL IT SYSTEMS OR TECHNOLOGIES: The University is committed to
promote and integrate universal IT accessibility in the delivery of its resources and to develop
innovative solutions to accessibility challenges for students, faculty and staff. Contractors shall:
a. Assure all features, components and subsystems of the software or IT System
contained on this RFP fully comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended (29 U.S.C.794d), ( http://www.section508.gov );
OR
Detail why any feature, component or sub-system contained in this RFP does not fully
comply with Section 508, and the way in which the proposed product is out of
compliance;
b. If the Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPAT)
( https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat) are used, they must include compliance
checklists for:
1. Technical Standards;
2. Function and Performance Criteria; and
3. Documentation and Support
c. The product offered in response to this RFP is subject to an accessibility
evaluation by the University.
Page 5 | 19

Section 1: Introduction - Purpose and Background
NC State Biological and Agricultural Engineering (hereafter referred to as University or
BAE) seeks proposals from qualified Contractors (hereafter referred to as Contractor or
Supplier) to install floating wetland islands on two (2) wetponds. The ponds are located
adjacent to parking lots at the Brunswick County Government complex in Bolivia, NC.
This retrofit aims to improve the water quality performance of these ponds by
introducing new pollutant removal mechanisms.
Section 2: Contract Period
The project shall be complete, successfully inspected, and accepted by the University's
Project Manager, and invoice submitted NO LATER THAN six (6) weeks from date of
award (estimated award date November 2026). Completion date shall be adjusted for
weather delays only with approval by the University's Project Manager.
The proposal response must include a detailed project timeline demonstrating the
proposing Contractor's plans to complete the project within six (6) weeks from date of
award.
Section 3: Scope of Work
3.1 General
The two (2) ponds at the Brunswick County Government Complex in Bolivia, North
Carolina have been identified as appropriate locations for floating wetland island (here
after referred to as FWI) retrofit installations. The awarded Contractor shall install a
Floating Wetland Island (FWI) system situated near the outlet structure of each pond as
indicated in Appendix A. Alternative geometry or layout configurations providing
equivalent surface area coverage (550 sq ft for North Pond; 1,300 sq ft for South Pond)
and maintaining required clearances may be proposed, subject to Project Engineer
approval. The square footage, approximate locations, and planting densities of each
FWI system are included in Appendix A, Site Design Plans .
The awarded Contractor shall also be responsible for sourcing and installation of
appropriate wetland vegetation within the FWI system. The Contractor shall provide a
6-month Plant Warranty beginning upon completion and acceptance of planting and
extending through the first full growing season following installation. The Contractor
shall guarantee a minimum of 85% plant survival and surface coverage based on the
specified planting density (0.5 stems/sq ft). Any dead or failing vegetation within this
period shall be replaced by the Contractor at no additional cost. No earthwork is
required, nor will the footprint of the pond change.
Page 6 | 19

3.2 Three-Year Continuous Water Quality Treatment Solution
The proposed floating mat structure and matrix material shall have a verified structural
design life of at least three (3) years under continuous immersion. Proposals shall detail
mat durability, UV resistance, and routine maintenance recommendations to support
long-term vegetated performance. Suppliers shall briefly describe how the proposed
system will provide continuous treatment throughout the three-year period, including
any routine maintenance required. Routine maintenance tasks and associated costs are
not included within the scope of work of the awarded contract. However, a description
of the required routine maintenance tasks should be included in the proposal as
supporting evidence that the installed product will meet the three-year continuous water
quality treatment criteria. Any issues resulting in operational failure of the system shall
be repaired or replaced at no additional costs during the 12-month warranty period .
This document shall be used in conjunction with Appendix A, Site Design Plans. The
University's BAE Project Engineer or Project Manager shall be available at all times
during the construction time window to answer any questions, approve any proposed
changes to island geometry, and to inspect all aspects of the project.
All bids shall include (1) all floating island material specifications (e.g., floating mats,
anchors, plants, etc.) including plants, and (2) total costs (e.g., materials, delivery,
installation, etc.).
3.3 Construction Notes
The protection of all existing features, asphalt pavements and utilities is the
responsibility of the Contractor. The Contractor shall be responsible for identifying,
securing, and paying for all applicable local environmental, land-disturbance, or
municipal work permits required by Brunswick County or state regulatory agencies prior
to initiating installation. Any damage caused during the construction shall be corrected
at the Contractor's expense prior to final acceptance by the University. The Contractor
shall work with the University Project Engineer should field adjustments be necessary.
Clean Up
The Contractor is responsible for full clean up and proper off-site disposal of all
construction debris and residual material surrounding the construction site. All trash
shall be cleaned up and removed daily. The Contractor shall remove all trash and
residual debris from the site and return it to pre-construction condition.
See Appendix A, Site Design Plans (if you have technical issues, you can download these
plans directly from Bonfire).
Note: This area is open to the public and contractors may explore the area if needed on
their own. The University will not be responsible for any expenses associated with
visiting the site.
Page 7 | 19

Section 4: Supplier Qualification/Experience Requirements
4.1 General
Proposing Contractors must provide an overview of your organization and demonstrate
a minimum of three (3) years of in-depth experience providing three (3) projects similar
in nature and scope to that described herein. Proposing Contractors shall provide
documentation of those representative projects they have previously completed,
including a description of the work performed and how the projects demonstrate their
ability to successfully perform the work.
4.2 References
It is the proposing Contractor's responsibility to provide valid reference information.
Three (3) references are required and must be similar in nature and scope to the
services requested in this RFP.
The University reserves the right to contact references and consider the information
provided as part of its evaluation of proposals. Reference checks may be conducted for
top-scoring Contractors when additional information is needed to assist in
distinguishing proposals for the final award.
Section 5: Supplier Proposal Response
The following information is required in response to this RFP. Failure to adequately
provide specific information that can be effectively evaluated by NC State may
disqualify a manufacturer's equipment from consideration.
At minimum, the proposal response package shall include the following and must be
uploaded in the corresponding location on Bonfire:
1. Completed NC State University RFP
Cover Page with Firm Name and Tax ID#
Reference page
Signed Execution of Proposal page
2. A detailed technical proposal addressing Section 3 and Section 4 . Describe in
your proposal response the approach, processes and steps you will follow to
perform and complete the tasks in the Scope of Work, Section 3, including plant
species and any necessary equipment that will be used during initial installation.
Proposals should also describe how the proposed system will provide three-year
continuous treatment and anticipated routine maintenance tasks associated
with the system within that timeframe.
Page 8 | 19

All proposals should include any additional tasks that you recommend for
achieving successful outcomes. Note any requirements you have, and any
assumptions being made which impact your proposed approach or the time
required to complete the work. Make sure to introduce us to your organization
and include documentation for projects per Section 4.
3. Cost Proposal ( Section 7 )
4. Any applicable RFP addenda subsequent to this RFP that is required for return by
statement on the addendum.
Incomplete proposals will not be considered for award.
Section 6: Criteria For Evaluation and Award
All proposals will be evaluated according to the following:
SCREENING CRITERIA: Complete proposal response (as outlined in Section 5). All items
requested are included in the response package and submitted as instructed. All files
are transmitted to the Bonfire site without password or other lockdown requirements
and proof of insurance demonstrates existing coverage meeting required minimum
limits. Incomplete responses will not be considered further.
Proposals meeting the screening criteria will then be further evaluated by the following
weighted criteria in order to select the Contractor providing the best overall value to the
department requesting these services:
TECHNICAL EVALUATION: 60%
40 Points Project Approach and Resources - Section 3
The proposal provides enough information to determine that the proposing
Contractor has sufficient resources to provide the specified services. Items to be
evaluated: proposed approach and processes are appropriate and sufficient to
complete the scope of work, and the narrative submitted in response to the
scope of work. The Proposer demonstrates a clear and reasonable approach for
providing continuous FWI treatment for the required three-year period.
20 Points Qualifications/Experience - Section 4
The proposal demonstrates relevant qualifications and experience similar in
nature and scope. Items to be evaluated include the overview of your
organization and evidence of past work that includes three (3) representative
projects that demonstrate your experience and ability to successfully perform
Page 9 | 19

the work. References may be considered as an additional evaluation
consideration as described in Section 4.2.
COST EVALUATION: 40%
40 Points Cost Proposal - Section 7
Cost scores are calculated by dividing each score into the lowest total cost
proposal/proposed solution total cost x 40. Lowest cost proposal receives all of
the 40 available points. The remaining proposals scores are calculated by
dividing their cost into the low cost and multiply that result by 0.40.
EXAMPLE
Supplier A's proposed total cost = 150,000
Supplier B's proposed total cost = $200,000
Supplier C's proposed total cost = $100,000 (lowest total cost proposed)
Cost scores would be calculated as follows:
Supplier C: (100,000/100,000) x 40 = 40 points
Supplier B: (100,000/200,000) x 40 = 20 points
Supplier A: (100,000/150,000 x 40 = 26.67 points
Section 7: Cost Proposal
The Cost Proposal shall be all-inclusive, covering all labor, materials, mobilization,
equipment, shipping/delivery, travel, permitting allowances, and warranty coverage
necessary to fulfill the requirements detailed in Section 3 (Scope of Work) and Appendix
A.
Contractors must download, complete, and upload the required BidTable Excel
spreadsheet (BT-14KQ) provided in Bonfire. Each cost item must correspond to the
technical approach described in the proposal.
Contractors shall provide a lump-sum price for the complete turn-key installation of the
Floating Wetland Island (FWI) systems at both the North Pond and South Pond
locations, including:
1. Mobilization, travel, permitting, site setup and post-construction cleanup
2. Floating island matrix materials and structural assembly.
3. Anchor systems, hardware, and installation.
4. Wetland plants and planting labor (meeting the specified 0.5 stems/sq ft
density).
5. Mandatory 6 month Plant & Structure Warranty (100% replacement for failed
plants below 85% coverage and structural defect coverage for 12 months
post-acceptance).
Page 10 | 19