2026 005 Engineering Services Addendum No. 1

NOTICE TO BID
(RFQ # 2026-005)
Posted: 09/10/2026
The City of Mercedes is requesting sealed qualifications (RFQ) from qualified individuals/firms interested in providing
ENGINEERING SERVICES. Qualified applicants are invited to submit qualifications and proposals for the provision of these
services. In order to be considered, proposals must address each of the requests for information included in this document.
All addenda, notices, additional information, etc. will be posted on the City of Mercedes website at www.cityofmercedes.com.
One (1) unbound original, and one (1) electronic copy must be sealed and returned to the City of Mercedes, City Hall, no later than
3:00 P.M. CST on Thursday, October 8, 2026, to the attention of:
City Secretary
Mercedes City Hall
400 S. Ohio Ave.
Mercedes, TX 78570
All proposals must be clearly marked with "RFQ 2026-005 - ENGINEERING SERVICES." Proposer is responsible for delivery
of response by the date and time set for the closing of the proposal acceptance. Responses received after the date and time set for the
closing will not be considered.
Proposals will be publicly opened and acknowledged after the submission deadline. The contract award is anticipated to be made on
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, during a regular meeting of the Mercedes City Commission.
All bidders must be bonded in accordance with state and local requirements.
All questions regarding the specifications or scope of work must be submitted in writing no later than September 24, 2026 at 5:00
P.M. to the City of Mercedes at:
Joselynn Castillo, City Secretary
400 S. Ohio Ave.
Mercedes, TX 78570
Phone: (956) 565-3114
jcastillo@cityofmercedes.com
The City of Mercedes reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and waive informalities in proposals received.
Joselynn Castillo
City Secretary

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
GENERAL AND ON-CALL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
RFQ No. 2026-005
Issue Date September 10, 2026
SOQ Due Date October 8, 2026
SOQ Due Time 3:00 P.M.
Contract Term November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2029
Prepared for the City of Mercedes, Texas
City of Mercedes, Texas 2

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
1. NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
The City of Mercedes, Texas ("City") is requesting Statements of Qualifications ("SOQs") from qualified professional
engineering firms to provide general municipal engineering, on-call engineering, development review, infrastructure
evaluation, surveying coordination, and related professional services on an as-needed basis.
The intent of this RFQ is to establish a limited group of highly qualified engineering firms capable of providing timely and
responsive professional services across the principal engineering needs of the City.
* General municipal and civil engineering;
* Development and subdivision review;
* Water distribution and treatment systems;
* Wastewater collection and treatment systems;
* Streets, paving, sidewalks, and transportation infrastructure;
* Stormwater and drainage;
* Mechanical and municipal facility systems;
* Surveying and related professional services;
* Infrastructure assessment and cost estimating;
* Construction administration and inspection;
* Regulatory and technical assistance; and
* Other engineering services associated with municipal operations.
The City does not intend through this RFQ to automatically assign major capital improvement projects to selected firms.
Large, complex, grant-funded, or specialized projects may be separately procured when determined appropriate or
required by applicable law, funding agencies, or the City Commission.
The City anticipates selecting a limited number of firms rather than maintaining an unnecessarily large engineering pool.
The exact number will be determined after evaluation of the SOQs based upon the City's actual needs and the
qualifications received.
2. PROCUREMENT METHOD
This procurement is for professional engineering services and is intended to comply with the Texas Professional
Services Procurement Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 2254, and all other applicable federal, state, and local
requirements.
Selection shall be based upon demonstrated competence and qualifications.
Respondents shall not include proposed fees, hourly rates, retainers, multipliers, or other pricing information
in their SOQ unless specifically requested by the City after qualifications have been evaluated.
Following ranking, the City may negotiate the scope, contract structure, compensation, hourly rates, retainer
arrangements, task-order pricing, or other appropriate compensation with the selected firm or firms in accordance with
applicable law.
The City reserves the right to obtain legal review of the procurement and resulting contracts before award.
3. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The City of Mercedes requires engineering assistance across numerous municipal functions, including development,
planning, public works, utilities, streets, drainage, parks, facilities, and infrastructure.
The City has historically maintained multiple engineering firms under professional service arrangements. The City
Commission has determined that a more focused approach is appropriate.
1. Establish access to qualified engineering professionals who can respond promptly to City needs;
2. Reduce delays associated with locating an engineer each time a smaller engineering need arises;
3. Provide the City with independent professional engineering advice and technical review;
4. Improve consistency in development and subdivision review;
5. Provide additional engineering capacity when multiple development or infrastructure matters occur simultaneously;
City of Mercedes, Texas 3

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
6. Match assignments to firms with appropriate technical expertise;
7. Avoid an unnecessarily large pool of engineering firms that the City does not realistically intend to utilize;
8. Establish clear accountability, responsiveness, and performance expectations;
9. Improve the City's ability to develop reliable scopes and cost estimates before undertaking infrastructure work;
10. Assist City staff in evaluating proposals, designs, infrastructure alternatives, and technical recommendations
submitted by third parties; and
11. Provide engineering resources that function in the best interests of the City and its residents.
4. INTENDED ENGINEERING SERVICES MODEL
The City is considering a flexible engineering services structure.
A. Primary General/Development Engineer
One firm may serve as the City's primary resource for routine municipal engineering and development-related services,
including:
* Development review;
* Subdivision review;
* Plat-related engineering review;
* Utility availability and infrastructure review;
* Routine technical questions;
* General municipal engineering consultation;
* Preliminary infrastructure evaluations;
* Cost estimates;
* Meetings with City staff and developers;
* Technical review of third-party recommendations; and
* Coordination of specialized engineering assistance when needed.
The City may negotiate a monthly retainer, defined number of professional hours, hourly arrangement, task-order
structure, or other legally permissible compensation method following qualifications-based selection.
B. Specialized/Secondary Engineering Firms
The City may also select additional firms with particular strengths in areas such as water, wastewater, drainage, streets
and paving, mechanical systems, surveying, construction inspection, or other specialized municipal infrastructure.
These firms may provide supplemental capacity when the primary engineer is unavailable, has a conflict, lacks the
necessary specialty, or when workload requires concurrent assignments.
C. Assignment of Work
Selection under this RFQ does not guarantee any minimum amount of work. The City may establish procedures for
assignment of work based upon factors permitted by law and the resulting contracts, including:
* Required professional discipline;
* Qualifications for the particular assignment;
* Availability;
* Current workload;
* Response time;
* Continuity with previous work;
* Conflicts of interest;
* Specialized expertise; and
* Equitable distribution of appropriate assignments when practicable.
The City does not intend for the engineering pool to become so large that firms are selected but rarely or never utilized.
City of Mercedes, Texas 4

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
5. SCOPE OF SERVICES
* Consultation with the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, department directors, Planning Department, Public
Works Department, Utility Department, and other City personnel;
* Attendance at City Commission, Planning and Zoning Commission, development, preconstruction, or staff meetings
when requested;
* Engineering research and recommendations;
* Preliminary engineering evaluations;
* Infrastructure condition assessments;
* Technical memoranda;
* Opinions and recommendations regarding infrastructure;
* Preliminary feasibility evaluations;
* Review of engineering reports and studies prepared by others;
* Review of proposed infrastructure improvements;
* Assistance with development of scopes of work;
* Preparation of conceptual designs;
* Opinions of probable construction cost;
* Capital improvement planning assistance;
* Technical assistance during emergencies; and
* Other routine municipal engineering services.
6. DEVELOPMENT AND SUBDIVISION REVIEW
This is a significant component of the anticipated services. The City expects development reviews to be performed
promptly so that engineering review does not unnecessarily delay responsible development.
* Review of subdivision construction plans;
* Review of plats from an engineering perspective;
* Review of proposed water, wastewater, drainage, paving, and related infrastructure;
* Review of utility extensions;
* Review of easements and infrastructure locations;
* Review of fire-flow and water-system considerations in coordination with appropriate City officials;
* Review of drainage calculations and plans;
* Review of street and pavement designs;
* Review of proposed public infrastructure for compliance with City standards;
* Review of engineering reports submitted by developers;
* Preparation of written comments;
* Follow-up review of revised plans;
* Participation in meetings with developers and their engineers;
* Recommendations concerning acceptance of public infrastructure;
* Identification of deficiencies requiring correction before acceptance; and
* Technical assistance to Planning and City Administration.
7. WATER SYSTEM ENGINEERING
* Water distribution system evaluations;
* Water main sizing;
* Water line extensions;
* Hydraulic considerations;
* Water pressure evaluations;
* Fire-flow analysis;
* Water treatment infrastructure;
City of Mercedes, Texas 5

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
* Groundwater facilities;
* Surface-water facilities;
* Wells;
* Pumps;
* Pump stations;
* Ground and elevated storage facilities;
* Valves and hydrants;
* Water main replacement;
* Water system looping;
* Dead-end line evaluations;
* Utility easements;
* Water system capacity evaluations;
* Preliminary design;
* Construction plans and specifications when assigned;
* Construction administration;
* TCEQ-related engineering assistance; and
* Coordination with City utility operations staff.
8. WASTEWATER ENGINEERING
* Wastewater collection system evaluation;
* Gravity sewer design and evaluation;
* Force mains;
* Lift stations;
* Pump selection;
* Wet wells;
* Wastewater treatment facilities;
* Collection-system rehabilitation;
* Infiltration and inflow considerations;
* Capacity evaluations;
* Wastewater flow projections;
* Development impact evaluations;
* Sewer line extensions;
* Manhole rehabilitation;
* Preliminary engineering reports;
* Construction plans and specifications when assigned;
* Construction administration;
* TCEQ-related engineering assistance; and
* Coordination with City wastewater operations personnel.
9. STREETS, PAVING AND TRANSPORTATION
* Street condition assessments;
* Pavement evaluations;
* Asphalt overlay recommendations;
* Full-depth reconstruction recommendations;
* Roadway widening;
* Base repair;
* Pavement design;
* Sidewalks;
* ADA-related infrastructure;
* Curbs and gutters;
* Street reconstruction;
City of Mercedes, Texas 6

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
* Preliminary cost estimates;
* Quantity calculations;
* Development of street improvement priorities;
* Assistance with annual street programs;
* Construction plans and specifications;
* Construction administration;
* Review of contractor proposals; and
* Technical assistance for work performed by City crews.
The City may specifically request engineering assistance in determining whether proposed street improvements should
consist of maintenance, overlay, rehabilitation, or complete reconstruction.
10. DRAINAGE AND STORMWATER
* Local drainage evaluations;
* Storm sewer systems;
* Culverts;
* Inlets;
* Channels;
* Detention and retention;
* Drainage calculations;
* Development drainage review;
* Flood-related infrastructure considerations;
* Preliminary drainage studies;
* Corrective drainage recommendations;
* Construction plans and specifications;
* Stormwater infrastructure assessment;
* MS4-related technical engineering assistance when appropriate; and
* Coordination with drainage districts and other governmental entities.
11. MECHANICAL AND MUNICIPAL FACILITY ENGINEERING
* Pumps;
* Motors;
* Mechanical equipment;
* Municipal buildings;
* Parks;
* Irrigation systems;
* Water and wastewater facilities;
* HVAC-related engineering;
* Building utility systems;
* Equipment replacement evaluations;
* Energy or operational efficiency;
* Technical equipment specifications; and
* Other mechanical systems encountered in City operations.
A respondent is not required to perform all mechanical engineering internally but shall clearly identify whether these
capabilities are provided by employees, subconsultants, or teaming partners.
12. SURVEYING AND RELATED SERVICES
* Boundary surveying;
* Topographic surveying;
* Utility surveying;
City of Mercedes, Texas 7

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
* Construction staking;
* Easement preparation;
* Right-of-way surveying;
* Existing-condition surveys;
* As-built surveys;
* Infrastructure location; and
* Other surveying necessary to support municipal projects.
Respondents shall identify whether surveying is performed internally or through a subconsultant and shall identify the
Texas Registered Professional Land Surveyor responsible for such services when applicable.
13. CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION AND INSPECTION
* Preconstruction meetings;
* Review of submittals;
* Review of requests for information;
* Periodic construction observation;
* Construction inspection;
* Review of contractor pay applications;
* Review of change-order requests;
* Verification of quantities;
* Substantial completion inspections;
* Final inspections;
* Punch lists;
* Record drawings;
* Project closeout;
* Warranty inspections; and
* Recommendations concerning acceptance of infrastructure.
The engineer shall promptly advise the City of material deviations from approved plans, specifications, schedules,
budgets, or applicable requirements.
14. COST ESTIMATING AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
* Develop conceptual scopes;
* Develop preliminary quantities;
* Prepare opinions of probable construction cost;
* Identify reasonable contingencies;
* Identify utility relocation requirements;
* Separate construction, material, engineering, inspection, and other major cost components when requested;
* Identify assumptions;
* Identify significant project risks;
* Compare rehabilitation and replacement alternatives;
* Assist the City in establishing realistic project budgets; and
* Update estimates as projects progress.
15. THIRD-PARTY TECHNICAL REVIEW
The City may request that selected engineers provide an independent technical review of proposals submitted to the
City by developers, contractors, vendors, consultants, utility providers, equipment manufacturers, or other third parties.
The purpose of such review is to provide the City with independent professional advice regarding technical feasibility,
infrastructure impacts, estimated costs, risks, alternatives, and whether a proposed approach appears consistent with
sound engineering practice.
City of Mercedes, Texas 8

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
16. MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS
This RFQ is primarily intended for general municipal, on-call, development, infrastructure evaluation, and smaller
professional engineering assignments. Selection under this RFQ shall not guarantee assignment of major capital
improvement projects.
* Major water treatment projects;
* Major wastewater treatment projects;
* Major roadway or drainage projects;
* Large grant-funded projects;
* Federally funded projects;
* TWDB-funded projects;
* Projects requiring specialized procurement procedures;
* Projects of unusual complexity or magnitude; or
* Any project for which the City determines a separate qualifications-based selection is in its best interest or legally
required.
A firm selected under this RFQ may submit qualifications for separately advertised projects unless prohibited by law,
funding requirements, contractual conflict, or the applicable solicitation.
17. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND INDEPENDENCE
The City expects its engineers to provide independent professional advice in the City's best interest. Respondents shall
disclose:
* Current engineering relationships with developers actively developing within Mercedes;
* Current relationships with major contractors performing work for the City;
* Current relationships with entities having significant matters before the City;
* Any known actual or potential conflict of interest;
* Any circumstances that could materially impair independent professional judgment; and
* Procedures used by the firm to identify and manage conflicts.
A selected firm shall promptly disclose any actual or potential conflict arising during the contract. The City reserves the
right to assign a matter to another selected engineer whenever a conflict exists or the City determines independent
review is appropriate.
18. RESPONSIVENESS AND AVAILABILITY
Responsiveness is a significant consideration for the City. Respondents shall describe their ability to provide routine
telephone/email response, development plan review, emergency consultation, on-site response, attendance at City
meetings, concurrent review of multiple assignments, and backup personnel when the primary engineer is unavailable.
The City expects selected firms to acknowledge routine requests within one business day, unless otherwise
agreed.
Respondents should identify realistic anticipated turnaround times for routine engineering questions, development plan
reviews, revised development plan reviews, preliminary cost estimates, field evaluations, and emergency matters.
19. KEY PERSONNEL
The respondent shall identify the individual proposed to serve as the City's Principal Engineer and Primary Day-to-Day
Contact. The City places significant importance on the qualifications and availability of the individuals who will actually
perform the work.
Substitution of key personnel after award may require City approval. At least one individual assigned responsibility for
engineering services shall be a Professional Engineer licensed to practice engineering in the State of Texas.
City of Mercedes, Texas 9

CITY OF MERCEDES, TEXAS | RFQ - GENERAL AND ON-CALL ENGINEERING SERVICES
20. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS
Section 1 - Cover Letter
Firm name; address; primary contact; telephone; email; years in business; authorized representative; and statement
confirming interest.
Section 2 - Executive Summary
Why the firm is qualified; principal municipal engineering strengths; service categories proposed; and approach to
responsive engineering assistance.
Section 3 - Firm Qualifications
Firm history; office locations; number of professional engineers and technical/support personnel; Texas registrations;
municipal experience; and resources.
Section 4 - Proposed Team
Organizational chart; principal engineer; project manager; professional engineers; surveyors; inspectors; technical staff;
subconsultants; relevant licenses; and office locations.
Section 5 - Municipal Experience
Comparable work for Texas municipalities, particularly communities with similar infrastructure and staffing needs.
Section 6 - Development Review Experience
Experience with subdivisions, plats, water/sewer extensions, drainage, street plans, easements, and developer-
prepared plans; include review process.
Section 7 - Water/Wastewater Experience
Municipal water systems, treatment, distribution, storage, pumps, wastewater collection, lift stations, force mains,
treatment, and TCEQ requirements.
Section 8 - Streets and Drainage Experience
Asphalt overlays, reconstruction, pavement evaluation, roadway design, drainage, storm sewer, culverts, flooding, and
street programs.
Section 9 - Availability and Responsiveness
Current workload, availability, response times, simultaneous assignments, emergency response, and backup staffing.
Section 10 - Project Management Approach
Assignment intake, scope, communication, tracking, schedule, budget, documentation, subconsultants, problem
identification, and closeout.
Section 11 - Quality Assurance/Quality Control
Firm QA/QC procedures.
Section 12 - Conflicts of Interest
Disclosures required by this RFQ.
Section 13 - References
At least five municipal or governmental references, preferably Texas municipalities, with contact and service
information.
City of Mercedes, Texas 10