Request for Qualifications for Professional Engineering Services
Safe Streets for All Grant Administration - Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
March 12, 2026
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PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Kings Mountain is soliciting Statements of Qualification (SOQ) from interested and qualified firms to provide professional Engineering Services related to Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (hereafter referred to as the PROJECT). The City is seeking firms whose combination of experience and expertise will provide timely, professional service to the City.
Information related to this solicitation, including any addenda, will be posted to the City of Kings Mountain website (
https://www.cityofkm.com/Bids.aspx
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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The City of Kings Mountain applied for and received a 2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Planning and Demonstration grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
The plan will address each of the program’s selection criteria and provide a comprehensive approach to addressing the City’s roadway safety needs.
During the 2020-2024 study period, Kings Mountain experienced a total of 1,674 crashes, with 12 being fatal and 925 causing injury (NCDOT Crash Facts, 2020 to 2024). Within City limits, more than 4,100 people were involved in crashes. Tragically, among them were seven pedestrians and five motorcyclists who suffered fatal or serious injuries (NC Vision Zero). The most severe crash types that led to fatal or serious injuries were angle crashes. Pedestrian-related crashes, followed by motorcycle, ranked as the most common vulnerable road user crash type during this period (NCDOT Crash Facts, 2020 to 2024). Of the crashes experienced in the City, the top contributing factors included, but are not limited to, distracted driving, speeding, and failure to yield right of way (NC Vision Zero Safety Dashboard). Kings Mountain seeks to develop a Safety Action Plan concentrating on reducing crashes resulting in fatalities or serious injuries for all users of the City’s roadway network.
PROPOSED SCOPE OF WORK
Selected consultant will be expected to provide a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan that meets all requirements as stipulated in the grant agreement. Those items, at a minimum are:
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Leadership commitment and goal setting
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Planning Structure
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Safety Analysis
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Engagement and collaboration
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Policy and process changes
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Strategy and project selections
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Progress and transparency
The firm selected will have demonstratable experience with producing studies that conform to the requirements of a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.
IV. GENERAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS AND FORMAT
The City of Kings Mountain invites all interested and qualified Engineering firms to submit qualification statements in accordance with the following requirements. Firms will not be considered unless the minimum qualifications are met:
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Firm must be properly registered with the Office of the Secretary of State of North Carolina (as applicable);
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Firm must be licensed by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors (as applicable); and
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Responses should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward and concise description of the Responder’s experience and qualifications related to proposed scope of services.
The Statement of Qualifications package should consist of a cover letter, responses to the specific inquiries in this Section, and a set of completed Required Forms (1-5), attached to this RFQ.
SOQs are limited to a maximum of 20 pages printed on one side, or 10 pages printed on both sides, or a combination of both excluding the required forms, covers, sub-tabs and dividers. SOQs should be printed on 8-1/2” x 11” paper; however, pages with organizational charts, matrices, or diagrams may be printed on larger sheets. Type size should be no smaller than 11 points for narrative sections, but may be reduced for captions, footnotes, etc., while maintaining legibility. Required forms, resumes, covers, sub-tabs and dividers do not count toward the page limit. Non-conforming submissions may be removed from consideration at the sole discretion of the County. If hard copies are submitted, please submit packages comprised of materials that are easily recyclable or reusable at the conclusion of the evaluation process.
SOQ packages shall be arranged as follows:
Cover Letter/ Letter of Introduction:
Provide a letter of introduction for the firm and identify any ideas, thoughts or concepts that differentiate your firm from the competition. Describe the firm’s origin, background, current size, financial capacity, available resources, general organization, and company headquarters.
Please make sure there is a contact name, phone number and email address for correspondence regarding this submittal. State any conflicts of interest your firm or any key team member may have with this Project.
Identify and describe any pending claims, disputes, and/or litigation and any that occurred within the past five (5) years involving your firm or any of your proposed subconsultants. With respect to resolved matters, describe the outcome.
Relevant Experience and Capabilities:
List up to three (3) relevant, similar projects either currently in progress or having been completed in the past five (5) years, containing work comparable to the specific Project that is being pursued, including any projects with the City, as follows:
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List only projects involving the key team members or subconsultants proposed for this Project.
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List projects in date order with newest projects listed first and include the following:
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Brief project description;
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Owner’s representative having knowledge of the firm’s work, include the contact name, phone, email, address; highlight any past similar work performed with proposed sub-consultants;
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Contract dollar amount and total time period involved. Demonstrate your firm’s previous successes in being able to deliver similar projects on time and at or under budget;
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Discuss the methods, approach and controls used on the project in order to complete it in an effective, timely, economical, and professional manner;
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References from previous clients with current contact information.
The Firm and Key Members:
Provide an organization chart of all key team members who will be directly involved in providing services, including any subconsultants, to be assigned specifically to this project. Note any minority owned firms, and the minority category.
Identify the project manager and key personnel who will be directly responsible for the project, along with summaries of relevant project experience.
Provide names, location, and background information, including experience of other consultants who will be performing other portions of the work.
Briefly discuss availability of key team members by providing a list of current projects/work for each key team member. Describe a specific project or example that illustrates your team availability and responsiveness.
Project Understanding. Methodology and Approach
Discuss the Firm’s understanding of the Project objectives and describe the proposed project approach to deliver the Services in an effective, timely and professional manner. Describe any methods the firm intends to use to reduce project costs. Outline the project plans, structure, and services to be provided and how and when these services shall be provided. This description should fully and completely demonstrate the proposer’s intended methods for servicing the requirements of all aspects of the Project set forth herein.
Describe any support needed from City staff in order to execute the Services.
Describe the firm’s Project Management and Quality Control procedures, processes for performance, and past involvement in projects of similar nature to those anticipated as a result of this solicitation.
Discuss the firm’s Management and Quality Control procedures related to subconsultants.
Discuss the firm’s processes and procedures for meeting schedules and budgets.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The City of Kings Mountain is requesting the services of an experienced and qualified architectural firm with applicable experience to design to the specific needs of the City. Proposal packages will be evaluated based on the firm’s overall ability to meet the requirements in this RFQ; however, a Responder’s relevant background and experience (both the firm itself and the key personnel assigned to the Project) will be a major factor of consideration in the City’s selection process.
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Relevant Experience and Capabilities 40% = Team’s experience, knowledge, familiarity and past performance with similar relevant projects.
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Availability of the Firm and Key Members 30%= Experience and availability of the proposed Team to perform the type of municipal work required.
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Project Understanding 30% = Firm's understanding of the specific project and their responsibility in delivering services advertised for the project.
Any questions should be directed to Mark Breen, City Engineer, at the City of Kings Mountain:
For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address.
or 704-730-2103.
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SCHEDULE
Submittal Deadlines
Deadline for Questions
Selections/Interviews
April-May 2026
Scoping Meetings
May 2026
City Council Consideration of Award
May 26, 2026
VII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Public Records
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Upon receipt by the City, all proposal packages are considered a public record except for material that qualifies as “Confidential Information” under North Carolina General Statutes § 132-1.2.
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As a condition to confidential treatment, each page containing a “Trade Secret” as defined in North Carolina General Statutes § 66-152(3), must be identified in boldface at the top and bottom as “CONFIDENTIAL” by the Proposer. Any pages marked as confidential must be submitted with one (1) additional redacted copy of that page. The City will not be responsible for redacting confidential information for public records requests.
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In submitting a SOQ, each firm agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the City of Kings Mountain and each of its officers, employees, and agents from all costs, damages, and expenses incurred in connection with refusing to disclose any material that the firm has designated as a trade secret.
Clarification of Submittal
The City of Kings Mountain reserves the right to obtain clarification of any point in a firm’s proposal or to obtain additional information.
Conditions and Reservations
The City of Kings Mountain reserves the right to reject any and all responses to the RFQ, or to accept any Statement of Qualification response deemed to be in the best interest of the City. A response to this RFQ should not be construed as a contract, nor indicate a commitment of any kind by the City. The response does not commit the City to pay for costs incurred in the submission of a response to this RFQ or for any cost incurred prior to the execution of a final contract.
Equal Opportunity
The firm shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
REQUIRED Form 1 – Execution of SOQ
PROJECT NAME: City of Kings Mountain Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
The person executing the SOQ, on behalf of the Firm being duly sworn, solemnly swears (or affirms) that neither he, nor any official, agent or employee of the Firm has entered into any agreement, participated in any collusion, or otherwise taken any action which is in restraint of full and open competition in connection with any proposal or contract, that the Consultant has not been convicted of violating North Carolina General Statute 133-24 within the last three years, and that the Firm intends to do the work with its own bona fide employees or subcontractors and is not proposing for the benefit of another company.
Submission of a response to this RFQ constitutes certification that the Firm and all proposed team members are not currently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this Project by any State or Federal department or agency. Submission is also agreement that the County will be notified of any change in this status.
NC General Statute 133-32 and City Policy prohibit any gift from anyone with a contract with the City, or from any person seeking to do business with the City. By execution of this SOQ, you attest, for your organization and its employees or agents, that you are not aware that any such gift has been offered, accepted, or promised by any employees of your organization.
The information contained in this SOQ, including its forms and other documents, delivered or to be delivered to the City is true, accurate, and complete. This SOQ includes all information necessary to ensure that the statements therein do not in whole or in part mislead the County as to any material facts.
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Type of Consultant:
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(check 1 box)
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Corporation _ (identify the State of incorporation)
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Limited Liability Company (identify the State of incorporation)
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Company Legal Name:
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Mailing Address:
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City/State/Zip:
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Phone:
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Email:
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Printed Name:
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Title:
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Signature:
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Date:
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REQUIRED Form 2 – Byrd Anti-Lobbying Certification
The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:
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No federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any federal contract, the making of any federal grant, the making of any federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of and Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.
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If any funds other than federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for making lobbying contacts to an officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form—LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instructions [as amended by "Government wide Guidance for New Restrictions on Lobbying," 61 Fed. Reg. 1413 (1/19/96)].
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The undersigned shall require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents for all subawards at all tiers (including all subcontracts, subgrants, and contracts under grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.
This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction by 31, U.S.C. § 1352 (as amended by the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995). Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.
(the “Company”), certifies or affirms the truthfulness and accuracy of each statement of its certification and disclosure, if any. In addition, the Company understands and agrees that the provisions of 31 U.S.C. A 3801, et seq., apply to this certification and disclosure, if any.
(Print Name) Company Name
Authorized Signature Address
Date City/State/Zip
REQUIRED Form 5 – Key Team Member Matrix
(Attach additional sheets as necessary for sub-consultants)
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KEY TEAM MEMBERS
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Key Team Member 1
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Key Team Member 2
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Key Team Member 3
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Name
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Professional Certifications/Licenses
(include Certification/License #)
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Relevant Academic Degree(s)
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Proposed Role/Function for Projects
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Team Member’s Office Location (City, State)
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Number of Years with Current Firm
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Number of Years of Relevant Experience
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Availability to provide Services for this Project
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List Notable Projects/Experience
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