Request For Qualifications

To Provide For
REQUEST FOR
Architectural,
Engineering,
Geotechnical,
QUALIFICATIONS
and
Archeological
Services
Project No. BIP-0001-2026
The Development Authority of Dawson County is developing a 77-acre
site at 487 Burt Creek Road to be the county's first Business and
Innovation Park

Request for Qualifications
A/E Services
Project No. BIP-0001-2026, Business and Innovation Park, 487 Burt Creek
Road
The Development Authority of Dawson County, ("Owner"), is soliciting statements of
qualifications from professional firms interested in providing A/E Services for Project
No. BIP-0001-2026, Business and Innovation Park, 487 Burt Creek Road,
Dawsonville, GA, ("Project"). This Request for Qualifications ("RFQ") seeks to
identify potential providers of the above-mentioned services. One or more firms that
respond to this RFQ and who are determined by the Owner to be especially
qualified, may be deemed eligible and may be invited to discuss and negotiate for
these services. All respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions
communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire
RFQ and follow instructions carefully. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or
all statements of qualifications or proposals, and to waive technicalities and
informalities at the discretion of the Owner. Please note: The issuance of this RFQ
invokes a Restriction of Communication on potential respondents, which, if violated,
may result in proposal rejection (See Section 8 for details).
1. General Project Information
Project Description
The project will create a Business and Innovation Park, water and wastewater
infrastructure, and park designs, with a master plan for the B&I Park. The delivery
method for this Project will be electronic and physical copies submitted to Kevin L.
Herrit, Director of Economic Development for the Dawson County Chamber of
Commerce, and, as a minimum, will employ the services of an environmental
scientist, a geotechnical expert, and an archaeologist in addition to the A/E
Consultant.
Project Goals
It is envisioned that the successful Project will achieve the following objectives:
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* Create design and construction drawings for the installation of water and
wastewater, archaeological review and studies of the project site, geotechnical
analysis of the site, and conceptual designs of the Business and Innovation Park.
Project Schedule
Start design work on June 08, 2026. Complete design work on August 31, 2026
(All of the dates above are estimates and subject to change. The fee structure for
A/E Consulting
Services relative to the schedule and fee amounts will be agreed upon by the Owner
and the Consultant prior to the start of Consulting Services.)
2. A/E Consultant Requirements
Firms or a team of firms should consider that this is an Appalachian Regional
Commission (ARC) funded project and is subject to the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931,
the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act, and all other applicable state and
federal requirements.
The final scope of services will be developed by the Owner and communicated to
eligible firm(s) prior to actual agreement. The Owner will provide additional details
and a list of general duties required in A/E Consulting Services for this Project to
eligible finalists.
3. RFQ Schedule Of Events
The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner's best estimate of the
schedule that will be followed. All times indicated are prevailing times in Georgia.
The Owner reserves the right to adjust the schedule as the Owner deems
necessary.
4-6-
a. Owner issues a public advertisement of RFQ for a period of 30 days - - - - - - - - --
2026
b. Deadline for written questions/requests for clarification (see section 5-12-
4:00 PM
6) 2026
c. Deadline for submission of Statements of Qualifications (see sections 5-19-
2:00 PM
5, 7) 2026
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d. Owner completes evaluation, posts results, and issues Notification to 5-26-
----------
Finalist firms 2026
e. Owner conducts mandatory pre-proposal conference and site visit (if
6-01-
applicable) for TBA
2026
finalist firms
6-03-
f. Deadline for submission of written questions from finalists 4:00 PM
2026
6-05-
g. Deadline for finalist firms to submit Project Proposal (if applicable) 2:00 PM
2026
h. Selection Committee interviews finalist firms TBA TBA
4. Selection Process
A Selection Committee, consisting of representatives of the Owner, will identify a
selection of finalist firms through a qualifications-based selection process. The
Selection Committee will receive and evaluate Statements of Qualifications
submitted in response to this RFQ using the following criteria:
Criteria for evaluation of Statements of Qualifications
25% Factor} Stability of the firm, including the firm's corporate history, growth,
resources, form of ownership, litigation history, financial information,
and other evidence of stability.
35% Factor} Firm's relevant project experience and qualifications, including the
demonstrated ability of firm in effective Consulting Services of facilities
comparable in complexity, size, and function. This includes relevant
experience and qualifications of the principal Consulting Services lead
staff and level of experience in a leadership role over multiple
providers and phases of construction for (Insert Appropriate
Experience Types).
25% Factor} Past performance of the firm including references about the quality of
leadership of the firm in Consulting Services, the overall services of the
firm to previous customers, the firm's ability to meet established project
goals, the firm's response to the Owner's needs throughout the project,
and the financial and technical success history of the of projects in
which the firm provided leadership.
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15% Factor} Firm's apparent suitability to provide services for Project, including the
firm's apparent fit to the project type and/or needs of the Owner, any
special or unique qualifications for the Project, current and projected
workloads, proximity of office or lead staff to Project location, and
services offered by the firm. The firm's non-discrimination policies, any
affirmative action policies, and past efforts for W/MBE inclusion will be
a part of this evaluation, as well as the firm's record and methodology
of addressing public safety and environmental concerns.
Finalist Notification
The names of the firms selected as finalists will be posted on the Georgia
Procurement Registry. The firms selected as finalists will receive written notification
(Finalist Notification) from the Owner which will address the necessary elements of
the remainder of the selection process. These elements include, but may not be
limited to, the following:
Pre-Interview Conference and Site Visit (if applicable)
In the Finalist Notification, a mandatory pre-interview conference and site visit will
be scheduled by the Owner and will include detailed instructions for finalists
about the conference. At the conference, all finalist firms may be given relevant
available information that has previously been developed (such as designs,
studies, preliminary plans, maps, etc.), a specimen copy of the Consulting
Services contract form, and other available additional scope information.
Project Proposal (if applicable)
With the Finalist Notification, the Owner may issue a Request for Project
Proposal from the firm. The Project Proposal will be submitted in a format
prescribed by the Owner. It will include, at a minimum, (1) specific information on
the firm's proposed leadership team and commitment thereof; and (2) a
Consulting Services plan for the Project. Copies of this proposal shall be sent to
the Owner prior to the interview at the time specified by the Owner in (See
Section 3 RFQ Schedule of Events). Additional Project Proposal instructions and
guidelines will be provided in the Notice to Finalists, as well as the criteria which
will be used to evaluate the proposals.
Interview
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In the Finalist Notification, each finalist firm shall be informed of the place and
time for the interview session. The time allotted to each firm will not exceed 90
minutes to include: 15 minutes for setup, 30 minutes for proposer presentation,
30 minutes for Committee questions, and 15 minutes for knockdown. Electronic
presentations, such as PowerPoint presentations, are allowed but may not
comprise more than 15 minutes of the 30 minute presentation. Although the
Owner will have a screen and projector available in the interview room, presenter
must be prepared with own projector and laptop for quick setup within the allotted
15 minutes as a backup. The remainder of the presentation may involve flip
charts or boards along with oral presentation. Additional interview instructions
and guidelines will be provided in the Notice to Finalists, as well as the criteria
which will be used to evaluate the interview.
Consultant Selection
Upon completion of the evaluation and interview process by the Selection
Committee, the firms will be ranked using criteria described herein in descending
order of recommendation. Negotiations may then be initiated with the highest-
ranking firm to finalize the terms and conditions of the contract, including the fees to
be paid. In the event a satisfactory fee agreement cannot be reached with the
highest ranking firm, the Owner will formally terminate the negotiations in writing and
enter into negotiations in turn with the second highest ranking firm, and so on until a
mutual agreement is established and the Owner awards an A/E Consulting Services
contract. The actual Form of Contract shall be developed by the Owner.
5. Instructions for Preparing Statements of Qualifications
A single PDF file of the statement of qualifications shall be prepared and emailed to
Kevin L. Herrit, MBA, AICP, EDFP prior to the submittal deadline. Each submittal
must include a transmittal letter. Submittals must be able to print on standard (8 12"
x 11") paper. The pages of the qualification submittals must be numbered. A table of
contents, with corresponding tabs, must be included to identify each section.
Responses are limited to 20 pages or less using a minimum of an 11-point font. Any
exhibits, affidavits, or other enclosure information called for may be included in an
appendix and will not count toward the page limit. Each Statement of Qualifications
shall provide a straightforward, concise delineation of respondent's capabilities.
Fancy, colored displays, and promotional materials are not desired. Emphasis must
be on completeness, relevance, and clarity of content. The content of all Statements
of Qualifications must be categorized and numbered as outlined below, and
responsive to all requested information:
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A. Description and Resources of Firm
i. Provide basic company information: Company name, address,
name of primary contact, telephone number, fax number, email address,
and company website (if available). If the firm has multiple offices, the
qualification statement shall include information about the parent
company and branch office separately. Identify office from which project
will be managed and this office's proximity to the project site. Provide form
of ownership, including state of residency or incorporation, and number of
years in business. Is the offeror a sole proprietorship, partnership,
corporation, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), joint venture, or other
structure?
ii. Briefly describe the history and growth of your firm(s). Provide
general information about the firm's personnel resources, including
disciplines and numbers of employees and locations and staffing of
offices
iii. Has the firm been involved in any litigation in the past five years?
Describe your experience with litigation with Owners, and/or Contractors.
List any active or pending litigation and explain.
iv. Provide a statement of disclosure, which will allow the Owner to
evaluate possible conflicts of interest. Respondents must provide, in their
own format, a statement of all potential legal or otherwise significant
conflicts of interests possibly created by the respondent's being
considered in the selection process or by the respondent's involvement in
the project. Respondents should include information as to the nature of
relationship(s) with parties in such potential conflict.
v. Has the firm ever been removed from a Services contract, had a
contract terminated for default, or failed to complete a contract as
assigned?
B. Experience and Qualifications
i. Provide professional qualifications and description of experience for the
principal Consulting Services personnel. (At this stage, firms are asked for
information on lead staff only, but may list qualifications and experience on
more than one lead individual who is qualified and available for the proposed
project. If the firm is selected as a finalist, the Owner will request detailed
information on the exact proposed expanded team and their relevant
experience.) Firms that respond as joint teams will be expected to clearly
demonstrate their team members' shared experience, as a joint team, on
prior projects of similar magnitude and complexity.
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ii. Provide information on the firm's A/E Consulting Services experience on
projects of a similar type, size, function, and complexity. Describe no more
than 10 and no fewer than five projects, in order of most relevant to least
relevant, which demonstrate the firm's capabilities to perform the project at
hand. For each project, the following information should be provided:
a. Project name, location, and dates during which services
were performed.
b. Brief description of project and physical description
(buildings, square footage, number of stories, site areas).
c. Services performed by your firm.
d. Owner's stated satisfaction level in the Consulting Services
and/or overall service of your firm.
e. Owner contact information.
ii. Describe the firm's experience and qualifications in a leadership role
over multiple providers and phases of construction for water and
wastewater infrastructure. Include any oversight of projects of relevant
complexity, including experience in providing leadership in projects that
utilize similar building methods and applications to that of incumbent
project. Include any certifications, industry ratings, and achievement
recognitions, etc., to attest to the level of experience and success.
Describe innovations that the firm might have introduced or employed to
increase the project's adherence to technical standards.
C. Statement of Suitability
i. Provide any information that may serve to differentiate the firm from
other firms in suitability for the project. Suitability may include, but is not
limited to, the firm's fit to the project and/or needs of the Owner, any
special or unique qualifications for the project, current and projected
workloads, the proximity of office to project location, and any services
offered by the firm that may be particularly suitable for this project.
ii. Provide any non-discrimination and affirmative action policies of the
firm and the firm's history of W/MBE inclusion in sourcing for projects.
6. Submittal of Questions and Requests for Clarification
Questions about any aspect of the RFQ, or the project, must be submitted in writing
(email is preferable) to: Kevin Herrit. The deadlines for submission of questions
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relating to the RFQ are the times and dates shown in the RFQ Schedule of Events in
Section 3. Proposers are cautioned to review and adhere to the Restriction of
Communication (See Section 8) for this Project.
7. Submittal of Statements of Qualifications
A single PDF file of the statement of qualifications shall be prepared and emailed to
the Director of Economic Development, Kevin L. Herrit, MBA, AICP, EDFP prior to
the submittal deadline. Each submittal must include a transmittal letter. Submittals
must be able to be printed on standard (8 12" x 11") paper and the words "Statement
of Qualifications" and Project number must be clearly indicated in the filename.
Statements of Qualifications must be received by the Owner prior to the deadline
indicated in the Schedule of Events (See Section 3) at the exact address below:
Kevin Herrit, Director of Economic Development, 44 Commerce Drive, Dawsonville,
GA 30534; email: k.herrit@dawson.org
8. Additional Terms and Conditions
Restriction of Communication
From the issue date of this (RFQ) solicitation until a successful proposer is selected
and the selection is announced, proposers are not allowed to communicate about
this solicitation or this Project for any reason with any members of the Selection
Committee, the Owner, except for submission of questions as instructed in the RFQ,
or during the proposer's conference (if applicable), or as provided by any existing
work agreement(s). For violation of this provision, the Owner reserves the right to
reject the proposal of the offending proposer.
Submittal Costs and Confidentiality
All expenses for preparing and submitting responses are the sole cost of the party
submitting the response. The Owner is not obligated to any party to reimburse such
expenses. All submittals upon receipt become the property of the Owner. Labeling
information provided in submittals "proprietary" or
"confidential", or any other designation of restricted use will not protect the
information from public view.
Subject to the provisions of the Georgia Open Records Act, the details of the
proposal documents will remain confidential until final award.
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Award Conditions
This request is not an offer to contract or a solicitation of bids. This request and any
statement of qualifications or proposal submitted in response, regardless of whether
the proposal is determined to be the best proposal, is not binding upon the Owner
and does not obligate the Owner to procure or contract for any services. Neither the
Owner nor any party submitting a response will be bound unless and until a written
contract mutually accepted by both parties is negotiated as to its terms and
conditions and is signed by the Owner and a party containing such terms and
conditions as are negotiated between those parties. The Owner reserves the right to
waive non-compliance with any requirements of this Request for Proposal and to
reject any or all proposals submitted in responses. Upon receipt and review of
responses, the Owner will determine the party(s) and proposal that in the sole
judgment of the Owner is in the best interest of the Owner (if any is so determined),
with respect to the evaluation criteria stated herein. The Owner then intends to
conduct negotiations with such party(s) to determine if a mutually acceptable
contract may be reached.
Statement of Agreement
With submission of a statement of qualifications or proposal, the Proposer agrees
that he/she has carefully examined the solicitation, and the Proposer agrees that it is
the Proposer's responsibility to request clarification on any issues in any section of
the solicitation with which the Proposer disagrees or needs clarified. The Proposer
also understands that failure to mention these items in the proposal will be
interpreted to mean that the Proposer is in full agreement with the terms, conditions,
specifications and requirements in the therein. With submission of a proposal, the
Proposer hereby certifies: (a) that this proposal is genuine and is not made in the
interest or on behalf of any undisclosed person, firm, or corporation; (b) that
Proposer has not directly or indirectly included or solicited any other Proposer to put
in a false or insincere proposal; (c) that Proposer has not solicited or induced any
person, firm, or corporation to refrain from sending a proposal.
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