RFQ Mill Creek Bridge #1 Replacement Project

NOTICE
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
MILL CREEK BRIDGE #1 REPLACEMENT PROJECT
FEDERAL AID PROJECT NUMBER BRS-A084(002)
COWLITZ COUNTY
The Cowlitz County Department of Public Works (County) solicits interest from consulting firms
with expertise in Civil, Geotechnical, Environmental and Structural Engineering Design for the
Mill Creek Bridge #1 Replacement Project. This agreement will be for approximately 36 months
in duration with the option for the County to extend it for additional time and money if necessary.
This project has federal funds from the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Highway Bridge
Program Surface Transportation Block Grant Program.
The funding is administered by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
Cowlitz County will be following the requirements of the WSDOT Local Agency Guidelines manual
including Chapter 31 consultant requirements and agreement forms. The County reserves the
right to amend terms of this "Request for Qualifications" (RFQ) to circulate various addenda, or
to withdraw the RFQ at any time, regardless of how much time and effort consultants have spent
on their responses. There is a voluntary 10% Federal Small Business Enterprise (FSBE) Goal. The
contract between the selected consultant and the County will be a Negotiated Hourly Rate
Project Description
The work to be performed by the CONSULTANT consists of preparing civil, structural,
geotechnical and environmental engineering design, permitting, plans, specifications and
estimates for replacement of the Mill Creek Road Bridge #1 between approximately milepost
0.09 and milepost 0.31. The proposed project includes replacing the existing bridge with a new
bridge that is 36 feet wide and spans Mill Creek. Included in the project will be bank restoration
of Mill Creek in the vicinity of the bridge and reconstruction of the road approaches the bridge.
The County will provide the topographic survey, boilerplate specifications, and pavement section.
The County will be responsible for developing right of way plans, obtaining appraisals and
negotiating for easement acquisition and for project bidding and award.
The major features of the project are as follows:
* Remove the existing bridge.
* Wetland and ordinary high-water delineation.
* Geotechnical engineering to determine subsurface conditions and to develop
foundation recommendations
* Environmental documentation and preparation of permit applications for all
federal, state and local permits including but not limited to NEPA, SEPA, Critical
Areas, flood plain, wetlands, and Shorelines.
* Hydraulic design of the bridge opening.
* Determining 100-year flood water surface elevation.
* Structural Design of the new bridge
* Temporary traffic control. Maintain one lane two-way traffic during project
construction.
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* Special Provisions.
* Load Ratings of the new bridge.
* Wetland avoidance or wetland mitigation.
* Preparation of a wetland mitigation bank use plan.
Construction is planned to begin in 2029 with an advertisement date of April 2029.
The County is a member of the Regional Rural Road Maintenance Program of the Endangered
Species Act 4(d). There is NOT a wetland mitigation bank currently available for mitigation
credits for any project wetland or riparian area impacts. However, there may be two
alternatives to onsite mitigation - one alternative is to propose to use a wetland bank even
though the project is outside a bank service area, a second alternative is to use the Wapato Valley
Mitigation and Conservation Bank which may be certified this year and may include the Mill Creek
Bridge #1 in the service area.
The County reserves the right to retain the services of the successful firm(s) for any subsequent
phases (right of way - RW and construction - CN) associated with this project.
Evaluation Criteria
Submittals will be evaluated and ranked based on the following criteria:
1) Qualification of Proposed Key Personnel (15 points)
2) Qualifications/Expertise/Experience of Firm and Subconsultants (20 points)
3) Ability to meet schedule (15 points)
4) Approach to project (20 points)
5) Familiarity with WSDOT/FHWA standards/requirements (15 points)
6) Past Performance/References (15 points)
The County will select a minimum of three of the top ranked proposals for live-in-person
interviews. The County will select a consultant based on the RFQ submittals and the interviews.
Submittal
Submittals should include the following information for the Prime Consultant and
Subconsultants: Firm name, phone and fax numbers; Name of Principal-in-Charge and Project
Manager; and Number of employees in each firm proposed for the project. The consultant's
submittals of qualifications shall include no more than 15 pages, double sided. Resumes and
work examples are not included in the 15-page count. Cost estimates shall not be included in the
submittal.
Please submit FOUR copies of your Statement of Qualifications to: Cowlitz County Department
of Public Works, 1600 13th Avenue South, Kelso, WA 98626, Attention Susan Eugenis, PE, County
Engineer no later than 2:00 pm on August 27, 2026. Submittals will not be accepted after that
time and date. Any questions regarding this project should be directed to Chris Andrews, at 360-
577-3030 EXT 6527 or by e-mail - andrewsc@cowlitzwa.gov.
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Proposed Procurement Schedule
* RFQ Advertisement Date: August 4, 2026
* RFQ Submittal Date August 27, 2026
* Anticipated Interview Date September 29, 2026
* Consultant Selected Date October 14, 2026
* Consultant Agreement Execution Date January 12, 2027
* Notice to Proceed Date January 14, 2027
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information
Cowlitz County in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), commits to nondiscrimination based on disability, in all of its programs and
activities. This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing Cowlitz County
Department of Public Works at publicworks@co.cowlitz.wa.us or by calling 360-577-3030.
Title VI Statement
Cowlitz County in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C.
2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure
that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business
enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will
not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for
an award.
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