RFQ for Progressive Design-Build Services for the WSTA Transit Facility Improvements Project

City of Winston-Salem, NC
Request for Qualifications
for Progressive Design-Build Services
for the WSTA Transit Facility Improvements Project
RFQ2770
This REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ("RFQ") from the Owner named invites the submittal of a
Statement of Qualifications ("SOQ") from firms interested in providing Progressive Design-Build
services for the Project described herein. By submitting a SOQ, the Offeror represents that it has
carefully read the terms and conditions of this RFQ and all Exhibits and Addenda and agrees to be
bound by them. This RFQ is not an offer to enter into a contract, but merely a solicitation of firms
interested in submitting an SOQ to the Owner for the Project.
DATE ISSUED: September 14, 2026
OWNER:
City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
PROJECT:
WSTA Transit Facility Improvements Project
OWNER CONTACT:
Darren Redfield, Purchasing Director; darrenmr@cityofws.org
SUBMISSION DATE AND TIME
Offeror's SOQ shall be submitted before: October 13, 2026, 2:00 PM Eastern Time
All SOQs must be submitted by email to bids@cityofws.org pursuant to the instructions herein. It is the
Offeror's sole responsibility to confirm that the SOQ is delivered in the manner required by this RFQ by
the Due Date and Time. The Owner has the right to reject any SOQs not properly delivered.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 OWNER DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 General ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Funding/Authority ............................................................................................................................... 1
1.3 Procurement Website .......................................................................................................................... 2
2.0 OVERVIEW OF PROJECT ......................................................................................................................... 3
2.1 General and Project Description ..................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Project Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 4
2.3 Scope of Work ......................................................................................................................................... 5
2.3.1 Design-Builder Responsibilities ............................................................................................. 7
2.3.2 Existing Information ................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.3 Project Conditions and Challenges ........................................................................................ 8
2.4 Estimated Budget ............................................................................................................................... 11
2.5 Project Procurement Schedule and Pre-Submittal Meeting .............................................. 11
2.6 Definitions ............................................................................................................................................. 12
3.0 PROCUREMENT PROCESS .................................................................................................................. 17
3.1 General Information .......................................................................................................................... 17
3.2 Owner Rights and Procurement Conditions ............................................................................ 18
3.3 Outline of the Procurement Process ........................................................................................... 19
4.0 SOQ SUBMITTAL, FORMAT AND ORGANIZATION .................................................................... 25
4.1 SOQ Submittal Requirements ........................................................................................................ 25
4.2 SOQ Format Requirements ............................................................................................................. 25
4.3 SOQ Organization ............................................................................................................................... 25
4.3.1 Cover Letter ..................................................................................................................................26
4.3.2 Section 1- Proposed Project Organization and Key Team Members .....................26
4.3.3 Section 2 - Project Team Experience and Project Management Approach .........29
4.3.4 Section 3 - Phase 1 Services Project Approach ..............................................................31
4.3.5 Section 4 - Phase 2 Services Project Approach ..............................................................34
4.3.6 Section 5 - Risk Management Approach ...........................................................................35
4.3.7 Section 6 - Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Utilization Approach .................35
5.0 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................ 36
5.1 PUBLIC RECORDS AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ................................................... 36
5.2 E-VERIFY ............................................................................................................................................... 37
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5.3 SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT ................................................................................................. 37
5.4 APPLICABLE LAWS ........................................................................................................................... 37
5.5 RIGHT TO AUDIT AND RECORDS ................................................................................................. 37
5.6 COST OF SOQ PREPARATION ........................................................................................................ 38
5.7 REGISTRATION WITH NORTH CAROLINA SECRETARY OF STATE ............................... 38
5.8 COMMUNICATION GUIDELINES .................................................................................................. 38
5.9 NO LOBBYING OR IMPROPER INFLUENCE .............................................................................. 39
5.10 NC PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTS WITH COMPANIES THAT INVEST IN IRAN OR
BOYCOTT ISRAEL ........................................................................................................................................... 39
5.11 DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF OFFERORS IN THE RFQ PROCESS ............................... 39
5.12 ADVERTISING ...................................................................................................................................... 40
5.13 OWNERSHIP AND USE OF WORK PRODUCTS ........................................................................ 40
5.14 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, ADA, AND NONDISCRIMINATION ................ 40
5.15 NO COMMITMENT TO AWARD ..................................................................................................... 41
5.16 FEDERAL FUNDING REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................... 41
6.0 EXHIBITS ................................................................................................................................................... 44
6.1 EXHIBIT A: Project Scope of Work .............................................................................................. 45
6.2 EXHIBIT B: Project Site Map .......................................................................................................... 49
6.3 EXHIBIT C: Protest Procedures .................................................................................................... 51
6.4 EXHIBIT D: Performance and Payment Bond Instructions ............................................... 53
6.5 EXHIBIT E: Insurance Requirements And Instructions ...................................................... 57
6.6 EXHIBIT F: DBE Overview And Participation Form ............................................................. 59
6.7 EXHIBIT G: Federal Transit Administration Requirements .............................................. 63
6.8 EXHIBIT H: Corporate Structure Questionnaire .................................................................... 68
6.9 EXHIBIT I: Draft (Sample) Design-Build Agreement ............................................................ 69
6.10 EXHIBIT J: Draft (Sample) General Conditions ..................................................................... 108
6.11 EXHIBIT K: Draft Design-Build Agreement Comment Form ........................................... 143
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1.0 OWNER DESCRIPTION
1.1 GENERAL
A. The City of Winston-Salem ("Owner" or "City") is seeking Progressive Design-Build services to
design and construct improvements at facilities operated by or supporting the Winston-Salem
Transit Authority ("WSTA").
B. The City is a municipal corporation organized under the laws of the State of North Carolina
and provides a broad range of public services to its residents, including operation and
maintenance of public facilities that support transit operations. The Winston-Salem Transit
Authority was established in 1972 and provides fixed-route and paratransit ("TransAID")
service to the residents of Winston-Salem and surrounding areas. WSTA's fixed-route
system is anchored by the downtown Clark Campbell Transportation Center, which serves
as the central hub for its bus services.
C. The Project includes improvements at the following facilities:
1. Clark Campbell Transportation Center - Replacement of the existing public restrooms;
improvements or replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)
systems; evaluation and possible replacement of the existing roof; and related
architectural, structural, plumbing, electrical, controls, accessibility, and code-related
improvements necessary to provide complete and functional systems.
2. Hampton Haith Maintenance Facility - Removal and replacement of the existing bus wash
system; evaluation and improvement of drainage, runoff collection, wastewater, and
stormwater infrastructure associated with the bus wash; and related utility, electrical,
controls, permitting, site, and operational improvements necessary to provide a complete
and functional bus wash system
D. The City's Purchasing Department will administer the procurement process. The City's
Engineering Department, WSTA, Facilities staff, and other designated City representatives
will provide technical and operational coordination during procurement and Project
delivery. Following completion and acceptance of the Project, the City will own and
maintain the completed improvements.
E. The City intends to deliver the Project using Progressive Design-Build under the authority
of North Carolina General Statutes 143-128.1A and applicable City procurement policies
and procedures.
1.2 FUNDING/AUTHORITY
A. The Project is anticipated to be funded, in whole or in part, through Federal Transit
Administration funding and City funds.
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B. The selected Design-Builder shall comply with all applicable federal, state, local, funding-
agency, and City requirements incorporated into the RFQ and Contract Documents.
C. Applicable federal requirements may include, but are not limited to:
1. Davis-Bacon and Related Acts and applicable prevailing-wage requirements.
2. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise requirements.
3. Buy America or Build America, Buy America requirements, as applicable.
4. Federal procurement, documentation, audit, and record-retention requirements.
5. Required federal contract clauses and subcontractor flow-down provisions.
D. The City will retain responsibility for grant administration and reporting unless otherwise
stated in the Contract Documents. The selected Design-Builder shall provide supporting
documentation required for the City to demonstrate compliance with applicable funding
requirements.
E. The Design-Builder shall include applicable funding requirements in its subcontracts, purchase
orders, supplier agreements, and lower-tier agreements.
1.3 PROCUREMENT WEBSITE
A. The full RFQ document, addenda, clarifications, and all other related information will be
posted electronically through the City's procurement website www.cityofws.org/Bids. Each
Offeror is responsible for checking the website to obtain the latest information.
B. The City will not be responsible for directly notifying Offerors of updates posted to the
website.
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2.0 OVERVIEW OF PROJECT
2.1 GENERAL AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION
A. The City of Winston-Salem ("Owner" or "City") is seeking Progressive Design-Build services to
design and construct the WSTA Transit Facility Improvements Project ("Project").
B. The Project includes improvements at two active transit facilities:
1. Clark Campbell Transportation Center
a. Replacement of the first floor men's and women's public restrooms.
b. Assessment and replacement or improvement of the existing HVAC systems.
c. Assessment and possible replacement of the existing roof.
d. Related architectural, structural, plumbing, electrical, controls, fire protection,
accessibility, and code-related improvements required to provide complete and
functional systems.
2. Hampton Haith Maintenance Facility
a. Removal and replacement of the existing bus wash system.
b. Evaluation and improvement or replacement of drainage, runoff collection,
wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure associated with the bus wash.
c. Related utility, electrical, controls, permitting, and site improvements required for a
complete and functional system.
C. The Clark Campbell Transportation Center was constructed in approximately 1995 and
opened in approximately 1996. Existing building systems and conditions will require validation
during Phase 1.
D. The Clark Campbell Transportation Center must remain open and operational during
construction. The Work may require overnight, weekend, or other limited work periods to
accommodate operational hours.
E. The Hampton Haith Maintenance Facility supports active bus parking, maintenance, and
washing operations. The Design-Build Team shall plan and sequence the Work to minimize
impacts to ongoing operations.
F. References to "Phase 1 Services" and "Phase 2 Services" relate solely to the two phases of the
Progressive Design-Build process:
1. Phase 1 Services means preconstruction, design development, permitting, risk evaluation,
cost model development, schedule development, and development of the Guaranteed
Maximum Price (GMP) Amendment.
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2. Phase 2 Services means completion of final design, construction, commissioning,
closeout, and transition to Owner operations after execution of the GMP Amendment.
3. See Section 2.6 for additional definitions.
2.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The Project objectives include the following:
A. Maintain continuous and successful transit operations throughout design and construction as
defined by the City.
B. Improve conditions and comfort at the Clark Campbell Transportation Center by replacing
deficient or aging restroom, HVAC, and roofing systems.
C. Provide public restrooms that are ADA-compliant, durable, functional, maintainable, and
resistant to vandalism without creating an institutional appearance.
D. Improve occupant comfort and facility usability by addressing existing HVAC deficiencies,
including high interior temperatures and unreliable or outdated systems.
E. Replace the leaking and aging roof with a durable and maintainable roofing system.
F. Evaluate related building systems that may be affected by the Project, including Building
Automation Systems (BAS), electrical systems, controls, fire protection, plumbing, ceilings,
and backup power.
G. Replace the Hampton Haith Maintenance Facility bus wash with a modern, reliable, and
efficient system capable of supporting regular transit operations.
H. Evaluate and address drainage, runoff collection, stormwater, wastewater, and utility
conditions associated with the bus wash.
I. Develop a Project scope, cost, schedule, and risk allocation that supports informed City
decision-making during Phase 1.
J. Deliver the Project within available Federal Transit Administration funding and City funding.
K. Incorporate applicable federal funding, procurement, prevailing-wage, DBE, Buy America, and
documentation requirements.
L. Reduce delivery risk through early validation of existing conditions, performance
requirements, operational constraints, phasing needs, and maintenance-of-operations
requirements.
M. Provide durable and maintainable improvements that consider long-term operations and
maintenance needs.
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N. Maintain safe, secure, and comfortable access for transit passengers, City staff, operators,
maintenance personnel, and other facility users during construction.
O. Develop a collaborative working relationship among the City, Owner's Advisor, WSTA, facility
operators, and the selected Design-Build Team.
2.3 SCOPE OF WORK
A. The selected Design-Builder shall provide all professional design, preconstruction,
construction, construction management, permitting, coordination, labor, materials,
equipment, supervision, testing, commissioning, and closeout services necessary to complete
the Project.
B. The Design-Builder shall evaluate existing conditions and develop complete design and
construction solutions for the Clark Campbell Transportation Center and Hampton Haith
Maintenance Facility.
C. The Project is anticipated to include, but is not limited to, the following elements:
1. Clark Campbell Transportation Center
a. Existing-conditions assessment of the building and affected systems.
b. Replacement of the men's and women's public restrooms.
c. Temporary restroom facilities and phased restroom construction necessary to
maintain public access.
d. ADA-compliant restroom layouts, fixtures, accessories, and access routes.
e. Durable and maintainable finishes and fixtures appropriate for a high-use public
transit facility.
f. Measures intended to reduce vandalism and simplify repair and replacement.
g. Assessment and replacement or improvement of existing HVAC systems, including
boilers, chillers, ductwork, controls, and associated equipment, as applicable.
h. Replacement and upgrade of the existing Building Automation System.
i. Evaluation of existing ceiling systems and modification or replacement where needed
to improve access and maintainability.
j. Evaluation with possible replacement of the existing roof, including evaluation of the
roof deck, substrate, penetrations, drainage, flashing, and related conditions.
k. Evaluation of electrical systems affected by the Work.
l. Evaluation of plumbing systems and existing below-slab conditions associated with
the restroom improvements.
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m. Evaluation of fire protection and sprinkler requirements affected by the Work.
n. Evaluation of the existing generator, supported loads, capacity, fuel supply, and
condition, where affected by the Project.
o. Code, accessibility, life-safety, and permitting evaluations associated with the
improvements.
p. Maintenance-of-operations planning, phasing, temporary facilities, security
coordination, and public-access planning.
2. Hampton Haith Maintenance Facility
a. Assessment and replacement of the existing bus wash system.
b. A modern bus wash system capable of supporting the facility's operational washing
demands.
c. Evaluation of water-reclamation or high-efficiency, low-water-use features.
d. Evaluation of undercarriage-wash capabilities.
e. Assessment of the existing bus wash bay, utilities, equipment, controls, electrical
service and distribution equipment, and supporting infrastructure.
f. Evaluation of existing runoff collection, drainage, wastewater, and stormwater
systems.
g. Replacement, rehabilitation, or improvement of drainage and related infrastructure
where required.
h. Coordination with active bus parking, washing, and maintenance operations.
i. Required utility coordination, site work, environmental review, and permitting.
D. The Design-Builder shall identify data gaps and recommend investigations needed to advance
design, cost, schedule, permitting, and construction planning.
E. The Design-Builder shall develop and maintain an open-book cost model during Phase 1 and
work collaboratively with the City to establish the final scope, schedule, risk allocation, and
Guaranteed Maximum Price.
F. The Design-Builder shall develop a maintenance-of-operations plan addressing facility access,
transit operations, temporary facilities, work hours, public safety, security, noise, dust,
staging, deliveries, and construction sequencing.
G. The Design-Builder shall comply with applicable federal, state, local, funding-agency, and City
requirements included in the Procurement Documents and Contract Documents.
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2.3.1 Design-Builder Responsibilities
A. The Design-Builder shall be responsible for delivery of the Project through Phase 1 and Phase
2, including planning, investigations, design, permitting, cost estimating, scheduling,
procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and closeout.
B. During Phase 1, the Design-Builder shall:
1. Validate existing conditions and review available record information.
2. Perform required field investigations, assessments, testing, and evaluations.
3. Confirm Project objectives, priorities, performance requirements, and operational
constraints.
4. Develop design concepts and recommended alternatives.
5. Develop and update an open-book cost model.
6. Develop and update the Project schedule.
7. Identify, document, assign, and mitigate Project risks.
8. Evaluate constructability and phasing.
9. Develop maintenance-of-operations requirements.
10. Coordinate with the City, WSTA, facility operators, legal counsel, funding representatives,
and other stakeholders.
11. Develop the proposed Guaranteed Maximum Price and supporting documentation.
C. During Phase 2, the Design-Builder shall:
1. Complete final design and obtain required approvals and permits.
2. Construct the approved improvements.
3. Maintain successful continuous operations to the extent required by the Contract
Documents.
4. Implement temporary facilities, phasing, safety, security, and access-control measures.
5. Coordinate testing, start-up, commissioning, and training.
6. Complete closeout and provide record documents, warranties, operation and
maintenance manuals, and other required documentation.
D. The Design-Builder shall be responsible for determining the investigations and professional
disciplines required to complete the Project.
E. The Design-Builder shall be responsible for coordinating all work with active transit and
maintenance operations.
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