Newmarket Creek Restoration Project

City of Charleston
Newmarket Creek Restoration Project
Request for Qualifications
(Design Services)
May 8, 2026
Statement of Qualifications must be received by 4:00 pm (local time) on June 5, 2026

Table of Contents
SECTION A: NOTICE TO DESIGN TEAMS ............................................................................................................. 3
SECTION B: BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION AND CONCEPTUAL PLAN .................................................................. 5
SECTION C: QUALIFICATIONS, SCOPE OF SERVICES AND SCHEDULE .................................................................. 6
SECTION D: SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS .........................................................................................................10
SECTION E: SELECTION PROCESS ......................................................................................................................14
ATTACHMENTS
A. Project Location Map
B. NFWF Grant Agreement
C. NFWF Grant Proposal
D. City of Charleston Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Forms and Affidavits
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SECTION A: NOTICE TO DESIGN TEAMS
The City of Charleston is seeking an engineering Firm to prepare preliminary designs for the Newmarket
Creek Restoration Project located on the eastside of the Charleston peninsula. The project aims to
develop nature-based solutions to restore saltmarsh, floodplain, and wetlands within a creek's drainage
basin and reduce chronic flooding in the lowest parts of the Eastside and East Central Neighborhoods.
Newmarket Creek is one of the last remaining tidal creeks on the Peninsula and is a part of a 487-acre
watershed that drains over 15% of the Charleston Peninsula to the Cooper River. The creek is largely
located beneath the Ravenel Bridge overpass and is characterized by brackish tidal waters and transitional
salt and freshwater wetlands. The drainage basin is comprised of urban residential and industrial areas,
covered by approximately 72% impervious surfaces. Properties throughout the drainage basin are prone
to flooding caused by both tidal influence and storm events.
Through this project, the City of Charleston will look to assess approximately 50 acres within the
watershed for restoration, focusing on areas with feasible landowner access, suitable site conditions, and
strong potential for ecological and flood resilience impact.
The City has identified a range of potential improvement strategies that will be evaluated through this
project to help reduce flooding in the drainage basin, restore the environmental quality of Newmarket
Creek, and improve neighborhood connectivity:
* Expand saltmarsh and floodplain coverage
* Create and enhance wetlands
* Reconnect fragmented creek segments to restore hydrology function
* Renaturalize the incised stream channel
* Install green infrastructure such as bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavement, constructed
wetlands, tidal marsh benches, expanded urban tree canopy, and native plantings
* Incorporate engineered features such as a muted tidal gate to support controlled tidal exchange
* Construct berms and setback zones to buffer tidal intrusion into nearby neighborhoods
* Integrate natural systems with existing and planned stormwater infrastructure
* Provide low-impact public access through features such as boardwalks and walking trails
It will be the selected Firm's responsibility to evaluate varying combinations of the potential project
components for conceptual cost and benefit (or additional options suggested by the selected Firm with
concurrence of the City) to recommend project options.
The City will review the project options from a conceptual cost/benefit perspective with the selected Firm
and select a project, or series of projects to advance to further design stages. The selected Firm will then
design an approach for the proposed improvements and verify conceptual assumptions. The selected
Firm will obtain the necessary permits and prepare construction plans and drawings for bid.
The City anticipates an initial concept phase of the project to be completed by the end of the grant period
of performance (December 2027), and to include the following tasks in preparation for subsequent project
phases of final design:
* Site Assessment: Confirm support from landowners in site areas for proposed restoration
activities and initiate access agreements with the City's real estate and legal teams.
* Preliminary Design Development: Conduct field investigations, gather baseline data, assess costs,
benefits, and risks of proposed restoration activities, and produce 30-60% design plans with
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demonstrated readiness for the final design phase.
* Regulatory and Permitting Agency Coordination: Identify regulatory and permitting requirements
and align with proposed restoration activities.
* Collaborative Design with Community Stakeholders: Co-create design with the community on the
publicly accessible design elements such as interpretive and wayfinding signage, walking tours,
trails, boardwalks, and connections to nearby public amenities such as the Lowline Linear Park.
Complete project work is also expected to include:
* Boundary, topographic, physical feature, and tree surveys
* Critical Area and Wetland delineation and permitting
* Easement acquisition and coordination
* Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling including groundwater evaluation and modeling
* Design and permitting
* Plan and permitting coordination with CWS and other utilities
* Preparation of construction plans, technical specifications, and bid documents
* Bid phase support
The Consultant should have the ability to meet Small Business Enterprise (SBE) goals established by the
City of Charleston.
Please contact the CITY Project Manager Jordyn Mallett at 843-579-6419 or mallettj@charleston-sc.gov
with any questions regarding the project. Please contact Ruth Jordan at 843-724-7434 or
jordanr@charleston-sc.gov with questions regarding Small Business Enterprise (SBE) requirements.
Statements of Qualifications will be received at the City of Charleston Stormwater Management, 2
George Street, Suite 2100, Charleston, SC 29401 until 4:00 pm (local time), June 5, 2026 for the drainage
design project for the Newmarket Creek Restoration Project.
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SECTION B: BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION AND CONCEPTUAL PLAN
BACKGROUND
The proposed project area is shown on the attached project location map (see Attachment A). Newmarket
Creek receives stormwater flow from the adjacent urban residential and industrial developments and the
subject drainage basin is approximately bound by Mount Pleasant Street to the north, King Street to the
west, Stuart Stret to the south, and Morrison Drive to the east. The drainage basin is relatively low-lying
and experiences flooding both as a result of extreme tides and storm stormwater flow from the adjacent
neighborhoods.
Funding for the project comes in part from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation - National Coastal
Resilience Fund (Attachment B).
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Consultant must be capable of providing turnkey project service including, but not limited to:
* Due diligence (Preliminary permitting research, easement research, utility research,
environmental, topographic site conditions, field investigation, geotechnical investigation,
groundwater impacts, land requirement, potential downstream impacts, evaluate feasible
alternatives, etc.),
* Hydrologic and Hydraulic modeling,
* Survey,
* Preliminary Design Report or Basis of Design Report,
* Assist with easement acquisition, as required,
* Design and engineering drawings targeting the implementation of flood reduction
improvements.
* Environmental Services
* Turn-key Permitting Services (SCDOT, OCRM, USACE, CZC, County, City, etc.),
* Construction Bid Documents,
* Construction and Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP),
* Long-Term Operation and Maintenance Plan,
* Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) services,
* SWPPP,
* As-Built survey and drawings,
* Public Outreach, and
* Coordinate with FEMA to update floodplain mapping.
PROJECT GOAL
The purpose of this Project is to restore saltmarsh, floodplain, and wetland areas within the Newmarket
Creek watershed utilizing stormwater engineering practices without adverse impacts upstream or
downstream of the proposed project location. Proposed flood mitigation solutions and designs should
result in reducing the flood reduction potential in varying design storms and tidal condition scenarios
without worsening flooding conditions in any other locations.
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SECTION C: QUALIFICATIONS, SCOPE OF SERVICES AND SCHEDULE
Through this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the CITY will select the most qualified Consultant to provide
engineering services per the Project Description above. A summary of the Consultant scope of services
and proposed schedule are as follows:
QUALIFICATIONS
Each Consultant who wishes to be considered for selection to perform this scope of services shall submit
to the CITY a concise description of:
1. Project Approach. The Consultant shall include a description of their management approach and
technical approach for the proposed scope of services.
2. Organization. Include a description of the Consultant including information regarding its primary
business, its background and history, its organizational structure, QA/QC program, and the
number of employees. This section should contain any additional information about the firm that
the Consultant feels will assist the CITY in better understanding the qualifications of the firm.
3. Personnel & References. All Statements of Qualifications will include and identify the top three
key team members to be assigned or employed to manage the Project by the Consultant with a
resume of each person (limit of 1 page, each). The proposal shall identify the person who will be
the primary day-to-day contact with CITY and the following two alternate personnel to be
assigned to the project. Also, key technical/environmental/permitting personnel shall be included
with a resume for each person (limit of 1/2 page each). The CITY requests that significant effort
should focus on highlighting the relevant qualifications and past experiences for the key team
members and technical/environmental/permitting personnel most likely comparable to work
detailed in the RFQ. Client references shall be provided on Project Resumes for key team
members. The proposal shall also identify all team members employed by SBE businesses
registered with the CITY.
4. Ability to perform the Scope of Services. At a minimum, please demonstrate how your firm meets
the following qualifications.
a. A minimum of five (5) years of professional design experience related to flood reduction
and mitigation work with a minimum of five (5) project examples. Each project reference
should include a short description of the scope of work, the size of the project, the
engineering approach, the engineering and project budget amounts, the actual final
project cost, the timeframe required for completion, and any exceptional successes or
challenges encountered during the duration of the project.
b. Detailed knowledge and ability to competently conduct flood reduction design utilizing
appropriate methodologies.
c. Experience coordinating with and obtaining required regulatory permits from the United
States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), South Carolina Department of Environmental
Services (SCDES), SCDES Bureau of Coastal Management (BCM), South Carolina
Department of Transportation (SCDOT), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
the City of Charleston (CITY), and other state, county, and local authorities having
jurisdiction.
d. Demonstrated knowledge of basin hydrology.
e. Demonstrated knowledge of storm storage projects in coastal and tidally influenced
areas.
5. Capacity to Perform Work. Provide a description of the Consultant's capacity to perform work
requested by the CITY by describing the Consultant's current workload and the availability of the
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staff to meet schedules. Please describe the methods utilized to track work progress, budgets,
and deadlines.
6. Small Business Enterprise (SBE). The Consultant shall clearly demonstrate how it intends to follow
the City's SBE guidelines for this project. (See Attachment C.)
7. Licensures and Other Documentation. The Consultant shall provide professional licenses held by
the firm, certificate of current professional liability insurance, business licenses, and any
associations of which you are a member.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Consultant shall demonstrate ability to provided turnkey design, construction documents,
permitting, bidding, construction administration services, and public outreach as required for the
project. Work may include, but shall not be limited to:
1. Perform Preliminary Engineering including, but not limited to:
a. Evaluation of flood reduction benefits for varying combinations of the alternative
improvement concepts at various storms including evaluating improvements of maximum
flood depth, flood duration, and flood frequency
b. Preliminary permitting research for all governing agencies (USACE, FEMA, SHPO, SCDOT,
SCDES [BCM], Charleston Water System (CWS), County, City, etc.)
c. Conceptual cost of evaluated options
d. Easement/Property research and assistance with acquisition,
e. Environmental Impact (wetland impact, wetland remediation, etc.),
f. Evaluation of site conditions,
g. Field investigation as necessary,
h. Geotechnical investigation and analysis,
i. Determination of land requirement(s) for the proposed improvement(s),
j. Identification of potential downstream impacts, required real estate, etc.
k. Consideration and evaluation of alternate feasible solutions
2. Develop a preliminary Hydrologic and Hydraulic (H&H) model (ICPR4) for the project basin and
prepare a technical memo summarizing model outputs.
3. Based upon the work conducted in item 1&2, the consultant will prepare a Preliminary Engineering
Report (PER) summarizing the findings of efforts conducted in items 1&2 and including
recommendations of the best approach with tentative design and construction schedules. The
consultant will develop design options that meet or exceed the following performance criteria:
a. Project Goals:
i. Significantly reduce flooding depth and inundation duration for the 10%, 4%, and
1% 24-hour Annual Exceedance Probability storms for areas adjacent to
Newmarket Creek. Design will evaluate and account for the effects of tidal
influence and projected sea level rise tailwater conditions using the City's
Stormwater Design Standards Manual assumptions.
ii. Minimize negative impacts to existing wetlands and creeks.
iii. Prevent adverse impacts throughout the drainage basin as a result of the selected
alternative improvements.
4. Once a concept alternative is prioritized and selected from the work conducted in item 3, the
consultant will prepare and submit to the City a Basis of Design (BOD) Report, plans, and technical
specifications for City review at 30%, 60%, 90% and 100% levels of completeness., Submittals
aligning with each milestone deliverable should contain, but not be limited to the following:
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a. Basis of Design Report:
i. Conceptual project design approach,
ii. Hydrologic and hydraulic calculations supporting the project design,
iii. Assumptions for easement acquisition, ecological impacts, permitting
requirements, and
iv. Engineer's Opinion of Probable Construction Cost
b. Plans:
i. Title Sheets including a Location Plan (1" = 500'), Index or List of Drawings,
appropriate approval signatures, and the professional engineer stamp, registered
in the State of South Carolina, of the Consultant's Project Manager.
ii. Plan and profile sheets for existing features and demolition, proposed site layout
plan, proposed grading plan, existing and proposed cross sections (showing flow
control structure inverts and existing water surface elevations), utility relocation
plan and profiles (if needed), necessary cross sections, and landscaping plan.
iii. Construction detail sheets.
iv. A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) shall be provided for the
construction of the project. The SWPPP shall be submitted to the CITY for review
and comment. An approved SWPPP from the CITY is required before the
Consultant is fully compensated.
c. Technical Specifications:
i. Construction specifications shall be provided for components of construction
including, but not limited to: activities related to grading, utilities, EPSC,
temporary and permanent vegetation, and water quality BMPs.
ii. Construction specifications shall conform to the latest version of SCDOT's
Standard Specifications for Highway Construction.
5. Based upon work conducted in Item 4 assist with easement acquisition including property owner
outreach, exhibit preparation, easement document preparation, City plat review, and any other
items associated with development and recording of plats within the City of Charleston.
6. Schedule and manage progress meetings with the CITY and/or their appointed representatives.
The Consultant shall prepare Status Reports for each meeting as well as produce all meeting
minutes. The Status Report shall include at a minimum:
d. Current scope of work completion status versus anticipated status,
e. Summary of budget status,
f. Project information and decision needs including the anticipated source, expected
response,
g. Time and any issues or problems that could delay the expected response,
h. Anticipated tasks and accomplishments for the coming reporting period,
i. Questions, comments, problematic issues and suggestions,
j. Identification of out-of-scope task work, and
k. Invoicing issues and proposals to address such issues.
7. Develop a Long-Term Operation and Maintenance Plan for vegetative management and overall
maintenance for the entire project.
8. Prepare and submit all necessary local, state and federal permits and certifications for the project
construction (such as, but not limited to):
l. United State Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) permitting
m. South Carolina Department of Transportation Encroachment Permit
n. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Bureau of Coastal
Management (BCM) Coastal Zone Consistency (CZC) Application and Critical Area and
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Wetlands Permitting
o. City of Charleston Technical Review Committee
p. City of Charleston Engineering Permit Application
q. City of Charleston Stormwater MS4 Permit and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
(SWPPP) approval
r. City of Charleston Design Review Committee
s. Other applicable permits.
9. Prepare Construction documents and assist in bidding. Responsibilities include developing and
finalizing cost estimates prior to bid, prepare necessary bid advertisements, develop and produce
construction documents for bidders, attend Pre-Bid Meetings, answer design questions, prepare
addenda during the bid process in its entirety, review bidders proposal for qualifications and
accuracy, and provide formal recommendation for award.
10. Develop Construction and Monitoring Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to be executed during
construction,
11. Provide Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) including executing the QAPP, attend pre-
construction meeting, review shop drawings, prepare change orders, prepare revision sheets,
answer design questions, evaluate substitute "or equal" items, provide appropriate on-site
inspection with daily reports, and review and certify Contractor pay requests, and prepare and
submit all manuals and approved shop drawings to the City. (To be added later, at the City's sole
discretion.)
12. Survey, maintain, and finalize As-Built drawings during and after construction.
13. Perform post-construction visual inspections of the proposed improvements and conduct a
comparative analysis of the pre-construction inspection. Consultant will provide a report
summarizing the inspection method, testing methods, results, quantify observed improvements or
changes, and provide a conclusion detailing pre-construction and post-construction impacts.
14. Develop project renderings for use in public outreach and Design Review Committee Meetings.
15. The Consultant will coordinate and lead public meetings, prepare all materials, presentations, and
equipment for the public meetings. The Consultant will conduct public meetings and perform other
forms of outreach (letters to homeowners, HOA coordination, etc.) as necessary for the project.
16. The Consultant shall develop and maintain information for the project website utilizing ArcGIS
StoryMaps in coordination with the City's website.
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SCHEDULE
Key Project planning schedule milestones are as follows; the schedule is tentative only and The City reserves
the right to adjust the schedule as the City deems necessary:
May 29, 2026 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm Voluntary pre-proposal meeting at 2 George Street, Suite
2100, Charleston, SC 29401
June 5, 2026 Statements of Qualifications must be received by the CITY, 2 George Street, Suite
2100, Charleston, SC 29401 by 4:00 pm.
September 2026 Engineering design work commences.
December 2027 Preliminary Project designs completed.
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