Engineering Services for Public Infrastructure Projects

City of Thomson ("Owner")
Request for Qualifications
To Provide
Engineering Services For
Public Infrastructure Improvements
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Request for Qualifications
Engineering Services
Public Infrastructure Improvements
The City of Thomson ("Owner"), is soliciting statements of qualifications from professional firms interested in providing
Engineering Services for water, sewer, stormwater and/or other public infrastructure projects. 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
Under the guidance of the local government, it will be the responsibility of the selected firm to provide initial consultation and
evaluation, funding assistance, preliminary Engineering Reports (PER), final design, construction administration, and
inspection and close out services for public infrastructure projects. The expectation is that selected companies will provide
the technical skills necessary for capital improvement or maintenance projects, or evaluate such projects on very short notice,
and on an as-needed basis, as determined by the City.
The delivery method for this project will be a traditional Design-Bid-Build.
Project Goals
It is envisioned that the successful Project will achieve the following objectives:
* WWTP Treatment Plant Upgrades
* Sewer Collection System Improvements
* Water Treatment Plant Upgrades
* Water System Improvements
* Stormwater System Improvements
* Other infrastructure rehabilitation and expansion projects
Project Schedule
The selected firm will immediately begin work to submit environmental permitting.
Engineering Design - +/- 6 months
Permit Approval - +/- 3 months
Contract Bidding - +/- 1 month
Contract Award - +/- 2 months
Construction - +/-12 months
(All of the dates/timeframes above are estimates and subject to change. The fee structure for Engineering 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.)
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2. Engineering Consultant Requirements
* History of firm and resources
* Familiarity with the community
* Key personnel/qualifications
* Proof of licensure
* Current workload and ability to provide proposed services
* Proposed approach, ability, scope and level of service
* Experience with similar state and federally funded projects and list of references
* Errors and Omissions Insurance, please provide a copy
* Statement of Qualifications Form
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 Engineering 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. Selection Process
a. Owner issues public advertisement of RFQ for a period of 30 days 03/31/2026 ----------
b. Deadline for written questions/requests for clarification (see section 6) 04/23/2026 5:00 PM
c. Deadline for submission of Statements of Qualifications (see sections 5, 7) 04/30/2026 5:00 PM
d. Owner completes evaluation, posts results, and issues Notification to Finalist firm 05/08/2026 ----------
e. Owner conducts mandatory pre-proposal conference and site visit (if applicable) for N/A TBA
finalist firms
f. Deadline for submission of written questions from finalists 05/12/2026 5:00 PM
g. Deadline for finalist firms to submit Project Proposal (if applicable) N/A 5:00 PM
h. Selection Committee interviews finalist firms 05/15/2026 TBA
A Selection Committee, consisting of representatives of the Owner, will identify the finalist firm 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
10% Stability of the firm, including the firm's corporate history, growth, resources, form of
ownership, and other evidence of stability.
30% Firm's relevant project experience and qualifications, including the demonstrated ability of firm
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in effective Consulting Services for projects 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 GEFA, EDA, CDBG, USDA, OneGeorgia, REBA, and/or ARC Projects.
30% 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 municipal clients, 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.
30% 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, experience
working with this local government, and services offered by the firm. The firm's non-
discrimination policies, any policies and past efforts for DBE 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:
Interview
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 Engineering Consulting Services contract.
The actual Form of Contract shall be developed by the Owner.
5. Instructions for Preparing Statements of Qualifications
Each submittal format (See Section 7) must include a transmittal letter. Emailed 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,
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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:
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. 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.
iv. 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 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
proposed project. If the firm is selected as 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.
ii. Provide information on the firm's Engineering Consulting Services experience on projects of
similar type, size, function, and complexity. Describe no more than 10 and no less 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.
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.
iii. 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
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employed to increase project 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, past experience with the local government,
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: John Waller (john.waller@thomson-mcduffie.gov) (Selection Manager). The deadlines for submission
of questions 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
One or both of the following submittal formats may be used and the submittal format must be clearly indicated in
the transmittal letter:
A) A single PDF file of the statement of qualifications shall be prepared and emailed to the Selection Manager
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:
B) Mailed submissions must come in one envelope. The outside of the qualification envelope must be clearly
labeled with the Company's name, address, contact information and labeled "Statement of Qualifications,
Engineering Services for Water And Wastewater Improvements". The qualification envelope must only
contain five (5) copies and one digital copy on a CD or flash drive of the Company's response. Each submittal
must include a transmittal letter. 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:
City of Thomson
Attn: John Waller
210 Railroad Street
Thomson, GA 30824
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
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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.
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. 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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