Emerging Contaminant in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (ECSDC) Engineering Services for Public Water Supply

NC DEQ - Division of Water Resources, Public Water Supply
Department/Agency
Section
DEQ Number 16-101173-000
Emerging Contaminant in Small or Disadvantaged
Project Title Communities (ECSDC) Engineering Services for Public Water
Supply
Designing, installing, and-when authorized by Task Order-
constructing turnkey engineered solutions (e.g., treatment
Design Services systems, new sources, or interconnections) to mitigate PFAS
contamination and deliver compliance-ready facilities,
including start-up, operator training, and handover.
NC DEQ is requesting qualifications from engineering firms to
support small and disadvantaged community water systems in
Scope of Work
addressing PFAS contamination under the EPA's EC-SDC
program. (See Attachment 1)
Contact Rebecca Sadosky and Renee Parkman
Telephone 919-707-9096
Email rebecca.sadosky@deq.nc.gov and renee.parkman@deq.nc.gov
Estimated to be $48,000,000 for Three (3) years with an option
Total Project Budget to extend up to one (1) two-year period to complete ongoing
projects.
The source of the funds is the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or
Source of Funds Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program,
authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
(IIJA) - also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
Approved OC-25 # N/A
Publish Date March 17, 2026
Closing Date April 01, 2026 @ 2:00 pm ET
rebecca.sadosky@deq.nc.gov and renee.parkman@deq.nc.gov
Submit electronic Proposal
Subject line must say: (ECSDC) Engineering Services Proposal
(see Attachment 2) and SF-
for Public Water Supply
254:
Note: Email attachment limit is 25 MB.
Physical Location
for Fed Ex/UPS Delivery Must be submitted electronically
(Delivery Address):
In order to offer architectural, engineering, or landscape
architectural services in response to this solicitation, the proposing
firm must be properly licensed to practice Architecture, Engineering,
or Landscape Architecture in the State of North Carolina. If
construction is included, the contractor must hold an appropriate
NC Licensing Statement North Carolina General Contractor license (Public Utilities/Specialty
as applicable) and ensure all trade subcontractors are duly licensed.
More information on the North Carolina state boards may be found
at the following websites:
NC Board of Architecture: (http://www.ncbarch.org)
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NC Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors:
(http://www.ncbels.org)
NC Board of Landscape Architects: (http://www.ncbola.org)
STATE BUILDING COMMISSION - SELECTING CRITERIA
In selecting designers, the selection committee should take into consideration qualification information
including such factors as:
1. Specialized or appropriate expertise in the type of project.
2. Past performance on similar projects.
3. Adequate staff and proposed design or consultant team for the project.
4. Current workload and State projects awarded.
5. Proposed design approach for the project including design team and consultants.
6. Recent experience with project costs and schedules.
7. Construction administration capabilities.
8. Proximity to and familiarity with the area where the project is located.
9. Record of successfully completed projects without major legal or technical problems.
10. Other factors which may be appropriate for the project.
STATE BUILDING COMMISSION - SUBMITTAL CRITERIA
Proposing firms must submit ONE (1) copy of the Proposal and a copy of your current Standard Form 254
(SF 254) with the information package. The current SF 254 template is located at
http://ncadmin.nc.gov/businesses/construction/forms-documents which is the State Building Commission
approved form.
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ATTACHMENT 1
SCOPE OF WORK
Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (ECSDC) Engineering
Services for Public Water Supply
Each of the selected CONTRACTORS must provide, in a manner satisfactory to the Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and as authorized on a task order/not-to-exceed basis,
professional engineering and program management services to support community water
systems (CWSs) serving 10,000 or fewer and non-profit Non-Transient, Non-Community
(NTNC) systems under the oversight of the Public Water Supply Section, Division of Water
Resources (DWR) and in coordination with the Division of Water Infrastructure (DWI) for funding
programs, as requested by DEQ. Services may include, but are not limited to the following:
grant management for sub-recipients; project administration and coordination with DEQ;
drinking water sampling and evaluation with certified laboratories; development of engineering
alternatives; implementation of the selected alternative; preparation of engineering plans and
specifications; permitting, procurement support, construction contracting and oversight, start-up,
training, and periodic operational support.
A. Preparing system-specific Engineering Work Plans and Task Order Proposals-detailing
scope, technical approach, schedule, and staffing. Pricing and itemized cost estimates are
not required at this stage and will be developed and approved at the time of Task Order
issuance for each system. This is for planning, design, permitting, procurement support,
construction administration, start-up/commissioning, operator training, and follow-up
technical assistance for eligible public water systems (CWS 10,000 and NTNC).
B. Reviewing existing system records and prior submittals; coordinating with DEQ, community
water system, and non-profit NTNC operators to schedule system walk-throughs and site
visits; maintaining project files and access logistics; and documenting service locations and
conditions necessary to support drinking water sampling, evaluation, and subsequent
engineering tasks.
C. Conducting drinking water system assessments and contaminant evaluations, including
collection of source, and entry-point samples analyzed by a North Carolina-certified
laboratory; review of source characteristics and well construction records; evaluation of
existing treatment performance; basic hydraulic checks (pressure/flow) to inform design; and
compilation/interpretation of results to guide selection and implementation of corrective
actions for eligible small public water systems. Provide testing results and educational
materials to DEQ. All sampling, analysis, data management, and reporting shall be
performed in accordance with the EPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP),
specifically the 2026 Water Monitoring for Per- & Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
QAPP.
D. Ability to perform limited non-invasive subsurface and infrastructure diagnostics to inform
siting and design and support construction projects.
E. Developing system-specific Corrective Action Plans and Engineering Reports that evaluate
feasible PFAS reduction alternatives for small public water systems including connection to
another public water system, drilling new well(s) or drawing water from another surface
water source, operational changes to existing sources, and adding treatment; selecting the
preferred alternative based on regulatory compliance, lifecycle cost, constructability, and
operations; and preparing full design deliverables in compliance with 15A NCAC
18C.0300-Basis of Design, technical specifications, standard details, and final plans-
along with opinions of probable cost, contract front-end documents, and bid-phase support
for procurement and construction of the selected improvements.
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F. Coordinating and overseeing decommissioning of drinking water system assets-such as
wells, treatment skids, storage tanks, piping, and appurtenances-that are taken out of
service as part of the selected PFAS reduction strategy. This shall be done in compliance
with applicable State and local requirements.
G. Managing and overseeing specialty and engineering subcontractors, vendors, and
CONTRACTOR personnel involved in the installation, startup, operation, and maintenance
of drinking water system improvements; selecting firms based on qualifications, scope fit,
and best value using competitive procurement consistent with State Law, DEQ program
guidance and funding-source requirements; coordinating with the DEQ on subcontractor
shortlists and awards; and maintaining complete procurement files (scopes, solicitations,
evaluations, and agreements) to document compliance. Responsibilities include day-to-day
direction of field activities, verification of deliverables, adherence to safety and quality
standards, schedule and budget tracking, and prompt resolution of performance issues.
H. Preparing and submitting all approvals and permits required to construct and operate the
selected PFAS reduction strategy.
I. Implementing approved corrective actions and design packages for eligible small public
water systems-providing project management and construction administration; resident
engineering/inspection; contractor selection and coordination; submittal review; quality
assurance/quality control testing; change management; pay application verification; and
progress documentation. Responsibilities include overseeing installation, start-
up/commissioning, performance testing and optimization, instrumentation integration as
applicable, preparation of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) manuals and Standard
Operating Procedure(s) SOPs, operator training, and delivery of periodic status, schedule,
and cost reports to DEQ.
J. The CONTRACTOR shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws,
regulations, and ordinances-including worker health and safety requirements-for all
project activities.
K. Preparing and submitting all required technical reports, datasets, meeting minutes, and
other project documentation to DEQ per the approved schedule; providing concise project
status summaries with each invoice package that describe work completed during the
period, upcoming milestones, issues/risks and mitigation actions, schedule variances, and
budget-to-date versus task order authorization; and maintaining a current action log and
deliverable tracker to support timely reviews and payment processing.
L. Preparing and submitting all project deliverables including As-Built plan drawings in the
electronic formats specified by DEQ-typically bookmarked, searchable PDF for reports;
native editable files for calculations and schedules; and CAD/GIS files for drawings/maps-
with image submittals at a minimum of 300 DPI.
M. As a mandatory, pass/fail requirement, potential contractors must demonstrate the ability to
provide administrative support to DEQ to ensure compliance in the potential contractor's role
as grant manager to ensure compliance with applicable federal grant requirements in 2 CFR
Parts 200 and 1500, including Build America Buy America (BABA) provisions and financial
audit requirements; firms that cannot demonstrate this capability will be deemed non-
responsive and will not be further considered for contract award. Potential contractors must
also describe their approach, tools/templates, and relevant experience supporting federally
funded water infrastructure projects (including procurement documentation, required
flowdown clauses, BABA documentation support, audit readiness, and records retention),
and must participate in an interview/oral presentation and Q&A in which the proposed
project manager and key staff walk through a scenario demonstrating how they will execute
these compliance responsibilities in practice; interview performance will be a major factor in
final ranking.
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N. Conduct testing for emerging contaminants post construction to demonstrate compliance
with PFAS rules.
O. Develop or update the Water System Management plan.
P. If needed, assist the Owner of the Water System in hiring operators to operate and maintain
the PFAS treatment system.
Contract Agreement Fee Schedule (Effective: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2029)
Personnel Level Hourly Rate
Principal $
Senior $
Project $
Staff $
Technicians $
Draftsperson/CAD $
Word Processor/Clerical $
If DEQ determines that a task order requires specialized effort beyond what is covered in the
current Reasonable Rate Document (November 2024), DEQ may authorize specific elements
on a time-and-materials (T&M) basis by written directive. Such authorization is reserved for
exceptional circumstances only and does not convert routine work or overall reimbursement to
"fee schedule + T&M." The established RRD rates remain controlling unless a discrete T&M
augmentation is expressly approved.
Bid Quotes
Submit a rate and fee schedule, standard markup policies, and task orders for defined scopes.
This shall be consistent with the current Reasonable Rate Document (November 2024) that may
be required for certain activities. At a minimum, the CONTRACTOR shall follow the
procurement requirements outlined in this AGREEMENT when hiring subcontractors and, where
applicable, comply with Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the North Carolina General Statutes
governing formal sealed competitive bids for subcontracted work.
Subcontractor Fees
Where rates are established in the current Reasonable Rate Document (November 2024),
subcontractor costs shall not exceed those published ceilings and will be reimbursed at the
lesser of the actual invoiced amount or the applicable maximum rate. The CONTRACTOR will
retain documentation of selection and invoices to support reimbursement.
Laboratory Fees
The CONTRACTOR may select any qualified analytical laboratory provided total project costs to
DEQ are not increased (including shipping, courier, and rush charges). Laboratories shall hold
appropriate certifications for the requested methods and matrices, and use approved analytical
methods consistent with project and regulatory requirements. The CONTRACTOR is
responsible for full data QA/QC and validation, maintaining chain-of-custody, and promptly
correcting any laboratory nonconformances or errors at no additional cost to DEQ. Selection
should consider method capability, detection limits, turnaround time, and data deliverable format
required for program reporting.
Due Dates
The CONTRACTOR shall coordinate with the assigned Public Water Supply Section, DWR
project manager to establish deliverable due dates within each task order schedule and
maintain an up-to-date deliverable tracker. Any request for a schedule adjustment must be
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submitted in writing with justification prior to the due date. With each invoice, the
CONTRACTOR will provide a concise status summary noting work completed, upcoming
milestones, issues/risks and mitigation, and budget-to-date versus task-order authorization to
support timely review and payment. DEQ may consider schedule adherence when approving
invoices and future task-order authorizations.
Meeting Requests
Periodic coordination meetings with DEQ and the Public Water Supply Section, DWR, will be
required to support planning, design, permitting, construction, start-up, and grant administration
for eligible small public water system projects. Meetings may be held in person (e.g., at DEQ
offices in Raleigh or at project sites) or virtually. The CONTRACTOR will propose attendees
appropriate to the agenda, prepare and circulate an agenda at least two (2) business days in
advance, and provide concise minutes and an action-item log within three (3) business days
after each meeting. Compensation for meeting time and associated travel will be in accordance
with the approved task order scope, the Agreement fee schedule, and applicable state travel
policies; no separate flat meeting fee will apply unless expressly authorized in writing by DEQ.
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ATTACHMENT 2
Proposal Contents
Potential contractors shall submit a Qualifications Proposal that demonstrates their ability to
deliver turnkey engineering support from initial needs assessment through design, bidding
support, construction administration, commissioning, operator training, to closeout for eligible
small public water systems. Proposals must clearly describe the firm's work plan/approach,
capacity to execute multiple task orders statewide, quality management practices, and relevant
experience delivering similar drinking water projects, including work involving PFAS or emerging
contaminants and support to small/disadvantaged systems.
Proposal must include:
* Cover letter identifying the prime firm, point of contact, and commitment to provide
turnkey services through closeout.
* Work plan/technical approach describing how the firm will execute task orders end-to-
end (assessment -- alternatives -- design/permitting -- bid support -- construction admin --
commissioning/closeout).
* Project delivery plan: task-order workflow, decision points, communication, and
document control/reporting methods.
* Staffing plan and organizational chart (prime + subs), roles/responsibilities,
availability/current workload, and a surge plan.
* Provide 3-5 comparable projects demonstrating applicable capabilities (scope, role,
outcomes, and schedule). Relevant experience may include drinking water compliance,
treatment or infrastructure projects, PFAS/emerging contaminants, and/or projects supporting
small, rural, or resource-constrained systems, as applicable.
* QA/QC approach for engineering deliverables and construction-phase oversight (review
processes, field documentation, testing/verification coordination).
* Bid-phase and construction administration approach (pre-bid/Q&A/addenda support, bid
tabulation and recommendation, submittals/RFIs/change management, pay app review,
progress documentation).
* Commissioning/start-up, performance testing/optimization, O&M manual/SOP
development, and operator training approach.
* References for comparable projects and key personnel resumes).
Any required forms/certifications (i.e., licensure confirmation, disclosures, required attestations)
as specified in the Task Order.
Additional Selection Criteria
After verifying minimum qualifications and required submittals, DEQ will use the criteria below to
differentiate among responsive firms and determine which firms are shortlisted for interviews
and final ranking. Emphasis will be placed on demonstrated ability to execute turnkey delivery
across multiple systems, manage bid-phase and construction administration responsibilities
through closeout, and provide reliable quality management, communication, and schedule
control in real-world conditions.
* Written proposal score will be used to shortlist the highest-ranked firms for interviews;
only shortlisted firms will be eligible for final selection.
* Demonstrated capability to run the contractor bid phase on DEQ's behalf: pre-bid
support, managing questions and issuing addenda, bid tabulation, responsiveness review
support, and written recommendation of award (DEQ retains award authority).
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* Demonstrated construction administration through closeout: submittals/shop drawings,
RFIs, change management, site observation/inspection support, pay application
review/verification support, progress documentation, commissioning/start-up oversight,
performance verification, record documents, and warranty closeout support.
* Interview requirement: shortlisted firms must participate in an oral presentation and
Q&A; interviews will be scored and will be a major factor in final ranking.
* Interview evaluation focus: ability of the proposed project manager and key leads to
clearly explain and defend the work plan; demonstrate readiness to start; respond to scenario-
based questions; and show how they will manage schedule, quality, scope changes, and field
implementation challenges.
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