Request for Qualifications - 2026 Colonia Fund: Construction Grant Program of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
| Location: | Texas |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Nov 20, 2025 |
| Due: | Dec 3, 2025 |
| Agency: | County of Jim Wells |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
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| Solicitation No: | 2025-007 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
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2025-007 - Request for Qualifications - 2026 Colonia Fund: Construction Grant Program of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
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Jim Wells County plans to apply for the upcoming 2026 Colonia Fund: Construction Grant Program of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Accordingly, Jim Wells County is seeking to contract with a qualified Engineering/Architectural/Surveying Firm(s) to prepare all preliminary and final design plans and specifications, and to conduct all necessary interim and final inspections. These services are being solicited to assist Jim Wells County in its application preparation and project implementation of a TxCDBG contract, if awarded, to support eligible activities in Jim Wells County.
Please submit your SOQ on a thumb drive and 5 copies of services to the following address: Attn: Norma C. Salas, 200 N. Almond St. Suite 101, Alice, Texas 78332.
SOQs must be received by Jim Wells County no later than 3:00pm on December 3, 2025, which must be at least ten (10) days after this publication and contact dates of the RFQ. Jim Wells County reserves the right to negotiate with any and all individuals or firms that submit SOQs, as per the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act and the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Standards. Section 3 Residents and Business Concerns, Minority Business Enterprises, Small Business Enterprises and Women Business Enterprises are encouraged to submit SOQs. Jim Wells County is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Servicios de traducción están disponibles por peticion.
Attachment: 2026 CFC RFQ Grant Packet.pdf
Attachment Preview
11/20/2025
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Engineering/Architecture/Surveying Services - Cover Letter
For Application Preparation and Grant Contract Implementation Services
Pre-Award and Post-Award Services
Re: Proposed Funding for the 2026 Colonia Fund: Construction Grant Fund Program (2026 CFC)
Dear Engineering Service Providers:
Attached is a copy of Jim Wells County Request for Qualifications for Engineering/Architectural/Surveying Services. These services are
being solicited to assist Jim Wells County in its application(s) for funding and project implementation of a contract, if awarded, from
the 2026 Colonia Fund: Construction Grant Fund Program (2026 CFC) of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Jim Wells County
will be applying for such funding to support eligible activities in Jim Wells County. More than one contract may be awarded as a result
of this RFQ.
The submission requirements for this Statement of Qualifications are also included on the attached Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
form. Firms and/or individuals should have past experience with federally funded programs. Please submit your Statement of
Qualifications (SOQ) to the address below on a thumb drive and 5 copies of services to the following address:
Norma C. Salas
200 N. Almond St., Suite 101
Alice, Texas 78332
The deadline for submission of SOQs is December 3, 2025, no later than 3:00pm. Jim Wells County reserves the right to negotiate
with any and all persons or firms submitting SOQs. Section 3 Residents, Minority Business Enterprises, Small Business Enterprises,
Women Business Enterprises, and Labor Surplus Area firms are encouraged to submit SOQs. Jim Wells County reserves the right to
negotiate with any and all persons or firms submitting proposals, per the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act and the
Uniform Grant and Contract Management Standards.
Jim Wells is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Sincerely,
Norma C. Salas
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Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Engineering/Architectural/Surveying Services
Jim Wells County is seeking to enter into an Engineering/architectural/surveying services contract with a state-registered
engineer/architect/surveyor. The following outlines this request for qualifications.
I.
Scope of Work - The Engineering/architectural/surveying contract will encompass all project-related
engineering/architectural/surveying services to Jim Wells County, including but not limited to the following:
• Application preparation
• Preliminary and final design plans and specifications;
• Preparation of the bid packet;
• Conduct all field testing and inspections (interim and final); and
• Other special services.
Please specify actual tasks to be performed under each of these categories.
II.
Statement of Qualifications – Jim Wells County is seeking to contract with a competent
engineering/architectural/surveying firm, registered to practice in the State of Texas, that has had experience in the
following areas:
• Municipal construction including but not limited to waterworks, projects;
• Registered and in good standing as a professional engineer per the Texas Engineering Practice Act
• Federally-funded construction projects; and
• Projects located in this general region of the state.
● Experience and Qualifications. Set forth your experience and qualifications as they relate to the proposed
project in terms of technical scope, tasks involved, deliverable products, and other elements of the work as they
relate to the evaluation criteria and all requirements of this RFQ including the following:
o Experience with public works construction including but not limited to mitigation projects;
o Experience with federally funded construction projects;
o A list of past local government clients, as well as resumes of all engineers/architects that will or
may be assigned to this project if you receive the engineering/architectural services contract
award.
● SAM.gov Registration. Firms must have an active registration with the System for Award Management
https://sam.gov/content/home AND have been cleared (not suspended or debarred). Provide proof of SAM.gov
registration along with your Statement of Qualifications. See next page.
● References. Each firm must furnish a minimum of five (5) references.
III.
Evaluation Criteria - The SOQs received will be evaluated and ranked according to the following criteria:
TDA TxCDBG Suggested Scoring
Criteria
Maximum Points
Experience
60
Work Performance
25
Capacity to Perform
15
Total
100
IV. For this RFQ, Respondent’s qualifications will be evaluated, and the most qualified Respondent will be selected, subject to
negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation.
● Upon the award of this contract, profit (either %/actual cost) must be identified and negotiated as a separate
element of the price for any contract in excess of $50,000.00.
V.
Submission Requirements- the following documents must be included in your SOQ:
• A copy of your current certificate of insurance for professional liability.
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• Statement of Conflicts of Interest (if any) the service provider or key employees may have regarding these services,
and a plan for mitigating the conflict(s). Note that the Entity may in its sole discretion determine whether or not a
conflict disqualifies a firm, and/or whether or not a conflict mitigation plan is acceptable.
• System for Award Management. Service Providers must have an active registration in the System for Award
Management (https://www.sam.gov/SAM/). Service provider and its Principals may not be debarred or suspended
nor otherwise on the System for Award Management (SAM). Include verification that the service provider as well as
its principals are not listed (are not debarred) through the System for Award Management (www.SAM.gov). This
clearance information should be included in the service provider’s Proposal.
• The clearance in the Service Provider’s proposal must be re-verified prior to award. Enclose a printout of the search
results that includes the record date.
• Form Conflict of Interest Questionnaire, (enclosed). Texas Local Government Code chapter 176 requires that any
vendor or person who enters or seeks to enter into a contract with a local government entity disclose in the
Questionnaire Form CIQ the vendor or person’s employment, affiliation, business relationship, family relationship
or provision of gifts that might cause a conflict of interest with a local government entity. Questionnaire form CIQ is
included in the RFQ and must be submitted with the response.
● Certification Regarding Lobbying- Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (enclosed). Certification for Contracts, Grants,
Loans, and Cooperative Agreements is included in the RFQ and must be submitted with the response.
● Form 1295, (enclosed). Effective January 1,2018, all contracts and contract amendments, extensions, or renewals
executed by the Commissioners Court will require the completion of Form 1295 “Certificate of Interested Parties”
pursuant to Government Code § 2252.908. Form 1295 must be completed by the awarded vendor at the time of
signed contract submission. Form 1295 is included in this RFQ for your information. Form 1295 requires the inclusion
of an “unsworn declaration” which includes, among other things, the date of birth and address of the authorized
representative signing the form.
● Required Contract Provisions (enclosed). Applicable provisions (enclosed) must be included in all contracts executed
as a result of this RFQ.
VI. Contracting with small and minority businesses, women's business enterprises, veteran-owned businesses and labor surplus area
firms. – Small and minority businesses, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms must be solicited in this RFQ.
If the awarded vendor is a prime contractor and may use subcontractors, the following affirmative steps are required of the prime
contractor:
1)
Placing qualified small and minority businesses and women's business enterprises on solicitation lists;
2)
Assuring that small and minority businesses, and women's business enterprises are solicited whenever they are
potential sources;
3)
Dividing total requirements, when economically feasible, into smaller tasks or quantities to permit maximum
participation by small and minority businesses, and women's business enterprises;
4)
Establishing delivery schedules, where the requirement permits, which encourage participation by small and
minority businesses, and women's business enterprises;
5)
To ensure a wide distribution and potential participation to as many administrator firms as possible, refer
to https://lsadata.org/ when you develop your administrator email list.
VII. Deadline for Submission –It is the responsibility of the submitting entity to ensure that the SOQ is received in a timely manner.
SOQs received after the deadline will not be considered for award, regardless of whether or not the delay was outside the
control of the submitting firm.
Please submit your SOQ to the address below on a thumb drive and submit 5 copies of your SOQ to the following address:
Attn: Norma C. Salas, 200 N. Almond St, Suite 101, Alice, Texas 78332. SOQs must be received by Jim Wells County no later
than 3:00pm on December 3, 2025. to be considered.
Failure to comply with these instructions or the submission requirements may result in disqualification of the response.
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Texas Community Development Block Grant Fund Program 2026 Colonia Fund: Construction (2026 CFC)
Engineering/Architectural/Surveying Services Program Description
The goal of the Texas Community Development Block Grant Fund Program (TxCDBG) is to develop viable communities by providing
decent housing and a suitable living environment, as well as by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low-to-
moderate income. In awarding funding pursuant to Government Code Section 487.351(c), the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
shall give priority to eligible activities in the areas of economic development, community development, rural health, and rural housing
to support workforce development.
The objectives of the TxCDBG Program are:
1. To improve public facilities to meet basic human needs, principally for low-to-moderate income persons;
2. To improve housing conditions, principally for persons of low-to-moderate income;
3. To expand economic opportunities by creating or retaining jobs, principally for low-to-moderate income persons; and
4. To provide assistance and public facilities to eliminate conditions hazardous to the public health and of an emergency nature.
The Colonia Fund: Construction provides eligible applicants with grants to fund water and wastewater improvements, housing
rehabilitation for low- to moderate-income households, the payment of assessments levied against properties owned and occupied
by persons of low and moderate income to recover the capital cost for a public improvement and other improvements including street
paving and drainage. This fund is available to eligible county applicants for projects in severely distressed unincorporated areas which
meet the definition as a “colonia” under this fund.
Eligible areas are units of general local government limited to non-entitlement areas (with the exception of Hidalgo County) located
within 150 miles of the Texas-Mexico border. The term “colonia” means any identifiable unincorporated community that is determined
to be a colonia on the basis of objective criteria, including lack of potable water supply, lack of adequate sewage systems, and lack of
decent, safe, and sanitary housing; and was in existence as a colonia before the date of the enactment of the Cranston-Gonzalez
National Affordable Housing Act (November 28, 1990). Except for fund categories where additional restrictions apply, a county can
only submit applications on behalf of eligible colonia areas located within 150 miles of the Texas-Mexico border region, except that
any county that is part of a standard metropolitan statistical area with a population exceeding 1,000,000 is not eligible under this fund.
Awards are made on an annual basis through a competitive process among eligible counties. Awards maximum of $1,000,000.
Recipient: Jim Wells County
Anticipated Program
2026 Colonia Fund: Construction (2026 CFC)
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DISCLAIMER: This sample draft document was developed for TxCDBG grant projects and does not include all applicable provisions.
This document has important legal consequences. Please consult with your legal counsel with respect to its completion or
modification to ensure that it is in compliance with any appropriate local, state and federal laws applicable.
Sample Contract
ENGINEERING/ARCHITECTURAL/SURVEYOR SERVICES
PART I
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this _____ day of __________________, by and between the CITY/COUNTY OF
__________________________, hereinafter called the "City"/”County”, acting herein by _______________________ hereunto duly
authorized, and _______________________________ hereinafter called "Firm,” acting herein by
______________________________.
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, the City/County of _______________________ desires to [implement/construct/etc.] the following:
_________________________________[describe project] under the general direction of the Texas Community Development Block
Grant (hereinafter called “TxCDBG”) Program administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA); and Whereas the
City/County desires to engage_____________________________ to render certain engineering/surveyor/architectural services in
connection with the TxCDBG Project, Contract Number _____________________________.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties do mutually agree as follows:
1.
Scope of Services
The Firm will perform the services set out in Part II, Scope of Services.
2. Time of Performance - The services of the Firm shall commence on __________________________. In any event, all of the services
required and performed hereunder shall be completed no later than ________________________.
3. Local Program Liaison - For purposes of this Agreement, the [e.g., City Manager/County ___________] or equivalent authorized
person will serve as the Local Program Liaison and primary point of contact for the Firm. All required progress reports and
communication regarding the project shall be directed to this liaison and other local personnel as appropriate.
4. Access to Records - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Inspectors General, the Comptroller General
of the United States, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), and the City/County, or any of their authorized representatives,
shall have access to any documents, papers, or other records of the Firm which are pertinent to the TxCDBG award, in order to
make audits, examinations, excerpts, and transcripts, and to close out the City/County’s TxCDBG contract with TDA.
5. Retention of Records - The Firm shall retain all required records for three years after the City/County makes its final payment and
all pending matters are closed.
6. Compensation and Method of Payment - The maximum amount of compensation and reimbursement to be paid hereunder shall
not exceed $_________________. Payment to the Firm shall be based on satisfactory completion of identified milestones in Part
III - Payment Schedule of this Agreement.
7. Indemnification – The Firm shall comply with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and shall exonerate,
indemnify, and hold harmless the City/County and its agency members from and against any and all claims, costs, suits, and
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See also
...Addendum No. 2 - RFQ 2026.09 CDBG Grant Engineering/Architectural/Surveying Services Addendum No.... 2 ...
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Bid Due: 6/04/2026
* Disclaimer: Information regarding bids, requests for proposals (RFPs), or requests for qualifications (RFQs) is provided on this website only for convenience and does not constitute official public notice. Persons wishing to respond to or inquire about bids, RFPs, or RFQs should contact the appropriate government department.