Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
For
FY27-FY29 On-Call Professional Services:
Geotechnical, Environmental, Materials Testing & Special Inspections, Surveying, and Cost Estimating
Date of Issue: 11/21/2025
A. PURPOSE FOR RFQ
1. Through this request for qualification (RFQ), notice is hereby given that the City of Durham, North
Carolina, General Services Department, is seeking consulting firms to provide professional services
for FY27-FY29 On-Call Services: Geotechnical, Environmental, Materials Testing/Special Inspection,
Surveying, and Cost Estimating for a multi-year portfolio of projects.
2. This RFQ provides complete information on the services being sought, the submittal requirements,
and timeline. Copies of the RFQ may be downloaded directly from this site:
http://durhamnc.gov/bids.aspx.
Interested firms shall email a Statement of Qualifications, meeting the requirements defined in the
RFQ to:
Bree Aguilar
City of Durham, Owner
General Services Department
2011 Fay Street
Durham, NC 27704
Phone: (919) 691-5962
Email: bree.aguilar@durhamnc.gov
3. Emailed Statements of Qualifications must be received by 3:00pm EST on 12/30/2025
To ensure receipt of any addenda to the RFQ, please contact the person listed above to register as
an interested firm. The City is not responsible for providing updated information/changes to firms
not known by the City as holding a copy of this RFQ.
4. Any questions regarding this RFQ must be received in writing prior to 12/12/2025 by 3:00pm EST.
Questions received after this date may not receive a response. Questions should be directed to Bree
Aguilar at bree.aguilar@durhamnc.gov and will be answered in an addendum posted on the City’s
website: http://durhamnc.gov/bids.aspx. Firms who are registered as interested firms will receive
the addendum via email. Questions received by the Department of General Services after this date
will not receive a response or be the subject of addenda.
5. This RFQ does not obligate the City to pay any costs incurred by respondents in the preparation and
submission of a response. Furthermore, the RFQ does not obligate the City to accept or contract for
any expressed or implied services. The City of Durham reserves the right to reject any and all
submittals. The City of Durham is committed to a program of equal employment opportunity
regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, nationality or disability.
B. BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF SERVICES
The City of Durham, North Carolina General Services Department (GSD) is responsible for City facility design,
construction, operation, maintenance, evaluation, rehabilitation, and improvement projects.
The City intends to select at a minimum one consultant for each discipline area below but may select
multiple consultants for any given discipline. It is anticipated that each selected firm will execute a master
service agreement (MSA) with the City and supplemental service agreements (SSA) will be executed as
projects arise.
The City anticipates needing professional services in the following discipline areas and respondents must
indicate the discipline area(s) in which they wish to be considered. The discipline area(s) must be able to be
performed directly by the consultant, not by a subconsultant or subcontractor. It is not anticipated that an
individual firm will supply all services listed below, but a firm may submit on more than one service if they
are qualified to do so.
Geotechnical Engineering
Environmental Assessments
Hazardous Materials Testing
Construction Materials Testing and Special Inspections
Surveying
Cost Estimating
The contract term will be two (2) years. The City reserves the right to cancel the MSA or SSA at any time or
discontinue a firm’s participation. Instances where this may occur include, but are not limited to, contracted
firms not meeting performance expectations, or routinely declining opportunities to participate.
C. SCHEDULE
Preliminary Project Schedule
RFQ Questions Received By
Pre-Submittal Meeting
Qualifications Due By
RFQ Evaluation
Date
12/12/2025 3:00pm EST
N/A
12/30/2025 3:00pm EST
January 2026
D. PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETING
1. A pre-submittal meeting will not be held.
Any questions regarding this RFQ must be received in writing prior to 12/12/2025 by 3:00pm EST.
Questions received after this date may not receive a response. Questions should be directed to Bree
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Aguilar at bree.aguilar@durhamnc.gov and will be answered in an addendum posted on the City’s
website: http://durhamnc.gov/bids.aspx. Firms who are registered as interested firms will receive
the addendum via email. Questions received by the General Services Department after this date will
not receive a response or be the subject of addenda.
E. EQUAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
1. It is the policy of the City to provide equal opportunities for City contracting for small firms owned
by socially and economically disadvantaged persons doing business in the City’s Contracting
Marketplace. It is further the policy of the City to prohibit discrimination against any firm in pursuit
of these opportunities, to conduct its contracting activities to prevent such discrimination, to correct
present effects of past discrimination and to resolve complaints of discrimination. This policy applies
to all professional services categories.
There are no MBE or WBE goals for this MSA, but Consultants should be prepared to have goals
assigned for Supplemental Agreements; these goals will be published in the RFI or negotiated
during the scope and fee negotiations in the situation where a firm is next in rotation on the On-
Call list.
2. The Underutilized Business Compliance Division within the Finance Department is responsible for
the Equal Business Opportunity Program. All questions about Professional Services Forms should be
referred to UBC department staff at (919) 560-4180.
F. NOTICE UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
1. A person with a disability may receive an auxiliary aid or service to effectively participate in city
government activities by contacting Durham One Call at 919-560-1200 or ADA@DurhamNC.gov, as
soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the event or deadline date.
AVISO EN VIRTUD DE LA LEY DE ESTADOUNIDENSES CON DISCAPACIDADES
Con el fin de recibir un recurso o servicio auxiliar para participar de manera efectiva en las
actividades del gobierno de la ciudad, cualquier persona con una discapacidad puede comunicarse
con la línea Durham One Call al teléfono 919-560-1200 o al correo ADA@DurhamNC.gov, tan pronto
como sea posible, a más tardar 48 horas antes del evento o fecha límite.
G. E-VERIFY COMPLIANCE
1. If this contract is awarded pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes (NCGS) 143-129 – (i) the
contractor represents and covenants that the contractor and its subcontractors comply with the
requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the NCGS; (ii) the words "contractor," "contractor’s
subcontractors," and "comply" as used in this subsection (a) shall have the meanings intended by
NCGS 143-129(j); and (iii) the City is relying on this subsection (a) in entering into this contract. (b) If
this contract is subject to NCGS 143-133.3, the contractor and its subcontractors shall comply with
the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the NCGS.
H. STATE TREASURER’S LISTS REGARDING IRAN AND BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL
1. If the successful bidder or the City signs the contract on October 1, 2017 or afterwards, and the
value of the contract is $1,000 or more, the following applies unless the bidder otherwise states in
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its bid: the bidder affirms (by submitting a bid) that (1) its name does not appear on the list of
companies that are engaged in a boycott of Israel developed by the N. C. State Treasurer under
N.C.G.S. 147-86.81(a)(1) or on a list created by the Treasurer pursuant to N.C.G.S. 147-86.58 as a
company engaging in investment activities in Iran, and (2) it has no reason to expect that its name
will appear on either of those lists. Take notice that a contract between a company named on either
list and the City may be void.
I. VALUES OF CITY OF DURHAM REGARDING TREATMENT OF EMPLOYEES OF CONTRACTORS
1. Statement of City EEO Policy. The City of Durham opposes discrimination in employment because of
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, military status, sexual orientation,
gender identity, and protected hairstyle. Consistent with Chapter 34 (Non-Discrimination) of the
Durham City Code, the City requires that firms doing business with the City:
a) not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color,
religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, military status, sexual orientation,
gender identity, and protected hairstyle.
b) take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are
treated equally during employment, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, disability, familial status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and
protected hairstyle. This action includes employment, upgrading, demotion, transfer,
recruitment or advertising, layoff or termination, rates of pay or other forms of
compensation, and selection for training, including apprenticeship.
c) state, in solicitations or advertisement for employees, that all qualified applicants will
receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin,
sex, disability, familial status, military status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and
protected hairstyle.
d) include this Statement of City EEO Policy in every purchase order for goods to be used in
performing City contracts and in every subcontract related to City contracts.
2. Livable Wage. The City of Durham desires that firms doing business with the City pay their workers a
livable wage rate while working on City contracts. The livable wage rate is $21.90 per hour through
June 30, 2026. The City will re-set the rate for the period after June 30, 2026.
J. SUBMITTAL RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS
1. EMAIL one electronic copy in PDF format of your submittal to bree.aguilar@durhamnc.gov. Please limit
response to 20 pages. The page limit does not include required City forms, table of contents or cover
pages. Font size shall be no less than 10 pt.
Section 1 - Statement of Interest: The Statement of Interest should include a synopsis of the
prime firm, indicate the discipline area(s) in which they wish to be considered, the firm’s
understanding of services required, and the project team’s approach to completing the
necessary field work and design tasks in order to meet a project’s Scope of Work requirements
on schedule. Include description of your team's approach and experience with the public
procurement process and construction administration for municipal projects.
Section 2 - Resumes: Provide the names and brief resumes of the principal-in-charge, potential
project manager(s) and/or other key staff members who will comprise the core of your firm’s
project team. Provide a narrative discussing your approach to staffing, and delivering timely and
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quality service on two or more assignments running concurrently. Additionally, the name,
email, and phone number of a designated contact person responsible for responding to project
inquiries should be provided.
Section 3 - Reference Projects: Please identify recent, representative projects of a similar scope,
complexity and size performed by the proposed team. At least three should be completed
projects. For each project, provide references (name, email and phone number) estimated and
completed project budget, year(s) the project was performed. Identify which team firm
performed the work and identify the members of the proposed team’s organization and the role
each played in the reference project.
Section 4 - All City and EBOP Professional Services Forms: Please submit Appendix B (EBOP
Professional Services Forms), Appendix C (Non-Collusion Affidavit), Appendix E (Trade Secrets
and Confidentiality) and North Carolina Professional Licenses.
K. SELECTION CRITERIA
1. Submitted firms' responses to this RFQ will be evaluated and ranked by an RFQ Evaluation Team
comprised of members of the City of Durham selected to assess submitted qualifications. Each
submitter will be evaluated based on their SOQ score as determined through the qualification
review process and criteria noted in this section.
Overall team qualifications and experience of key team members
Reference projects and demonstrated experience working on similar projects
Submittal quality and responsiveness
40 points
40 points
20 points
If deemed necessary, the City’s review panel for this project may choose to interview a short list of
firms to determine the final selection.
The evaluation criteria are intended to be used to make a recommendation to the City Manager or
City Council who will award the contract, but who is not bound to use these criteria or to award to
the consultant(s) on the basis of the recommendation. Further, the City reserves the right to vary
from this procedure as it is determined to be in the City’s best interest.
L. NON-CONTACT PROVISION
1. Interested firms shall be prohibited from contacting any City official or employee during the course
of the pre-submittal, interview, negotiations, pre-contracting, or other process of this solicitation,
except to participate in the pre-proposal conference and to submit questions via the City’s
designated project manager. Any such contact shall be grounds for disqualification of any firm who
may have initiated such contact.
M. AWARD AND CONTRACT
1. The City of Durham Modified Master-Service Agreement Contract and exhibits will be used, and the
selected vendor will be expected to accept the terms of the attached modified contract as
supplemented by the City without modification. Exceptions will be considered only to address errors
or ambiguities in text, or if such modifications are in the best interest of the project and the City.
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.