Port of Bellingham
Request for Professional Services
Blaine Marine Industrial Area Boatyard Project
The Port of Bellingham (Port) is issuing this Request for Professional Services (RFPS) to solicit responses
from qualified consulting firms with suitable expertise and experience in providing planning, design,
permitting and bid document development services to develop an operational boatyard at the Blaine Marine
Industrial Area. Location of the proposed boatyard is 218 McMillan Ave. Blaine WA 98230 accessible from
Blaine on Marine Drive.
All RFPS submittals must be received at the Port administrative offices or email no later than 3:00pm on
Tuesday, December 23, 2025. If deemed necessary, the Port will schedule interviews within one week of
the deadline for submittal. Electronic submittals will be accepted in PDF format only and are preferred to
hard copy. If mailing, please submit 3 hard copies and 1 digital. Submittals of less than or equal to 24 single-
sided or 12 double-sided pages, including attachments, should be directed to:
Ben Howard
Port of Bellingham
PO Box 1677
Bellingham, WA 98227-1677
benh@portofbellingham.com
All inquiries and requests for background material to this RFPS should be directed to Ben Howard at 360-
676-2500 or benh@portofbellingham.com.
Purpose and Scope Work
The subject property has been operated as a boatyard since approximately 1949 and has involved a number
of operators under a lease with the Port. The property is awaiting a significant cleanup project in
coordination with the Department of Ecology. Cleanup activities are anticipated in mid-2026 through mid-
2027 and will include construction of a new bulkhead, contaminated sediment dredging and disposal, upland
environmental capping, and construction of two travel lift piers (30-ton and 200-ton). Following the cleanup
project, the Port will then immediately be redeveloping the boatyard. Anticipated redevelopment
improvements following the cleanup will include site grading, utilities, stormwater infrastructure and
treatment, washwater infrastructure and treatment, floats and gangways, and security. Additional boatyard
improvements may also be identified as the operational plan is finalized.
The Port is seeking engineering and environmental services to plan, design, permit, and construct the
proposed boatyard redevelopment. The project design will necessitate a civil, structural, and stormwater
engineering components to integrate with the boatyard operational plan. The contract term for this work is
anticipated to be initiated in January 2026 with design work completed by November 2026 and coordinated
with the ongoing cleanup engineering and design. Consultant will be expected to evaluate and provide input
on the operational plan developed by the Port for the proposed boatyard and site design. Consultant will
factor in the City of Blaine Permitting process for Substantial Shoreline Development as well as Land
Disturbance and Commercial Building Permitting. Consultant will factor in potential schedule constraints.
The Port of Bellingham reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted. The successful service provider will
be contacted by the Port and will be required to execute the Port’s Standard Agreement for Professional Services
without modification; a copy of the agreement is attached.
The consultant performing the work shall have exceptional knowledge and demonstrated experience with the
following:
• Boatyard operations and operational layout
• Civil, structural, marine, and transportation engineering
• Geotechnical exploration and analysis
• Hydrology & hydraulics
• Permitting of similar projects at the local, state, and federal levels
• Construction planning, scheduling and phasing at an active Marina
• City of Blaine Development Guidelines and Improvement Standards, and the Blaine Municipal Code
• City of Blaine and Department of Ecology standards for stormwater management, per the most
recently adopted version of the SWMMWW
• Department of Ecology Boatyard General Permit
Scoring and Firm Selection
Responses will be reviewed and scored by a project team consisting of Port staff. Review criteria responses
should include a cover letter and address the following evaluation criteria which will be used to evaluate all
firms:
1. Design Team Qualifications and Project Experience (40 points possible)
a) Demonstrate relevant team expertise and satisfactory performance with marine haul-out boatyard
relating to operation, stormwater management, design, construction, and project management of
similar projects.
b) Demonstrate expertise in permitting boat yard infrastructure and operational design and construction.
c) With an emphasis on knowledge and capabilities, identify firm expertise that would help the overall
performance of the project and be directly beneficial to the Port.
d) Professional background and responsibilities of proposed project team.
e) Organizational chart of the firm team, demonstrating basic structure and responsibilities of each key
member.
2. Project approach (35 points possible):
a) Detailed narrative describing your proposed approach.
b) Demonstrate familiarity with the project site by discussing potential operational and design risks,
limitations and/or opportunities.
c) Provide proposed project schedule.
3. Demonstrated Capability to Perform Professional Services (25 points possible).
a) List key assigned personnel, licensing, and professional background.
b) Describe firm’s ability to independently manage project delivery with little oversight.
c) Describe teams Quality Assurance/Quality Control process.
d) Provide a brief description of representative projects managed and constructed by the firm’s team
which are similar in scale, type, and complexity and contact for reference.
e) Team accessibility to site and Port staff.
f) List references that would attest to the expertise of the company and assigned personnel.
The Port of Bellingham reserves the right to reject any and all proposals submitted. The successful service provider will
be contacted by the Port and will be required to execute the Port’s Standard Agreement for Professional Services
without modification; a copy of the agreement is attached.
PORT OF BELLINGHAM
AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
This AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as
of the later date of the signatures below, by and between:
PORT OF BELLINGHAM
1801 Roeder Ave.
P.O. Box 1677
Bellingham, WA 98227
P: (360) 676-2500
E:
And
(“Port”)
[CONSULTANT]
P:
E:
(“Consultant”)
T I. SCOPE OF WORK. The Consultant’s Scope of Work is incorporated herein and attached as Exhibit
A (the “Work”). In the event of a conflict between any provision of the Port’s General Provisions and
F the attached Exhibit A, the Port’s General Provisions shall prevail.
II. COMPENSATION. The Consultant shall be compensated on the basis set forth in Exhibit A. The
Consultant shall not adjust any compensation rates without written authorization from the Port.
A This Agreement is limited to a total expenditure of $0.00.
III. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence with the execution of this document and will
R terminate when all tasks associated with the scope of Work herein, and as modified by written
Amendment, have been completed by the Consultant on or before
.
This Agreement may be extended for multiple terms or reinstated at the sole discretion of the Port; if
D so extended, all of the terms and conditions herein shall apply to such extension.
IV. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The Work covered by this Agreement shall be performed in accordance
with the General Provisions (which are attached hereto and form a part of this Agreement) and any
attachments or schedules.
V. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings and
may only be changed by written amendment executed by both parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the later of the dates
indicated below. By signing below, each signatory represents that they have authority on behalf of their
respective party to enter into this agreement, which shall be binding upon the parties according to its terms.
***Signatures on Subsequent Page***
Professional Services Agreement
Page 1 of 9
CONSULTANT
Signature:
Name:
Title:
Date:
PORT OF BELLINGHAM
Signature:
Name:
Title:
Date:
DRAFT
Professional Services Agreement
Page 2 of 9
GENERAL PROVISIONS
In consideration of the mutual covenants, and other good and valuable consideration, the
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. SCOPE OF WORK. The objective of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, project
Agreement is the timely preparation, completion, budget status and a narrative progress description
and/or delivery of the scope of Work and/or of Work performed that is acceptable in form to the
deliverables described in the Exhibit A or any Port. All invoices submitted by Consultant to the
amendments thereto.
Port shall reference any applicable billing codes
provided by the Port to Consultant. Any applicable
1.1 Work covered by this Agreement shall taxes shall be listed as separate line items on each
be performed in accordance with the provisions Consultant invoice. All invoices and documentation
herein and any attachments or schedules. Except may be reviewed and audited by the Port and
as may be otherwise provided for herein, this payment may be subject to review or audit. Subject
Agreement may only be amended by the mutual to the preceding, payments shall be due net thirty
consent of both parties hereto, in writing and signed (30) days of receipt of such invoice by that Port. In
by duly authorized representatives of both parties. no event shall the Port be charged interest on
payments due under this Agreement. If required by
2. TERM OF AGREEMENT. The Consultant
shall not begin Work under the Agreement until the
Port has specifically authorized the Consultant to
do so in writing. The time required for completion
of all Work shall be specified in each Exhibit A.
T The completion dates for the Work, or for phases of
the Work, may be modified only upon written
agreement of the parties hereto. The completion
dates for the Work, or for phases of the Work, may
F be, but are not required to be, extended in the event
of a delay caused by Change Order Work, as
defined herein, requested by the Port, or if the
A Consultant’s Work is delayed by unavoidable
circumstances beyond the control of the Consultant
and which the Consultant could not reasonably
have anticipated. This Agreement may be
R extended for multiple terms at the sole discretion of
the Port and subject to budget appropriations and
Commission approval when required; if so
D extended, all of the terms and conditions herein
the Port, the Consultant shall provide periodic
forecasts of its total fees and costs incurred to date.
With regard to time and materials Work, only the
reimbursable expenses specifically listed in the
attached Exhibit A will be payable expenses under
this Agreement.
3.2 If Exhibit A specifies that the Work is to
be performed on a fixed fee basis, the Consultant
shall be paid the amount of the fixed fee as
consideration for full and satisfactory performance
of the Work regardless of the Consultant’s cost to
perform the Work. The Port shall have sole
authority for determining when all Work has been
satisfactorily performed by the Consultant. The
fixed fee amount comprises all of the Consultant’s
payment for the work and includes, without
limitation, all costs of salaries, overhead, non-
salary expenses (including, but not limited to,
travel, reproductions, telephone, supplies, and fees
shall apply to such extension
of outside consultants), as well as the Consultant's
profits. The Consultant’s payment for the Work
3. COMPENSATION AND PAYMENT. Unless shall not exceed the specified amount unless first
Exhibit A specifically establishes a fixed fee authorized by the Port in writing.
payment, the Consultant shall be compensated on
the basis of hours worked and expenses incurred
3.3 The Consultant shall obtain the prior
by its employees at the rates shown in Exhibit A. written approval of the Port for any charges for
The Consultant shall receive no other payment for additional services by the Consultant, the additional
materials or disbursements unless expressly services of others retained by Consultant, or the
allowed by Exhibit A. The Consultant shall not furnishing of additional supplies, materials, or
adjust the wage rates in Exhibit A without written equipment. The Consultant shall not be entitled to
authorization from the Port.
compensation for any such additional charges
incurred in violation of this Paragraph.
3.1 Consultant shall supply Port with a
monthly invoice and written documentation,
satisfactory to Port, for all amounts due under this
Professional Services Agreement
Page 3 of 9
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
