Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing, and Special Inspection for New Middle School

Swain County Schools
50 Main Street, Suite 200, Bryson City, NC 28713
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
RFQ#02-2026
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, MATERIALS
TESTING AND SPECIAL INSPECTIONS FOR NEW
SWAIN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
ISSUE DATE: September 28, 2024
ISSUING DEPARTMENT:
SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
PO Box 2340
Bryson City, NC 28713
Millie Hines- Finance Officer
828-488-3129 ext 5141
RESPONSES WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL
OCTOBER 14, 2024 AT 4:00 p.m.
RFQ NO. 02-2026
PAGE 1

Swain County Schools
50 Main Street, Suite 200, Bryson City, NC 28713
SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS, NORTH CAROLINA
RFQ No. 2-2026 September 28, 2024
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR GEOTECHNIAL ENGINEERING, MATERIALS TESTING AND SPECIAL
INSPECTIONS FOR NEW SWAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Pursuant to General Statutes of North Carolina, Section 143-64.31, as amended, responses to Request for Qualifications
(RFQ), subject to the conditions and specifications herein are being requested by Swain County Schools from qualified
firms interested in providing geotechnical engineering, materials testing and special inspections portion of the work for
the construction phase of the new Swain Middle School. Provide three (3) print copies of the submittal and one digital
(USB). Responses to Request for Qualifications will be received by Swain County Schools until 4:00 p.m. local time
October 14, 2024. Do not transmit any submittal information via email or any other type of electronic format.
MAILING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Firms shall submit a complete, fully executed RFQ document.
2. If mailed, response should be forwarded by certified U.S. Postal Service. Please address and mark your bid as
shown below.
SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
ATTN: BRANDON SUTTON
PO Box 2340
BRYSON CITY, NC 28713
RFQ- 02-2026
If forwarded other than by U.S. Postal Service, delivery must be made directly to
Swain County Schools, 50 Main Street, Suite 200 BRYSON CITY, NC 28713
NOTE: IF MAIL OR DELIVERY BY ANY OTHER MEANS IS DELAYED BEYOND THE DEADLINE FOR RESPONSES TO REQUEST
FOR QUALIFICATIONS, RESPONSES THUS DELAYED WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
RFQ NO. 02-2026
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Swain County Schools
50 Main Street, Suite 200, Bryson City, NC 28713
PROJECT SCOPE OF SERVICES
Swain County Schools is accepting qualifications for geotechnical engineering, materials testing and special inspections
for the construction phase of the upcoming construction project for a New Swain Middle School. The project site is 414
Black Hill Road, Bryson City, NC 28713.
This project is the construction of a new middle school facility, approximately 100,000 on a 16.5 acre greenfield parcel.
The new work has a construction cost of $47,342,514.oo and will be provided by Vannoy Construction through a
Construction Manager at Risk delivery method.
Anticipated Project Schedule: subject to change by Owner and CM at Risk
Construction Mobilization: approximately October 31, 2026
Construction Completion: August 1, 2028
MINIMUM PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Three (3) print copies and one digital copy (USB) of the Proposal must be received at the issuing office as described
above in order to be considered. The Owner reserves the right to reject either all proposals after the opening of the
proposals but before award, or any proposal, in whole or part, when it is in the best interest of the Owner. For the
same reason, the Owner reserves the right to waive any minor irregularity in a proposal.
2. Proposers should give specific attention to the identification of those portions of their proposals which they deem
to be confidential, proprietary information or trade secrets, and provide any justification of why such materials,
upon request, should not be disclosed by the Owner under North Carolina public records laws. Proposals will be
publicly opened. Proposers must clearly indicate each and every section that is deemed to be confidential,
proprietary or a trade secret as required by statute. It is NOT sufficient to preface your entire proposal with a
proprietary statement.
3. All proposals must include all aspects of North Carolina law and Swain County policy. The owner may or may not
interview potential candidates to assist in the selection process.
CONTENT OF RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The Respondent shall submit the following required information/documents with sufficient depth and breadth necessary
to substantiate his or her ability to perform the services being sought by Swain County Schools. Failure to provide the
required information may result in rejection of the submittal.
1. A brief description of the firm and its program of services with emphasis on construction phase
geotechnical and special inspections qualifications.
2. The project team and the individual qualifications of the members of the team.
3. A list of recent related project experience. The project experience of the project team and/or related
experience within Swain County is particularly important. In addition, each project listed needs to have past
client contact information.
4. Provide at least three references.
5. Provide a copy of a certificate of insurance that identifies current levels of insurance in areas of general
liability, automobile liability, workers compensation and professional liability.
6. Submittals shall be printed on 812" x 11" paper, include front and back covers and Table of Contents.
Submittal shall be side bound and include reference tabs for key sections .
7. The Non-Collusion Affidavit attached to this RFQ must be properly executed and submitted.
PROPOSED RFQ SELECTION SCHEDULE
RFQ NO. 02-2026
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Swain County Schools
50 Main Street, Suite 200, Bryson City, NC 28713
Issue date of RFQ: September 28, 2024
Deadline to submit questions: October 7, 2024 by 4:00 pm
Due date of RFQ: October 14, 2024 by 4:00 pm
Committee evaluation of RFQ: Week of October 14, 2024
Board of Education to approve selection: October 19, 2026
Any questions from vendors interested in submitting proposals for the project should contact Brandon Sutton at
bsutton@swainmail.org.
Project construction documents, design phase geotechnical reports, Statement of Special Inspections and CMAR
construction schedule can be provided upon request. Email requests to emilykite@ls3p.com
GENERAL COMMENTS
All qualifications responses, inquiries or correspondence relating to this RFQ will become the property of Swain County
Schools when received and will not be returned.
Swain County Schools reserves the right to reject any and all responses, or any portions thereof, or select responses,
which, in its opinion, are in the best interest of the Board of Education.
Swain County Schools reserves the right to waive any informalities and any technicalities or to cancel the RFQ in part or
in its entirety if it is in the best interest of the Board of Education. This solicitation in no way obligates the Board of
Education to award a contract.
Swain County Schools shall not be liable for any expenses incurred by Respondents in connection with the preparation
of a response to this RFQ. Respondents should prepare their submittal providing a straightforward and concise
description of the Respondent's ability to meet the requirements of this RFQ. Unnecessarily elaborate brochures,
artwork, expensive paper, bindings, visual and presentation materials, beyond that sufficient to present a complete and
effective response to this RFQ is not desired.
Respondents are requested to refrain from contact with the committee members, school system employees, or county
employees regarding this solicitation, except for written communication described in this RFQ.
Swain County Schools reserves the right to approve all personnel working on Swain County Schools projects. Key
professional staff may not be removed, reassigned, or replaced without prior approval from Swain County Schools.
Swain County Schools reserves the right to select qualified firms for one or both projects described above, at the sole
discretion of the Owner. Contracts with selected firms will be issued separately for each project. Interested firms with a
preference for being considered for a specific project should indicate their project preference within their RFQ
Qualifications Response.
E-VERIFY: Respondent is hereby required to be in compliance with the requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the
North Carolina General Statutes concerning e-verification at the time of entering the Contract and at all times during the
performance of this Contract. All subcontractors utilized by Respondent are likewise required to comply with the
requirements of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes concerning e-verification at the time of
entering this Contract and at all times during the performance of this Contract. Respondent shall take necessary steps to
include this provision in all contracts with its subcontractors who will perform any portion of the work covered by this
Contract.
RFQ NO. 02-2026
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Swain County Schools
50 Main Street, Suite 200, Bryson City, NC 28713
When responding to this RFQ, please follow all instructions carefully. Please submit proposal contents
according to the outline specified and submit documents according to the instructions.
By submitting a proposal, Respondents acknowledge that Swain County Schools reserves the right to reconsider any
submittal at any phase of this procurement process.
Submittals will be received by Swain County Schools at the time and place designated in this document. At that point,
Swain County Schools will close the receipt of submittals and begin the evaluation process.
Swain County Schools will not be held responsible for the failure of any mail or delivery service to deliver a proposal
response prior to the stated proposal due date and time. It is solely the Respondent's' responsibility to: (1) ascertain
that they have all required and necessary information, documents and addenda, prior to submitting a response; (2)
ensure that the response is received at the correct location and time. Late responses, regardless of delivery means, will
not be accepted. Submittals received by telephone, facsimile, or email will not be accepted.
By submission of a response, the Respondent agrees that at the time of submittal, it: (1) has no interest (including
financial benefit, commission, finder's fee, or any other remuneration) and shall not acquire an interest, either direct or
indirect, that would conflict in any manner or degree with the performance of the Respondent's services, or (2) will not
benefit from an award resulting in a "Conflict of Interest." A "Conflict of Interest" shall include holding or retaining
membership, or employment, on a board, elected office, department, division or bureau, or committee sanctioned by
and/or governed by Swain County Schools.
RFQ NO. 02-2026
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Swain County Schools
50 Main Street, Suite 200, Bryson City, NC 28713
NON-COLLUSION AFFIDAVIT
SWAIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
RFQ 02-2026
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR A NEW SWAIN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
The undersigned affirms that the proposal made herein is made without any connections with any other
person, or persons, making any other proposal for the above item(s): that it is in all respects fair and without
collusion or fraud:
That______________________________________________ (Firm Name) is not connected in any official
capacity with Swain County Schools, and that no person, or persons, acting in such a capacity are directly, or
indirectly, interested herein or in any of the profit arising or anticipated from this transaction.
In making this proposal, it is understood and agreed, that the conditions set forth in the advertisement for
bids, instructions to bidders, terms and conditions and specifications together with the proposal shall form a
part of and be construed with the contract under the same.
The acceptance of this proposal by Swain County Schools, as evidenced by the issuance of a Swain County
Schools Purchase Order, will be held to be a mutual agreement as to each and every clause of this proposal
and to constitute a contract between the parties hereto.
FIRM NAME: __________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________
BY: _________________________________________________________________________
TITLE: _______________________________________________________________________
State of North Carolina
County of: _______________
Sworn to and subscribed
before me, this
__________day of _____________, 20______.
_______________________________________
Notary Public
My commission expires: __________________
RFQ NO. 02-2026
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