Coastal Waterways Inventory Addendum No 1 RFQ-Final 08-21-2026

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
Coastal Waterways Inventory Project
Original Request for Proposals Issued: August 7, 2026
Original Proposal Due: September 10, 2026 at 11:00AM CST
Addendum No 1 Issued: August 21, 2026
New Due date: September 17, 2026 at 11AM CST
PURPOSE OF ADDENDUM No 1:
The Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, Inc. (SMPDD) hereby
issues this Addendum No. 1 to amend the solicitation issued on August 7, 2026, for the
Coastal Waterways Inventory Project.
The solicitation is hereby changed from a Request for Proposals (RFP) to a Request
for Qualifications (RFQ). The original solicitation is replaced in its entirety with the
following Request for Qualifications.
This Addendum modifies the solicitation to emphasize the qualifications, experience,
technical capabilities, and demonstrated ability of the consultant team to successfully
perform the required services.
All prospective respondents shall be responsible for reviewing this Addendum and
incorporating the requirements contained herein into their Statement of Qualifications.
All respondents are required to acknowledge acceptance of applicable
amendments/addendum in the SOQ cover letter.

Table of Contents
PURPOSE OF ADDENDUM No 1:...................................................................................... 1
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 3
SECTION 2: PROJECT OVERVIEW ..................................................................................... 3
Scope of Work ........................................................................................................................ 4
Project Schedule .................................................................................................................... 5
SECTION 3: FINAL DELIVERABLES ........................................................................................ 5
SECTION 4: SOQ SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS.................................................................. 6
SECTION 5: SOQ EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS ............................................... 7
Project Understanding and Technical Approach: 40 Points .................................................... 7
Project Team and Firm Qualifications: 30 Points .................................................................... 8
Relevant Project Experience: 30 Points .................................................................................. 8
SECTION 6: QUESTIONS/REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION ................................................ 8
SECTION 7: CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS ........................................................................ 8

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)
Coastal Waterways Inventory Project
Issued by: SMPDD
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
The Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, Inc. (SMPDD) is issuing this
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified
firms to provide professional services for a comprehensive coastal waterways inventory and
dredging needs assessment for non-federal waterways along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. For the
purposes of this RFQ, non-federal waterways refer to any historically maintained tidally-
influenced, coastal channels, bayous, canals, and other navigation corridors that are not
federally maintained. The selected respondent will evaluate existing channel conditions, identify
maintenance dredging needs, develop a geospatial inventory of coastal waterways, and assist
the counties in obtaining maintenance dredging permits, and authorization for submerged
aquatic vegetation (SAV) mitigation sites.
Mississippi's coastal waterways provide critical access for commercial fishing, recreational
boating, tourism, and emergency response. Many non-federal channels, bayous, and navigation
corridors experience recurring sedimentation that restricts navigation and requires periodic
maintenance dredging. However, a comprehensive inventory of these waterways, their existing
conditions, maintenance history, and long-term dredging needs has not been developed.
SMPDD is seeking a multidisciplinary consultant team with demonstrated expertise in
hydrographic surveying, geographic information systems (GIS), environmental permitting,
submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) assessment and management, and project management.
The selected consultant team will evaluate sediment accumulation and shoaling, assess
maintenance dredging requirements, perform SAV assessments, compile data into a GIS-based
waterways inventory, and develop recommendations for future dredging priorities.
Key objectives of this project are to establish a coordinated maintenance dredging program by
assisting Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties in obtaining county-wide, ten-year
maintenance dredging permits, as well as the necessary authorizations for at least three (3)
SAV mitigation sites across the Coast.
The completed inventory, assessment, and permitting documentation will provide local
governments with a long-term planning tool for prioritizing maintenance dredging.
SECTION 2: PROJECT OVERVIEW
The project goal is to assess current navigation conditions in coastal Mississippi waterways to
identify areas where sediment accumulation compromises vessel access and infrastructure
safety, develop a comprehensive coastal waterways inventory that catalogs rivers, bayous,
channels, and harbor access points, including their depths, widths, and dredging history,
evaluate submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) presence and health to ensure dredging and
sediment management practices support ecological integrity, provide data-driven
recommendations for prioritizing maintenance dredging, sediment placement and SAV
mitigation that balances navigation needs, coastal restoration, and wetland protection, and
enhance coastal resilience by linking navigation infrastructure planning to wetland and estuarine
ecosystem health supporting storm surge mitigation and hurricane protection.

The selected team will collaborate with SMPDD and the coastal communities to create a
comprehensive coastal waterways inventory and dredging needs assessment for Hancock,
Harrison, and Jackson Counties. A prime consultant will lead a multidisciplinary team that may
include, but not be limited to: engineers, surveyors, GIS specialists, environmental scientists,
and permitting specialists. The team should include a minimum of four (4) firms (including the
prime and subcontractors) of substantial contribution, demonstrate local area knowledge and
expertise coupled with regional scale and depth necessary to complete the project in a timely
and effective manner.
The project will compile existing information, perform hydrographic surveys and SAV
assessments, evaluate shoreline shoaling, estimate maintenance dredging needs, and prioritize
waterway dredging based on navigation importance, public safety, economic value, and
maintenance frequency. The project will also develop a long-term permitting strategy. The
consultant team will prepare permit application packages and coordinate with federal and state
resource agencies to obtain ten-year maintenance dredging permits for each coastal county,
and SAV mitigation site authorization for at least three (3) sites.
Scope of Work
1. Project Management and Coordination: The prime consultant shall provide overall project
management, quality assurance/quality control, schedule management, and administration
of all subcontractors. The prime consultant shall serve as the primary point of contact and
be responsible for coordinating all project activities and deliverables.
2. Dredging Needs Assessment: The team shall conduct field investigations, as necessary,
to evaluate existing channel conditions of non-federal navigation waterways throughout
Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties. The team shall analyze bathymetric survey data,
historic dredging records, existing channel conditions, and other available information to
identify current and future maintenance dredging needs. The assessment shall identify
critical shoaling areas, estimate maintenance dredging requirements, evaluate maintenance
frequency, and prioritize waterways requiring immediate or periodic maintenance based on
navigation importance, public safety, and operational needs. Please discuss in your SOQ
any additional investigations required to determine the dredging needs.
3. Coastal Waterways Inventory: The consultant shall develop a comprehensive geospatial
inventory of non-federal waterways throughout Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties.
For each waterway, the inventory must include existing channel depths, sediment
accumulation rates, historic dredging records, existing permits, municipal maintenance data,
estimated dredging needs, and maintenance priority rankings. The inventory shall be
delivered in a fully editable GIS format compatible with ESRI software.
4. SAV Assessment: The consultant shall evaluate the presence, distribution, and condition of
SAV within the project areas to support the acquisition of ten-year maintenance dredging
permits and permits required for SAV mitigation sites. The assessment shall include the data
collection, mapping, and documentation necessary to satisfy applicable permitting
requirements.
5. Final Report: The consultant shall prepare a draft report documenting the results of the field
surveys, dredging needs assessment, and coastal waterways inventory. The draft report
shall include recommendations for maintenance dredging priorities and an implementation
plan for future maintenance activities. The draft report shall be submitted to SMPDD and

participating counties for review and comment. The consultant shall incorporate or otherwise
address comments received and submit a final report reflecting the revisions.
6. Maintenance Dredging Permitting: The consultant shall coordinate with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and other applicable federal and state regulatory agencies and perform
all services, including preparation, submission, and revision of permitting applications and
responses to agency comments or requests for additional information, required to obtain
final permitting determinations for county-wide, ten-year maintenance dredging permits for
eligible waterways within Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties.
7. SAV Mitigation Site Authorization: The consultant shall coordinate with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and other applicable federal and state regulatory agencies and perform
all services required, including preparation, submission, and revision of permitting
applications and responses to agency comments or requests for additional information, to
secure authorization for at least three (3) SAV mitigation sites located across the Coast.
Project Schedule
SMPDD anticipates that the dredging needs assessment, coastal waterways inventory, SAV
assessment and final report will be completed within 12 months of contract execution. SMPDD
anticipates that the maintenance dredging permitting and SAV mitigation site authorization will
be completed within 24 months of contract execution. SMPDD recognizes that the consultants
may structure their process differently; however, SMPDD expects a clear project schedule,
milestone dates, and a plan that ensures all deliverables will be completed within 24 months of
contract execution.
SECTION 3: FINAL DELIVERABLES
Deliverables for the project include:
1. Coastal waterways inventory and dredging recommendations. The final coastal
waterways inventory shall be delivered to SMPDD in GIS file formats compatible with
ESRI software. The final report, maps, engineering analyses, and all supporting work
products shall be provided electronically in PDF format. In addition, access to any
background information, data, field survey data, and other information compiled over the
course of the project must be provided without restriction.
2. Ten-year maintenance dredging permits for Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson
Counties. The consultant shall perform all services required to obtain final permitting
determinations for ten-year maintenance dredging permits for Hancock, Harrison, and
Jackson Counties that include all eligible waterways. The required deliverable shall be a
final written determination from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approving or denying
each requested permit. Submitting a permit application alone shall not satisfy the
requirement of this task.
3. Permitted SAV Mitigation Sites: The consultant shall perform all services required to
obtain final permitting determinations for SAV mitigation sites, strategically located
across the coast. A minimum of three (3) approved sites is expected. The required
deliverable shall be a final written determination from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
approving or denying each requested permit. Submitting a permit application alone shall
not satisfy the requirement of this task.
Once completed and delivered to SMPDD, the final products and all related work materials,
documents, files, data, and information become the sole and exclusive property of SMPDD,

including all underlying intellectual property rights. SMPDD may, at its sole discretion, copy,
post electronically, distribute, disseminate, and/or share the final report and any associated
materials with anyone SMPDD deems fit, including but not limited to federal, state, county, and
local government entities, agencies, partners, and the general public. SMPDD may do so
through any means and in any form of media. Work products must be provided to SMPDD in
formats compatible with applicable Microsoft Suite software and Adobe PDF software. All GIS
data must be delivered in industry-standard, fully editable formats compatible with ESRI
software.
SECTION 4: SOQ SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
By submitting a SOQ, the respondent acknowledges that it has received, reviewed, and relied
upon this RFQ in preparing its submission. All respondents are required to acknowledge
acceptance of applicable amendments/addendum in the SOQ cover letter.
An original and four (4) copies of the SOQ shall be signed and submitted, along with a digital
copy of the SOQ in PDF format on a USB flash drive, in a sealed envelope or package by
11:00am CST on September 17, 2026, to:
Request for Qualifications - Coastal Waterways Inventory
Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District
10441 Corporate Drive, Suite 1
Gulfport, MS 39503
Timely submission of the SOQ is the responsibility of the respondent. SMPDD will not be
responsible for delayed or lost mail received after the deadline. SOQs received after the
specified time shall be rejected and returned to the respondent unopened.
The SOQ shall be limited to no more than a total of twenty-five (25) typed pages, including
content pages, supporting appendices, and resumes. The cover letter is not included in the 25-
page total. Paper size shall be 8 1/2" x 11". Text shall not be smaller than a font size of 11. Any
information contained on pages that exceed the page limit will not be evaluated. Respondents
shall submit the signed original and four (4) copies of the SOQ, along with a digital copy of the
SOQ in PDF format on a USB flash drive, in a sealed envelope or package to SMPDD on or
before the date and time specified. The original must be signed by an authorized representative
of the respondent.
All SOQs shall include the following:
1. Cover Letter: Provide a brief statement of the team's interest in the project and a
narrative description of the project approach and team structure. The cover letter should
identify the prime consultant and all proposed major subconsultants. Include information
on the qualifications of the firm and why your team is best qualified. All respondents are
required to acknowledge acceptance of applicable amendments/addendum in the SOQ
cover letter.
2. Project Understanding and Technical Approach: Provide a description of the team's
understanding of the project goals, objectives, scope of work, and unique characteristics
of Coastal Mississippi's waterways and dredging needs. A description of the proposed
methodology for completing the scope of work, including field surveys, dredging needs
assessment, coastal waterways inventory, SAV assessments, reporting, and all
permitting. Respondents should also include a description of the quality
assurance/quality control measures that will be used to ensure accurate and timely

completion of the project. Respondents should identify any significant technical
considerations, potential challenges, or additional investigations they believe should be
considered in completing the project.
3. Project Team and Firm Qualifications: Provide information regarding the qualifications
and experience of the prime consultant and proposed subconsultants. Provide a list of
team members who will be directly involved in the project, including subconsultants, and
provide a brief statement of qualifications for all individuals to include credentials such as
education, area of expertise, years of service, and relevant work experience. Include an
organizational chart that identifies the project manager and the roles of each team
member, including sub-consultants. This should include identification of the geography
of responsibility and/or task responsibility of each team member, including
subconsultants.
4. Relevant Project Experience: Include descriptions of at least three relevant projects
that were completed by your team. Preference will be given to projects demonstrating
experience with similar scope, size, complexity, and technical requirements. Please
include the following related to the previous projects:
Name and location of project
Name of team member involved in the project
Brief description of the project, deliverables, timeline and cost
References: client name, contact person, title, phone number, and email address
5. Project Schedule: Provide a detailed project schedule that identifies major milestones,
deliverables, and anticipated completion dates. Include a timeline from contract
execution to final product delivery.
Emphasis will be placed upon selecting a qualified team under the procedures outlined below.
SECTION 5: SOQ EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS
SOQs that comply with the instructions set forth in this RFQ will be evaluated by SMPDD and its
designated selection committee. SMPDD reserves the right to reject any and all SOQs. At its
sole discretion, SMPDD may choose to waive non-material irregularities or deviations from the
RFQ instructions. The evaluation process may include interviews, presentations, requests for
clarification, and/or requests for additional information.
SOQs will be evaluated using the following weighted criteria. The Selection Committee will take
action to rank all proposals. After the initial ranking process is complete, SMPDD may conduct
interviews with a short list of finalists, and/or request additional information, to determine a final
ranking.
Project Understanding and Technical Approach: 40 Points
Understanding of Project Goals: Demonstrated understanding of the project's goals,
objectives, scope of work, and Coastal Mississippi's unique dredging challenges, and
ability to translate the RFQ priorities into a cohesive plan.
Technical Approach: Quality and feasibility of the proposed methodology.
Project Management Approach: Effectiveness of the proposed project management
plan, including schedule, quality assurance/quality control, coordination with SMPDD,
local jurisdictions, regulatory agencies, and subconsultants, and ability to meet project
milestones and deliverables.

Project Team and Firm Qualifications: 30 Points
Project Team Qualifications: Qualifications and experience of key personnel of prime
contractor and subconsultants. The successful team is expected to have a high level of
familiarity with the communities in the project area and demonstrated understanding of
the specific elements of the Mississippi Coast that will, or could potentially, have an
impact upon the tasks listed in the scope of work and final deliverables.
Project Team Structure: Organizational structure and proposed allocation of
responsibilities and availability and capacity of the proposed team to perform the work.
Technical Capabilities: Demonstrated expertise in coastal dredging projects, SAV
surveying, hydrographic surveying, GIS, permitting, and project management.
Relevant Project Experience: 30 Points
Past Performance: Demonstrated experience successfully completing projects of similar
size, scope, and complexity. Describe the team's experience working in Coastal
Mississippi and/or comparable Gulf Coast environments. Respondents should identify
experience working with applicable federal, state, county, and local agencies and
demonstrate familiarity with the regulatory, environmental, navigation, and coastal
conditions relevant to the project.
Client References: Quality of references based on previous performance, including
communication, responsiveness, technical competence, and ability to deliver projects on
schedule and within budget.
Total Available Points: 100 Points
SECTION 6: QUESTIONS/REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION
All questions about this RFQ must be submitted via email to kgunter@smpdd.com no later than
5:00pm CST on August 28, 2026. Answers to the questions will be posted to the SMPDD
website at https://smpdd.com/rfp_publicnotice/ no later than September 4, 2026. Respondents
are cautioned that any statements made by any person shall not be relied upon unless
subsequently ratified by a formal written response to the RFQ, such as an amendment,
addendum, or Response to Inquiries document.
SECTION 7: CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS
The project is funded through the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources as GOMESA
Project 3000044112 and shall comply with all applicable provisions of 2 CFR 200 and comply
with all applicable provisions of Section 70914 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts
(Pub. L. 117-58), also known as the Build America Buy America Act.
SMPDD is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and hereby notifies that all respondents will be
afforded the full opportunity to submit SOQs in response to this advertisement for SOQs and will
not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age,
disability, sexual preference, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status in
consideration for an award.
SMPDD reserves the right to reject any or all SOQs, to waive any non-material irregularities or
information in any RFQ, and to accept or reject any item or combination of items. SMPDD
further reserves the right to modify or amend this RFQ, revise the RFQ schedule as necessary,
and withdraw or cancel this RFQ at any time prior to contract award. SMPDD assumes no
responsibility or liability for costs incurred by Respondents in response to this RFQ or in
responding to any further request for interviews, additional data, etc. SMPDD reserves the right

to conduct interviews with some or all respondents within its discretion. SMPDD reserves the
right to not answer questions in its sole discretion, and to waive any and all formalities
pertaining to the request and/or SOQs, and to reject any and all SOQs.
A contract may be awarded to the respondent, whose SOQ is determined to be the most
advantageous to the project. The contract amount will be negotiated with the respondent
selected pursuant to the RFQ. Negotiations will be conducted to determine a mutually
satisfactory contract first with the services provider receiving the highest number of points. If a
contract cannot be reached after the best and final offer, negotiation with that firm will be
terminated. Negotiations then will be initiated with the subsequently listed firm in the order of
rating, and this procedure will be continued until a mutually satisfactory contract has been
negotiated. SMPDD reserves the right to negotiate final terms, including scope, budget, rates,
contract type, and contract amount prior to the awarding of the contract.