TOWN OF WEST JEFFERSON
REQUEST FOR LETTER OF INTEREST
THE TOWN OF WEST JEFFERSON DESIRES TO ENGAGE QUALIFIED
PRIVATE ENGINEERING FIRMS TO PROVIDE A PRELIMINARY
ENGINEERING REPORT, AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AND
INSPECTION SERVICES (CEI) FOR A CONTRACT CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT CONTINGENT ON FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT AWARDS.
Project Name: Utilities to Serve GE Aviation
The Town of West Jefferson desires to engage a Private Engineering Firm (PEF) to
provide a Preliminary Engineering Report, and Construction Engineering and Inspection
(CEI) services for upgrades at the Town’s wastewater treatment plant, a new sewer
pump station, and a new water supply well. The Town of West Jefferson is the official
entity that will make decisions as to the selection for engineering services.
Total project budget: $6,147,412
Source of grant funds: Economic Development Administration (EDA) and North
Carolina Industrial Development Fund
The selected firm will report directly to the Town. The selected firm is to administer the
contract and to ensure that all work is performed in accordance with the contract
requirements.
The PEF will be responsible for providing engineers and technicians with the appropriate
skills and qualifications to ensure contract compliance. The PEF will be directly
responsible for oversight of the project for the Town. The PEF shall indemnify and save
harmless the Town for claims and liabilities resulting from negligence, errors or
omissions of the PEF; including, but not limited to, the engineers, technicians or sub
consultants.
The private engineering firm must demonstrate the ability to provide Construction
Technicians with the appropriate skills and qualifications to perform inspection, materials
sampling, materials testing, surveying grade verification, documentation of pay
quantities, erosion control and permit compliance, safety compliance and claims
avoidance.
Any firm wishing to be considered must be properly registered with the Office of the
Secretary of State and with the North Carolina Board of Registration for Professional
Engineers and Land Surveyors. Any firm proposing to use corporate subsidiaries or
subcontractors must include a statement that these companies are properly registered with
the NC Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The
Engineers performing the work and in responsible charge of the work must be registered
Professional Engineers in the State of North Carolina and must have a good ethical and
professional standing. It will be the responsibility of the selected private firm to verify the
registration of any corporate subsidiary or subcontractor prior to submitting a Letter of
Interest. The firm must have the financial ability to undertake the work and assume the
liability. The selected firm will be required to furnish proof of Professional Liability
insurance coverage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000. The firm must have an
adequate accounting system to identify costs chargeable to the project.
The proposed method of payment for this contract is lump sum.
The selection of a private engineering firm to provide a Preliminary Engineering Report
and Construction Engineering and Inspection Services on this specific project will be
handled in accordance with the following process:
1. Submission by the private engineering firm of a Letter of Interest (LOI).
2. Town will review qualifications from private engineering firm’s
submittals.
3. Town will select a private engineering firm to provide the Preliminary
Engineering Report and Construction Engineering and Inspection
Services.
EVALUATION
Firms submitting LOIs to perform the Preliminary Engineering Report and Construction
Engineering and Inspection Services on this specific project will be evaluated based upon
certain considerations. The following considerations will be utilized to select a firm from
those submitting an LOI:
1. Firm's experience, knowledge, familiarity, and past performance with structure
design and CEI services – 40%
2. The experience of the firm's proposed staff to perform the type of work required –
30%
3. Firm’s understanding of the project specific issues and their responsibility in
delivering services for the advertised project – 30%
North Carolina firms qualified to do the required work will be given priority
consideration. A North Carolina firm is a firm that maintains an office in North Carolina
staffed with an adequate number of employees judged by the Town to be capable of
performing a majority of the work required.
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FORMAT FOR SUBMISSION OF A
TOWN OF WEST JEFFERSON
LETTER OF INTEREST
All letters of interest are limited to eight pages inclusive of the cover sheet, and shall be
typed on 8 1/2” x 11” sheets, single-spaced, one-sided.
Section I - Cover/Introductory Letter
The introductory letter should be addressed to Brantley Price, Town Manager. Said letter
is limited to two pages and should contain the following elements of information:
• Expression of firm’s interest in the work;
• Statement of whether firm is on register or submitting information with letter
of interest;
• Date of most recent private engineering firm qualification;
• Statement regarding firms’ possible conflict(s) of interest for the work; and
• Summation of information contained in the letter of interest.
Section II - Evaluation Factors
This section is limited to three pages and should contain information regarding
evaluation and other factors listed in the advertisement such as:
• A brief synopsis of the firm's previous Preliminary Engineering Report and
Construction Engineering and Inspection Services experience that is focused
to the type of project advertised for services [performed within last seven
years];
• The number of employees within the firm;
• A brief description of the firm's approach to developing a Preliminary
Engineering Report and performing Construction Engineering and Inspection
Services for this work, including the firm’s understanding of their
responsibility with regard to safety, contract administration, environmental
responsibility, claims, and project delivery;
• Experience with Economic Development Administration (EDA) funded
projects, including record keeping practices.
• The proposed personnel to be assigned to the work by discipline, and their
availability date on the project.
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• Identify project personnel qualifications and experience as related to this
work;
• Unique qualifications of key team members; and
• Any innovative approaches to be used.
Section III - Supportive Information
This section is limited to three pages and should contain the following
information:
• Capacity;
• Organizational chart indicating personnel to be assigned by discipline;
• The resumes of key personnel that are proposed to be assigned to the work;
• Names, classifications, and location(s) of the firms’ North Carolina employees
and resources to be assigned to the advertised work;
• Other information.
SUBMISSION OF LETTER OF INTEREST
Private engineering firms are invited to have letters of interest for furnishing Engineering
Services to the Town by 2:00 p.m. on January 16, 2026. Letters of interest received
after this deadline will not be considered.
Firms submitting letters of interest are encouraged to carefully check them for
conformance to the requirements stated above.
The mailing address is:
Town of West Jefferson
PO Box 490
West Jefferson, NC 28694
Or deliver to:
Town of West Jefferson
1 S. Jefferson Ave.
West Jefferson, NC 28694
Any questions concerning the advertisement should be directed to Brantley Price at
admin@townofwj.com or by telephone at (336) 246-3551;
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If you feel information provided is inadequate to submit a letter of interest, please contact
Brantley Price, Town Manager.
The Town is an Equal Opportunity Employer and promotes Fair Housing practices and
encourages small, minority and female owned businesses to submit qualifications.
NOTIFICATION
Submission Date: January 16, 2026
Firm Selection Date: February 2, 2026
The firm selected will be notified by February 3, 2026. Notification will not be sent to
firms not selected.
The Town reserves the right to reject any and all Letters of Interest. Contracting for
Preliminary Engineering Report, and Construction Engineering and Inspection Services is
contingent upon federal and state grant awards.
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.