NEW HANOVER COUNTY
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
NORTHSIDE GROCERY STORE DESIGN SERVICES
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BILL RIVENBARK, CHAIR
LEANN PIERCE, VICE-CHAIR
JONATHAN BARFIELD, JR.
DANE SCALISE
ROB ZAPPLE
CHRIS COUDRIET, COUNTY MANAGER
NEW HANOVER COUNTY
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
NORTHSIDE GROCERY STORE DESIGN SERVICES
Section 1 Project Summary
New Hanover County, located in Wilmington, NC, is soliciting qualification submittals from a
highly qualified architecture/engineering firm design a small-scale, full-service affordable
grocery store on a 2.5-acre lot located at 900 North 10th Street in the Northside Community of
Wilmington, NC. The site is located within a USDA designated food desert and a full-service
grocery store will satisfy a critical need in the community.
Section 2 Instructions
2.1 Schedule
Advertisement
Deadline for Questions
Answers to Questions
Deadline for Submissions
Notification if Selected for Interview
Interviews
Contract Awarded and Execution
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Friday, April 5, 2024, by 5:00 PM EST
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Wednesday, May 1, 2024, by 5:00 PM EST
Friday, May 10, 2024
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
June 2024
2.2 Statement of Qualifications Instructions
2.2.1 Submit Statements of Qualifications via email to Sara Warmuth at
swarmuth@nhcgov.com. Include RFQ Northside Grocery Store Design Services in the subject
line of the email. The successful firm must have the capability of receiving and submitting all
documents in an electronic format. Also, the successful firm must have Internet access for
browsing and receipt of electronic documents via email. The deadline for Receipt of
Qualification Statements is Wednesday May 1, 2024 5:00 PM EST.
2.2.2 Statements of Qualifications received after the time and date for closing will not be
accepted.
Submitted Statements of Qualifications are not subject to public inspection until a contract is
awarded and executed. Statements of Qualifications will be evaluated, and firms may be
contacted for interviews which may be conducted by phone or in person.
Instructions for submitting Statements of Qualifications and complete requirements may be
obtained by visiting the County at https://finance.nhcgov.com/purchasing-solicitation/open-
and-closed-bids.
New Hanover County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Statements of
Qualifications and to make the award which will be most advantageous to the County.
2.3 Communications: After the release date, all communications between the County and
prospective respondents regarding this RFQ shall be in writing. Any inquiries, requests for
interpretation, technical questions, clarifications, or additional information shall be directed to
Sara Warmuth, Chief Facilities Officer by emailing swarmuth@nhcgov.com. All questions
concerning this RFQ should reference the section number and page. Questions and responses
will be compiled and shared with all interested Respondents known to the County and posted as
an addendum. All questions shall be received no later than Friday, April 5, 2024, at 5:00 PM,
EST.
Respondents may not have communications, verbal or otherwise, concerning this RFQ with any
personnel or boards from New Hanover County, other than the person listed in this section. If
any vendor attempts any unauthorized communication, the proposal will be rejected.
2.4 Intent to Submit: All Respondents who intend to submit a Statement of Qualification on
this project should send an email to swarmuth@nhcgov.com including pertinent contact
information. This will ensure that you receive all addenda issued for this RFQ; if applicable.
2.5 Addendum: Any changes to the RFQ will be issued by addenda and sent by email to all
respondents that have notified the County of their intent to submit a
Qualification Package. The addenda will also be posted on the County’s website at
https://finance.nhcgov.com/purchasing-solicitation/open-and-closed-bids.
2.6 Minor Deviations: New Hanover County reserves the right to allow or disallow minor
deviations or technicalities should the County deem it to be in the best interest of the County.
New Hanover County shall be the sole judge of what is to be considered a minor deviation or
technicality.
2.7 Evaluation and Interviews: Statements of Qualifications will be evaluated, and oral
interviews may be requested as part of the evaluation process. If interviews will be conducted,
the County will contact Respondents by email to make arrangements.
2.8 Incurred Cost: New Hanover County is not liable for any cost incurred by any firm prior to
an award. Costs for developing a response to this request for qualification packages are entirely
the obligation of the respondent and shall not be chargeable in any manner to New Hanover
County.
2.9 Binding Agreement: No agreements with any selected Respondent shall be binding until a
contract is signed and executed by the authorized County official and authorized
representatives of the firm.
2.10 Minority Participation: It is the policy of New Hanover County that minority/women
business enterprises shall have maximum opportunity to compete for and participate in its
procurement and contracting activities. In this regard, the County has established an overall
annual goal of 10% for minority/women business enterprise participation in its various
procurement contracts. The County and its contractors shall not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, or sex in the award and performance of its contracts.
2.11 Additions and Deletions: The County reserves the right at its sole discretion to increase,
decrease, or delete any portion of this agreement contract at any time without cause, and if
such right is exercised by the County, the total fee shall be adjusted accordingly. If work has
already been accomplished on the portion of the contract to be increased, decreased, or
deleted, the contractor shall be paid for the correct portion on the basis of the estimated
percentage agreed upon by the County, the contactor, and the contract manager upon
completion of such portion.
2.12 Right to Reject: The County reserves the right to reject any and all qualification packages
with or without cause, to waive technical errors and informalities, or to accept that
qualification packages or combination of qualification packages which in the County's sole and
absolute judgment best serves the public interest.
2.13 No Public Opening: Qualification packages shall NOT be publicly opened. Submitted
Statements of Qualifications are not subject to public inspection until contract is awarded and
executed. Qualification packages that are received by telephone, facsimile, telegram, or mail
are not acceptable and will be rejected.
2.14 Pricing: No fee proposal is to be included in the qualification package. This solicitation is
for qualifications only.
2.15 Conflict of Interest: The award hereunder is subject to provisions of State Statutes and/or
County Ordinance. Respondents must disclose with their qualification packages the name of
any officer, director, or agent who is also an employee of New Hanover County. Further, all
respondents must disclose the name of any County employee who owns, directly or indirectly,
any interest in the respondent's firm or any of its branches.
Any Firm placed under contract with the County must further notify the County in writing
within five (5) days of their discovery of a potential conflict of interest and make such
continuing disclosure throughout the term of the contract. A full disclosure shall include a
description of the action that the Firm has taken, or proposes to take, to avoid or to mitigate
such conflicts of interest. The County may terminate the contract if the County deems such
termination to be in the best interest of the County or may terminate the Firm's assignment to
a project based upon its assessment of potential conflict.
2.16 License/Certifications: The successful vendor will be required to secure, at its expense, the
proper occupational license and/or any other license required of the applicable work being
performed. Proof of license and/or certification may be required prior to award. The
respondent shall comply with all federal and state laws, county and municipal ordinances and
regulations in any manner affecting the performance of the work. The respondent shall state its
occupation license number and expiration date.
2.17 Insurance: Responders to this solicitation shall show appropriate insurance coverage levels
for providing the types of services described above. Upon selection, the selected firm shall
provide specific insurance certificates naming New Hanover County as an additional insured for
the required insurance categories of coverage as outlined below:
- Commercial General Liability and if necessary, Commercial Umbrella Liability insurance
with a total limit of not less than $1,000,000 for each occurrence for bodily injury and
property damage.
- Workers’ Compensation and Employer’s Liability as required by the general statutes of
the State of North Carolina. Employer’s Liability shall not be less than $1,000,000 for
each accident for bodily injury by accident, $1,000,000 for each employee for bodily
injury by disease, and $1,000,000 policy limit.
- Applicable Business or Personal Auto Liability with a limit not less than $1,000,000
each accident.
- Professional Liability with a limit not less than $1,000,000.
2.18 Trade Secret Confidentiality: According to General Statutes 132 - 1.2, trade secrets
contained in a bid may be kept confidential if the bidder, at the time the bid is submitted,
designates that is secret and requests that it be kept confidential. Any information considered
to be confidential should be placed in a separate section and clearly marked “Confidential.”
Marking the entire proposal confidential may be grounds for rejection of proposal.
2.19 Certificate of Authority: Subject to several statutory exceptions, a business entity
incorporated or organized in a state other than North Carolina must obtain a certificate of
authority from the North Carolina Secretary of State prior to transacting business in the State.
See G.S. 55-15-01(a) (business corporations); G.S. 55A-15-01(a) (nonprofit corporations); G.S.
57D-7-01(a) (limited liability companies); G.S. 59-902(a) (limited partnerships); G.S. 59-91(a)
(registered limited liability partnerships); G.S. 55B-16(a) (professional corporations). When the
requirement applies, the foreign entity transacting business in the State is responsible for
obtaining a certificate of authority—not the domestic (i.e., North Carolina) corporations, public
entities, or individuals with whom the foreign entity might contract.
2.20 E-Verify: Pursuant to Session Law 2013-418, Bidder shall fully comply with the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security employee legal status E-Verify requirements for itself and all
