2026-057-RSOQ-FAC-Water Intrusion Diagnostic Engineering Services

Anticipated Sourcing Event Schedule Sourcing Event Issued: August 25, 2026 Optional Pre-Proposal Meeting: September 9, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST Virtual Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/299610714896719?p=PsEYF5gGjCRcEB830m Questions Due: September 16, 2026 @ 6:00 PM PST Sourcing Event Closes: September 25, 2026 @ 3:00 PM PST Tentative Evaluation Period: Week of September 28, 2026 Negotiation Period: Between September 28th and October 9th, 2026 Board Award (if applicable): November 10th, 2026 Contract Award: November 11, 2026 Notice to Proceed: November 13, 2026 The scheduled referenced above is the tentative for this solicitation and is subject to change. SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 Introduction Pursuant to RCW 39.80, C-TRAN is seeking Statements of Qualifications from qualified vendors to provide professional engineering and diagnostic design services to identify and evaluate water intrusion within underground conduit systems at the project location. 1.2 Agency Background C‑TRAN is a municipal corporation of the State of Washington governed by a board of elected officials. C‑TRAN provides transit services throughout its specified service area boundaries in Clark County, Washington, and to Portland, Oregon. C‑TRAN’s service area population is approximately 432,000 persons in an area of 143 square miles. In 2020, C‑TRAN’s total ridership equaled approximately 3,832,482 passengers. Qualifications will be reviewed and ranked by the evaluation team as outlined in the evaluation section of the sourcing event. If applicable, the final decision regarding contract award may be made by the C‑TRAN Board of Directors in an open public meeting. It is anticipated that a contract will be awarded in November 2026. This is subject to change. 1.3 Reimbursement C-TRAN will not reimburse Respondents for any costs involved in the preparation and submission of responses to this sourcing event or in the preparation for and attendance at subsequent interviews. Furthermore, this sourcing event does not obligate C-TRAN to accept or contract for any expressed or implied services. 1.4 Proposals Become Public Records During the evaluation process, C-TRAN treats all submittals with the highest level of confidentiality; however, once the evaluation process has been completed and a contract is awarded, the entire procurement becomes public information and subject to the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW. Any proprietary information revealed in the submittal should therefore be clearly identified as such. C-TRAN will notify any Respondent before releasing proprietary information in response to a request for public records. If the Respondent believes its records are exempt from disclosure, it is the Respondent's sole responsibility to pursue a lawsuit under RCW 42.56.540 to enjoin disclosure. It is the Respondent’s discretionary decision whether to file such a lawsuit. However, if the Respondent does not timely obtain and serve an injunction, C-TRAN will disclose the records in accordance with applicable law. 1.5 Nondiscrimination C-TRAN, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 USC 2000d to 200d-4, and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation (DOT), Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the DOT issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all Respondents that it will affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this Request for Statement of Qualifications, minority business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit a response to this request and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin in consideration for an award. 1.6 Cooperative Purchasing - RESERVED 1.7 Procurement Protest Procedure Bidders, Respondents, or other third parties that can demonstrate a substantial economic interest in the award of a contract and who claim to be aggrieved in connection with the solicitation or proposed award of a contract (referred to as a “Protester”) may protest to C-TRAN in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. This protest procedure shall be included or referenced in all solicitation documents. Failure to comply with these procedures may result in rejection by C-TRAN. Failure to meet the deadlines outlined in these procedures will result in the automatic rejection of the Protest. 1.7.1 Types of Protests For the purposes of this procedure, there are two types of Protests: Pre-bid or Solicitation Phase Protest This protest type is in response to solicitation activities occurring prior to the submission deadline. This Protest must be received prior to the bid opening or proposal/qualifications due date. Protests may be based on: Any portion of the specifications, solicitation, or pre-bid/proposal meetings; Any minimum qualifications identified within the solicitation package; Questions that were not fully or properly addressed by C-TRAN; Inadequate information or improper criteria contained in the solicitation package; or Any other matter known, or that should have been known, by reading the solicitation. Pre-Award Protest This protest type is in response to a pending award for a solicitation. This Protest must be received after receipt of proposals/qualifications or bids, but before the contract award. The right to protest issues regarding the specifications, solicitation, or pre-bid/solicitation meetings must have been protested prior to bid opening or proposal/qualifications due date and are therefore no longer eligible as an issue of protest. Pre-Award Protests may be based on: Issues with the bid opening or proposal/qualification due date; Rejection of a bid or proposal as Nonresponsive or Not Responsible; Notice of Intent to Award; or Evaluation of the proposals/qualification statements. Form and Content All communication concerning a Protest must be submitted in writing and will be considered public records. All Protests should contain the information included in this section and may be denied if it does not. A Protest should include: Company name, mailing address, contact information, and name of the individual(s) responsible for submission of the protest; Identification of the C-TRAN solicitation (number and title) being protested; A statement of the specific action or decision being protested; All reasons and bases for the protest, including identification of the specifications, terms, or requirements objected to; statutory, regulatory, or policy provision(s) alleged to have been violated; and a complete description of the facts, circumstances, and reasons supporting the protest; The relief or corrective action requested; and Signature of an authorized agent of the company and a written attestation that the contents of the protest are true and accurate. All supporting documentation for the Protest should be included with the formal written protest. A Protester waives any and all grounds for protest that are not clearly identified or described in the initial submission of each type of Protest filed with C-TRAN. 1.7.2 Method of Filing Any Protest shall be filed with C-TRAN in written form only, by hand delivery or courier to: C-TRAN, ATTN: Manager of Procurement and Contracts, 10600 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver, WA 98682 Any Protests submitted by mail should be mailed with ample time to be received by C-TRAN on or before the actual due date. Protests will not be accepted via e-mail or fax. Any Protest received electronically will be rejected. C-TRAN may, however, permit the electronic submission of supplemental information after the initial Protest submittal. 1.7.3 Time for Filing A Protester must strictly comply with the deadlines established by this section. A Protester's failure to comply with the deadlines required by this section will constitute a waiver of the Protester's right to protest. If a differing deadline is set forth in the procurement specifications, the deadline in the specifications shall prevail. Pre-Bid or Solicitation Phase Protest: C-TRAN must receive this Protest at least five Working Days prior to the bid opening or proposal/qualifications due date. These Protests are to be submitted to the attention of the C-TRAN Manager of Procurement and Contracts. Upon receipt, the Manager of Procurement and Contracts shall review the concerns outlined and consult with the necessary parties as needed, and will reply to the Protest within three Working Days. Pre-Award Protest: C-TRAN must receive this Protest within five Working Days after bid opening or Notice of Intent to Award is issued for Requests for Proposals/Qualifications. These Protests are to be submitted to the Manager of Procurement and Contracts. Copies of the protest may be provided to the Respondent against whom the protest is made if they are not copied on the original protest. That Respondent can respond in writing to the Procurement Manager within two Working Days. The Manager of Procurement and Contracts will review all issues raised, consult with the necessary parties, and respond in writing to all parties within fourteen Working Days after receiving the Protest, notifying all parties if more time is needed. During the protest review, the Manager of Procurement and Contracts may offer to meet with the Protester to attempt an informal resolution. Participation is voluntary and does not affect the fourteen Working Day decision deadline. The Manager of Procurement and Contracts will not award the project without first providing time for the Protester to appeal as outlined in the next section. If a Protest results in a change to the recipient of an award, a new Notice of Intent to Award will be issued and a new Pre-Award Protest period will begin. 1.7.4 Appeal Process A Protester has three Working Days, after receipt of C-TRAN's determination, to appeal the decision. The appeal must be submitted in writing and provide a basis for an appeal. The appeal letter should be sent to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) noted on the determination with copies to the Director of Finance and the Manager of Procurement and Contracts. This shall be the final appeal provided to the Protester. Upon receipt of the appeal, the CFO shall consider all of the facts and issues and shall issue a final decision on C-TRAN's behalf within ten Working Days. The CFO or their designee(s) may further investigate the protest and request additional information from the Protester or any other party. The final decision given by the CFO shall either confirm or overturn C-TRAN's determination. 1.7.5 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Involvement in Protests The Uniform Guidance, as adopted by the Federal Department of Transportation, no longer includes language in 49 CFR § 18.36(b)(12) that provided a direct appeal to FTA of a recipient's final decision on a bid protest. The FTA's role is limited to considering matters that are “primarily a Federal concern.” Additionally, Section (1)(b)(2)(a) of Chapter VII of FTA Circular 4220.1F, which provided for direct appeals to FTA, is no longer applicable. Pursuant to 2 CFR § 200.318(k), Protesters may raise with the FTA matters that are primarily a Federal concern. Examples of “Federal concerns” include, but are not limited to, situations where a special Federal interest is declared because of program management concerns, possible mismanagement, impropriety, waste, or fraud. There is no longer a requirement to exhaust all administrative remedies before seeking an appeal with the FTA. When raising Federal matters with the FTA prior to exhaustion of all remedies with C-TRAN, Protesters are advised to clearly articulate the Federal concern, its impact on C-TRAN's review of the protest, the prejudice to the protester that will result if FTA does not resolve the Federal matter immediately, and provide any other relevant documents or materials. Because matters involving the award of a contract should be addressed expeditiously, Protesters must raise any Federal matters arising out of C-TRAN's award of the contract within five Working Days of the final decision of the bid protest. 1.7.6 Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies A Protester may not commence litigation prior to exhausting all administrative remedies. Failure to exhaust all administrative remedies will constitute an absolute waiver of the Protester's right, if any, to commence litigation. 1.7.7 Costs In no event will a Protester be entitled to recover any costs incurred in connection with the protest of a solicitation, including but not limited to bid or proposal preparation costs, protest preparation costs, or attorney's fees. SECTION 2 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 2.1 Inquiries on RSOQ Questions on this RSOQ should be addressed via the Messaging Center Board of the Sourcing Event in the Workday Strategic Sourcing portal. C‑TRAN’s Procurement Staff shall be the single point of contact during the entire solicitation process until Contract Award. Contact with other C‑TRAN personnel, committee members, and/or consultants during the solicitation process is prohibited. Questions and requests for information must be submitted by the deadline specified in the schedule. 2.2 Submittal of Responses to Sourcing Event All response submittals must be received via the Workday Strategic Sourcing event web page. Respondents unable to submit their submittals through the online sourcing event should contact C-TRAN Procurement for assistance via the Messaging Center Board of the Sourcing Event. C-TRAN is not responsible for delays in digital delivery. Responses submitted by Workday Strategic Sourcing should be uploaded well in advance to the submission deadline to account for any technical difficulties. Requests for additional pages or questions regarding file uploads must be submitted through the Sourcing Event Message Center Board. 2.3 Addendum/Addenda to RSOQ C‑TRAN reserves the right to make any changes in the RSOQ as deemed appropriate. Any and all changes shall be made by written addenda, which shall be issued by C‑TRAN via the Sourcing Event. It is the sole responsibility of the Respondent to learn of Addenda, if any. Such information may be obtained via the Sourcing Event. C-TRAN accepts no responsibility or liability and will provide no accommodation to Respondents who fail to check for addenda and submit inadequate or incorrect responses. 2.4 Validity Period The response shall be considered current and a valid offer to undertake the work, subject to successful negotiation of a contract, for a period of at least 90 days and shall contain a statement in the proposal’s Letter of Transmittal to that effect. SECTION 3 SCOPE OF SERVICES 3.1 Background C-TRAN’s recently constructed operations building located at 2425 NE 65th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98661 is showing signs of water intrusion in floor mounted electrical/data boxes. On December 22, 2025, condensation under a plastic floor mat was discovered under an office chair. Staff installed desiccant bags to capture the moisture believing it was a one-time issue. Approximately one week later, the bag was revisited and it was full and the electrical plug in the floor box had shorted out due to water in the conduit. An outside contractor was hired to inspect the conduit using a borescope and discovered a substantial amount of water in the line. The water was removed from the conduit, rechecked the following week, and more water was discovered to have entered the system. Following this additional discovery and determining it was likely a recurring issue, C-TRAN hired a contractor to inspect and review the entire building for where the water may be coming from and if additional impacted areas exist. Water was discovered in all floor box conduits and in the empty conduits in both the electrical rooms. C-TRAN staff have continued to vacuum out the lines and install/check desiccant bags weekly to review and remove any moisture buildup. A C-TRAN hired contractor removed over 60 gallons of water from the floor box conduits throughout the building from July 20-23, 2026. It was noted that the south end of the building had more water than the north end. The floor boxes and conduits have been monitored weekly and water puddling has occurred in the conduits. The ¾” conduits in the electrical rooms are showing the same levels of water as prior to the recent pump out. C-TRAN is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide professional engineering and diagnostic design services to identify and evaluate water intrusion within underground conduit systems at the project location. The selected Consultant will be responsible for performing a systematic investigation of the conduit system using non-destructive and minimally invasive methods, reviewing available plans and site documentation, conducting field diagnostics, identifying the source and pathway of water infiltration, and developing practical recommendations for mitigation or repair. C-TRAN will provide all available building plans, drawings, and the geotechnical report for the project site. 3.2 Scope of Work The Scope of Work for identifying water intrusion in underground conduits shall focus on systematic, non-destructive and minimally invasive diagnostic methods to identify likely water entry paths, evaluate contributing conditions, and support practical mitigation recommendations before any intrusive investigation or repair work is authorized. 3.2.1 Project Objective Identify the exact source, pathway, and cause of water entering the subsurface conduit system. Provide an actionable engineering assessment and mitigation plan to stop the infiltration. 3.2.2 Phase I: Pre-Investigation & Desktop Review Review documentation: Analyze existing utility maps, as-built civil engineering drawings, conduit routing schematics, and past maintenance logs. Historical analysis: Interview facility personnel regarding the timing of the leaks, such as correlations with heavy rainfall or localized irrigation schedules. Site safety briefing: Execute utility locating sweeps (e.g., calling 811) and review confined space entry protocols if access vaults or manholes must be entered. 3.2.3 Phase II: Field Inspection & Advanced Diagnostics Visual inspection: Document visible signs of moisture, sediment buildup, or mineral deposits at conduit terminations, pull boxes, and manholes. CCTV robotic pipe inspection: Deploy a waterproof, push-rod or crawler-mounted closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera through the conduit to physically view structural anomalies, offset joints, or root intrusions. Acoustic leak profiling: Utilize ground microphones and acoustic sensors along the conduit path to listen for the specific frequencies of water movement or high-pressure ingress. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): Scan the ground surface above the conduit run to detect subsurface voids, soil saturation zones, or water plumes pooling around the pipe. Infrared thermography: Deploy thermal imaging cameras over the conduit pathway and at entry points to map temperature differentials caused by moisture anomalies. 3.2.4 Phase III: Isolation & Forensic Testing Conduit isolation: Identify any conditions requiring temporary isolation, protection, lockout/tagout coordination, or other measures necessary to safely perform diagnostic testing without damaging existing electrical, data, or fiber optic systems. Pneumatic pressure testing: Plug conduit ends and pressurize the line with compressed air to monitor the pressure decay rate and identify structural breaches. Hydrostatic / Dye tracer testing: Introduce fluorescent, eco-friendly dye tracers into surrounding surface water bodies, storm drains, or the ground to trace if and where colored water infiltrates the conduit. 3.2.5 Phase IV: Analysis & Deliverables Comprehensive engineering report: Deliver a detailed document outlining the localized findings, structural condition of the conduit, and the identified root cause of water entry. Defect mapping: Provide a digital CAD blueprint or GIS map pinpointing the exact coordinates and depths of the detected leaks or structural failures. Remediation recommendations: Outline specific corrective action options, such as cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining, chemical grout injection, or targeted excavation repairs. 3.3 Project Location C-TRAN Operations Building 2425 NE 65th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98661 3.4 Licenses, Certificates and Permits The Consultant shall secure and maintain, at its sole expense, such licenses and permits as may be required to provide the services or supplies under this contract, including but not limited to a license to do business in the State of Washington. If, for any reason, the Consultant’s required licenses or certificates are terminated, suspended, revoked or in any manner modified from their status at the time this Contract becomes effective, the Consultant shall notify C-TRAN’s Procurement Team immediately of such condition in writing. SECTION 4 SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Respondents shall prepare a Statement of Qualifications simply, and economically, providing a straightforward and concise description of qualifications and methods to satisfy all requirements of the RSOQ. Do not submit binders, brochures, or other attachments that have not been requested in the RSOQ document. If additional information is required, it will be requested after the review of the qualification statements. C‑TRAN shall not be liable for any expense incurred in the preparation of submittals. All responses and submissions will become the property of C‑TRAN and will not be returned to the Respondents. As part of the submission process Respondents shall provide responses to the questions as stated in the sourcing event. 4.1 Contractor Exceptions The Respondent shall list any exceptions the Respondent is requesting from C-TRAN’s proposed Contract, including the general terms and conditions. If no exceptions are listed it will be assumed that the Respondent accepts all terms and conditions stated in the Contract. 4.2 WDSS Submittal Questions and Required Uploads Respondents shall upload one separate document for each WDSS question listed below. Each upload should directly answer the question, be organized to match the scoring criterion, and avoid duplicating information unless necessary for clarity. Each uploaded file should clearly identify the Respondent name and the applicable WDSS question or scoring criterion. C-TRAN may deem responses incomplete if required uploads are missing, inaccessible, corrupted, or not clearly associated with the applicable question. The Evaluation Committee will use these responses to evaluate the Statement of Qualifications against the criteria in Section 5.1. 4.2.1 Cover Letter — 5 Points WDSS Question: Upload a cover letter that confirms the Respondent’s interest in providing Water Intrusion Diagnostic Engineering Services for C-TRAN, identifies the legal name of the firm and primary contact, confirms authority to submit the Statement of Qualifications, acknowledges the validity period stated in this RSOQ, and provides a concise statement of the firm’s understanding of C-TRAN’s need to identify the source, pathway, and cause of water intrusion in underground conduit systems at the Operations Building. 4.2.2 Technical Response — 30 Points WDSS Question: Upload a technical response describing the diagnostic methods, equipment, sequencing, and analysis the Respondent will use to investigate water intrusion within the underground conduit systems. The response should address, as applicable, desktop review of plans and maintenance records, non-destructive or minimally invasive field diagnostics, conduit inspection methods, isolation and testing strategies, moisture or infiltration tracing, documentation of findings, and the process for developing engineering recommendations for mitigation or repair. 4.2.3 Qualifications and Experience of the Firm — 20 Points WDSS Question: Upload a statement describing the firm’s qualifications and experience providing professional engineering, forensic investigation, diagnostic design, building envelope, utility, electrical infrastructure, civil, geotechnical, or related services relevant to identifying and evaluating water intrusion in subsurface conduit or building infrastructure systems. Include licenses, certifications, specialized capabilities, quality control practices, availability to perform the work, and experience working on occupied facilities or public agency projects. 4.2.4 Past Performance and Relative Experience — 20 Points WDSS Question: Upload descriptions of completed or substantially completed projects that demonstrate the Respondent’s past performance and relative experience with diagnostic investigation, water intrusion, underground conduit, building systems, utility infrastructure, or comparable engineering assessment work. For each project, identify the client, project location, scope performed, diagnostic methods used, findings or outcomes, schedule performance, and relevance to C-TRAN’s Operations Building water intrusion issue. Include at least three references as required in Section 5.3. 4.2.5 Qualifications and Experience of the Team — 10 Points WDSS Question: Upload an organization chart and resumes or role summaries for the proposed project team, including the project manager, lead engineer, field investigation personnel, and any subconsultants. Identify each team member’s role, relevant licenses or certifications, experience with water intrusion diagnostics and infrastructure investigations, availability, and the responsibilities they will perform for this project. 4.2.6 Project Approach and Understanding — 15 Points WDSS Question: Upload a project approach that demonstrates the Respondent’s understanding of C-TRAN’s water intrusion issue, the project location, known conditions, operational constraints, and desired outcomes. The response should provide a high-level description of the proposed work plan, major tasks, anticipated schedule, coordination needs with C-TRAN staff, assumptions, safety considerations, methods for minimizing disruption to the occupied Operations Building, deliverables, and how the approach will lead to practical mitigation or repair recommendations. SECTION 5 EVALUATION 5.1 Evaluation Criteria Statements of Qualifications will be evaluated by an Evaluation Committee based on the following criteria: CRITERIA SCORE VALUE Cover Letter 5 points Technical Response 30 points Qualifications and Experience of the Firm 20 points Past Performance and Relative Experience 20 points Qualifications and Experience of the Team 10 points Project Approach and Understanding 15 points Total Points Available 100 points 5.2 Interviews Respondents who submit a packet in response to this RSOQ may be required to attend an interview or give an oral presentation of their submittal to C-TRAN. This provides an opportunity for the Respondent to clarify or elaborate on their submittal. This is a fact finding and explanation session only and does not include negotiation. C-TRAN’s Procurement will schedule the time and location of the interview or presentation. All costs involved shall be the responsibility of the Respondent. Interviews or presentations are an option of C-TRAN and may or may not be conducted. Unless otherwise noted below the original scores based on the submittals will be adjusted to reflect information provided during the interview process. 5.3 Reference Checks C-TRAN may elect to conduct reference checks as part of this sourcing event. Respondent shall provide a minimum of three (3) references as part of their response to the sourcing event. 5.4 Negotiations Following selection of the most qualified Consultant, C-TRAN and the Consultant will enter into negotiations to finalize the Scope of Work and establish the total compensation amount. The Consultant shall provide the following information to C-TRAN within seven calendar days of the notice of selection: · A refined Scope of Work organized by task which includes a proposed work schedule, any assumptions or limitations, and any necessary clarification on deliverables; · A detailed fee proposal which includes: · Individuals assigned to each task, their classification, and their raw labor rate. For flexibility, C‑TRAN will accept a classification rate without identification of specific individuals for support positions; provided however that when invoicing C-TRAN, Consultant shall bill C-TRAN in accordance with the staff member’s actual raw labor rate which may not exceed the approved rate for the classification. · Estimated hours per individual or classification per task. This estimate shall reflect a reasonable estimate of the amount of effort necessary to accomplish a task. · The proposed Fixed Fee. The Fixed Fee must be calculated based on a proposed percentage of the total labor costs and should be proposed based on the expected level of risk and complexity of the project. Consultants cannot markup Sub-consultant Contracts, however the fee (profit) may reflect a percentage of Sub-contracting relative to the percentage of work by the Consultant. · Expenses. Consultant shall provide an estimate of the necessary expenses broken down by category. No markup shall be added to expenses. All travel costs shall be in accordance with U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Per diem rates; rideshares will be reimbursed at standard mileage rates. · The same information shall be provided for each Sub-consultant except that (1) unless otherwise negotiated, Sub-consultants will not be provided a fixed fee from C-TRAN and (2) Sub-consultants without an audited rate may propose a flat billing rate. · Proof of insurance is required under this RSOQ.