Geotechnical Engineering & Construction Materials Testing (CMT) Services

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ2025-01) Geotechnical Engineering & Construction Materials Testing (CMT) Services City of Santa Fe, Texas (Population ~15,000) RFQ No.: COSFTX RFQ-2025-01 Anticipated Contract Start Date: December 1, 2025 Submittal Deadline: November 4, 2025 Submittal To: City of Santa Fe – City Secretary’s Office, PO Box 950, Santa Fe, TX 77510; Email: contact@example.gov (cc: contact@example.gov)
Invitation
The City of Santa Fe, Texas (the “City”) invites Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified firms to provide as‑needed geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing (CMT) services in support of municipal transportation, drainage, utility, facilities, and park projects. The City anticipates awarding one or more on‑call, indefinite‑delivery/indefinite‑quantity (IDIQ) contracts with work authorized by task orders on a firm fixed‑fee or time‑and‑materials, not‑to‑exceed basis. Selection shall be conducted in accordance with the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act (PSPA) using a qualifications‑based selection process. No pricing is requested with the SOQ. After ranking, the City will negotiate scope and fee with the highest‑ranked firm(s).
Background & Typical Project Types
Santa Fe is a Gulf Coast community in Galveston County with a population of approximately 15,000. The City plans capital improvements over the next 3–5 years that may include, but are not limited to: street rehabilitation and reconstruction; sidewalk and trail segments; culvert, bridge, and channel improvements; storm drainage projects and detention; new or renovated City facilities and park improvements; and emergency/mitigation work.
Scope of Services
The City seeks comprehensive geotechnical and CMT support. Representative services may include the following (final scope by task order): 3.1 Field Exploration & Testing
Review of existing data, desktop geologic and utilities research. Utility locating/clearance; traffic control and ROW permitting support. Subsurface investigations: soil borings (hollow‑stem auger, rotary wash), rock coring (NX or similar), test pits, CPT, geophysical screening as applicable. In‑situ tests: SPT (ASTM D1586), Texas Cone Penetrometer (TCP), field density (ASTM D6938), vane shear, permeability/infiltration (e.g., ASTM D3385), field resistivity/corrosivity, groundwater monitoring (piezometers/observation wells) and seasonal groundwater evaluation where warranted.
3.2 Laboratory Testing (TxDOT/ASTM/AASHTO as applicable)
Index tests: moisture content, Atterberg limits, hydrometer & sieve analysis, specific gravity; organic content. Strength/settlement/swell: unconfined compression, consolidated/undrained triaxial, 1‑D consolidation, swell pressure, collapse potential, direct shear. Durability/chemical: sulfate/chloride, pH, resistivity, corrosion potential, soluble salts, SAR/PSI as needed. Aggregate and base materials characterization, including LA abrasion, soundness, and deleterious content. Stabilization design testing with lime/cement/fly ash and verification of PI, UCS, durability index, etc.
3.3 Engineering Analysis & Recommendations
Foundations: shallow and deep foundation recommendations, bearing capacity, settlement, uplift, lateral resistance; corrosion mitigation; drilled shaft and pile design parameters. Pavements: subgrade characterization, stabilization recommendations, design inputs (e.g., CBR/ resilient modulus), and pavement structure recommendations for city streets, alleys, and parking. Retaining walls & earth structures: active/passive earth pressures, global/slope stability, underdrainage, and wall backfill guidance. Embankments & excavations: slope stability, construction sequencing, temporary shoring criteria. Drainage & detention: infiltration/permeability data for LID features; subgrade preparation and underdrain criteria. Seismic/geologic hazards: site classification (IBC/ASCE 7), liquefaction screening where warranted.
3.4 Construction Materials Testing & Inspection (as‑needed)
Field density and moisture control for embankment, backfill, and subgrade; proof‑rolling. Concrete testing: slump, air, temperature, cylinders/beams and compressive/flexural strength. Asphalt testing: core density/thickness; plant and field sampling and QC/QA testing. Soils/base: compaction testing (ASTM/AASHTO, Tex methods), lime/cement stabilization verification; Atterberg limits and gradation checks. Masonry, structural steel bolt/weld inspections (AISC/IBC) as needed for facility projects.
3.5 Reporting & Deliverables
Geotechnical Data Report (GDR) and Geotechnical Engineering Report (GER) including boring logs, lab results, site stratigraphy, groundwater conditions, design parameters, and construction recommendations. Electronic deliverables: boring logs in PDF and data format; CAD/ GIS of boring locations; lab data spreadsheets; test reports; daily reports for CMT; and task order close‑out memos. Attendance at design and pre‑construction meetings; RFIs and submittal review related to geotechnical/CMT.
Standards & References: Work shall conform to current TxDOT manuals and test methods, applicable ASTM and AASHTO standards, IBC/ASCE 7 for seismic classification, and City standards. Where conflicts exist, City direction prevails.
Contract Term & Value
Initial term: Two (2) years beginning November 1, 2025, with three (3) one‑year renewal options at City’s sole discretion. Maximum value: To be established per contract; task orders issued as funding is available. Multiple firms may be selected.
Minimum Qualifications
Firm licensed/registered to practice engineering in Texas; Project Manager and Geotechnical Engineer of Record must be a Texas‑licensed PE in good standing. Demonstrated municipal experience in Gulf Coast soils (high PI clays, sulfate soils, shallow groundwater) and storm/flood mitigation contexts. Ability to mobilize exploration and CMT crews within defined response times. Quality program meeting TxDOT/ASTM standards; accredited laboratory (AASHTO re:source/CCR L.A.B. or equivalent) preferred.
Preferred: TxDOT pre‑certifications in relevant categories; demonstrated experience with on‑call task order delivery for cities or counties.
SOQ Submittal Requirements (max. 30 pages, excluding forms)
Provide a single PDF organized as follows:
Cover Letter (one page) identifying the prime, key subconsultants, and primary contact. Team Qualifications & Organization – org chart; resumes of key staff (PM, geotechnical lead, exploration manager, CMT lead). Identify Texas PE numbers. Relevant Project Experience (5–8 projects) – municipal street/drainage/utility/facility projects in similar geology; include client, role, year, scope, and references. Project Approach & Quality – field exploration strategy, lab testing matrix development, risk management for high‑PI/sulfate soils, schedule control, and QA/QC program. Capacity & Availability – local presence, response times, drilling/CMT equipment inventory, lab capacity, and expected subconsultants. Health, Safety & Environmental – safety statistics, hazard communication, and traffic control approach; spill prevention and waste handling from borings. Certifications & Forms – completed CIQ (if applicable), conflict of interest acknowledgments, HB 1295 readiness statement, required verifications (see §11), and sample COI (insurance) certificate.
Do not include fees, rates, or cost proposals.
Evaluation & Selection
The City will evaluate and rank SOQs using the criteria and weights below (100 points total):
Team Qualifications & Key Personnel – 30 Relevant Experience with Similar Municipal Projects & Gulf Coast Geology – 25 Project Approach, Quality Control, and Risk Management – 20 Capacity, Response Time, & Local Availability – 15 References & Past Performance – 10
The City may interview the highest‑ranked firms. Following ranking, the City will negotiate scope and fee with the top‑ranked firm(s). If negotiations fail, the City may end negotiations and begin with the next highest‑ranked firm.
Schedule (subject to change)
RFQ Issued: September 18, 2025 Questions Due: October 1, 2025 SOQs Due: October 14, 2025 Council Authorization (if required): October 23, 2025 Anticipated Notice to Proceed: November 1, 2025
Questions must be submitted in writing to contact@example.gov with the subject line: COSFTX RFQ2025-01 – Geotechnical Services Question by the deadline above.
Contracting Method & Ordering of Work
Form of Contract: City standard professional services agreement; task orders will define scope, deliverables, schedule, and not‑to‑exceed fee. No Minimum Work: Issuance of this RFQ does not guarantee any minimum volume of services. Subconsultants: Must be identified in the SOQ and approved by the City; substitutions require prior written approval.
Insurance & Indemnity (summary)
The selected firm(s) shall maintain, at minimum:
Commercial General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence; $2,000,000 aggregate. Automobile Liability: $1,000,000 combined single limit. Workers’ Compensation & Employers’ Liability: Statutory; $500,000 each accident/disease. Professional Liability (E&O): $1,000,000 per claim; $2,000,000 aggregate; coverage to be maintained for 2 years after final task order completion. The contract will include customary mutual indemnities consistent with Texas law. Final terms will be set in the professional services agreement approved by the City.
Required Forms & Statutory Compliance (summary)
Qualifications‑Based Selection: Procurement shall comply with Texas Government Code Chapter 2254 (PSPA). Pricing is not requested until after ranking. Professional Services Exemption: This procurement is exempt from competitive bidding under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 252 as professional engineering services. Form 1295 (Disclosure of Interested Parties): The awarded firm must file Form 1295 electronically with the Texas Ethics Commission and provide a signed, notarized copy to the City prior to contract execution, as applicable by Gov’t Code §2252.908. Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Compliance with Local Government Code Chapter 176 (Vendor and Local Government Officer Conflicts) as applicable. State‑Mandated Contract Certifications: As applicable based on contract value and company size, successful proposer will execute required certifications including:
Gov’t Code Chapter 2271 (Boycott of Israel) – applies to contracts ≥ $100,000 with companies ≥ 10 full‑time employees; not applicable to sole proprietorships. Gov’t Code Chapter 2274 (Boycott of Energy Companies; Firearm Industry Discrimination) – applies to contracts ≥ $100,000 with companies ≥ 10 full‑time employees and will be included if threshold is met or as otherwise required by law. Any other mandatory state/federal assurances required at time of award.
Note: The City will incorporate the most current statutory language in the final contract and will apply threshold‑based exemptions where permitted by law.
SOQ Format & Delivery
Format: One (1) electronic PDF submitted by email; file size ≤ 50 MB. The City may also accept one (1) original hard copy and one (1) USB on request. Page Limit: 30 pages (11”×17” foldouts count as two pages). Covers, section dividers, and required forms do not count toward the limit. Validity: SOQs must remain valid for 180 days from the due date.
Late submittals will not be accepted. The City accepts no responsibility for email delivery issues.
City Rights & General Conditions
The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submittals; to waive minor informalities; to cancel and re‑issue this RFQ; to award to multiple firms; and to negotiate the final scope and contract terms in the City’s best interest. All SOQs are subject to the Texas Public Information Act. Clearly mark proprietary information; the City will make reasonable efforts to protect legitimate trade secrets within the law. Costs of preparing the SOQ are the sole responsibility of the proposer.
Proposed Task Order Examples (illustrative)
Local Street Reconstruction Package – 20 borings to 20 ft; subgrade PI/swell testing; pavement design parameters; stabilization recommendations; CMT during construction. Detention & Channel Improvements – borings/test pits; permeability/infiltration tests; slope stability; underdrain recommendations; sulfate screening; CMT for embankment and concrete. Municipal Facility Expansion – foundation recommendations (shallow/deep), floor slab support, moisture mitigation; steel/masonry inspections; concrete/asphalt testing.
Submittal Checklist
☐ Cover Letter ☐ Team Qualifications & Resumes (key staff with TX PE) ☐ Relevant Project Experience (with references) ☐ Approach & QA/QC Plan ☐ Capacity & Availability ☐ Safety Program Summary ☐ Required Forms/Certifications (readiness statements okay at SOQ stage; executed forms due prior to contract)
  Contact for this RFQ Natalie Arnett, City Secretary City of Santa Fe, Texas 12002 Highway 6, Santa Fe, TX 77510 PO Box 950,  Santa Fe, TX 77510 (Mailing) contact@example.gov (409) 925‑6412 Evaluation Score Sheet – Geotechnical & CMT Services RFQ   Firm Name: ___________________________________ Evaluator: ___________________________________  

Evaluation Criteria
Weight
Score (0–100)
Weighted Score

Team Qualifications & Key Personnel
30%
   

Relevant Experience with Similar Municipal Projects
25%
   

Project Approach, Quality Control & Risk Management
20%
   

Capacity, Response Time & Local Availability
15%
   

References & Past Performance
10%
   

Total
100%
   
         

Comments/Notes: Evaluator Signature: ____________________________ Date: ____________________