RFQ – Professional Engineering Design Services for the 39th Street Sidewalk

The City of Washougal is seeking a qualified engineering consultant to provide comprehensive design services for the 39th Street Sidewalk Project, a federally funded initiative supported by the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program. The project aims to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety along a 2,200-linear-foot corridor connecting Evergreen Way to J Street, serving students from Gause Elementary, Washougal High, and Excelsior High Schools. Current conditions feature high vehicle speeds and inadequate non-motorized infrastructure, prompting the installation of new sidewalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, speed feedback signs, speed cushions, pedestrian-scale lighting, and buffered bike lanes. The design effort must also integrate stormwater management improvements, as the corridor’s aging 18-inch storm system operates at 75% capacity during a 100-year storm event and lacks proper maintenance access, with runoff from a 30-acre basin causing frequent flooding at Evergreen Way. While the Safe Routes to School components are funded through WSDOT, the drainage analysis and potential upgrades will be financed separately through the City’s stormwater utility. The consultant must ensure full compliance with the WSDOT Design Manual, City of Washougal standards, SEPA regulations, and ADA requirements, and deliver bid-ready plans, specifications, cost estimates, environmental documentation, public outreach materials, and as-built drawings in PDF and AutoCAD formats. The solicitation, numbered 2026-RFQ-009, follows a best-value procurement model evaluating firms based on technical merit rather than lowest price, with evaluation weights prioritizing firm experience at 30%, project team qualifications at 25%, and relevant project experience at 20%. Key evaluation factors include demonstrated success with federally funded transportation projects, experience with Safe Routes to School and stormwater initiatives, team continuity, capacity to meet deadlines, and participation in a voluntary 5% Small Business Enterprise subcontracts goal. Offerors must submit a single 15-page Statement of Qualifications via the City’s e-procurement portal by August 11, 2026, and include detailed information on key personnel, past performance, and project approach. Mandatory requirements include compliance with E-Verify for all employees and subcontractors, adherence to Title VI and ADA non-discrimination policies, and acknowledgment that all submissions are public records. The City reserves the right to engage the selected consultant for future phases