RFQ - Sanitary Sewer Outfall Upgrades

The contract pertains to professional engineering services for the design and management of sanitary sewer outfall upgrades at three creek locations within Durham, North Carolina, with an estimated contract value ranging from $500,000 to $2 million. The solicitation, identified as RFQ 26-0084, was posted on October 27, 2025, with submissions due by December 3, 2025. A pre-submittal conference will be held via TEAMS on November 4, 2025. The scope encompasses project management, multi-stage design engineering (30%, 60%, 90%, 100%), surveying, geotechnical analysis, easement identification, permitting, public outreach, and bid management, aligned with standards such as EJCDC® E-500 and industry best practices. The RFQ emphasizes compliance with the City of Durham’s Equal Business Opportunities Ordinance (EBOP) and Underutilized Business Enterprise (UBE) goals, requiring proposers to demonstrate good faith efforts for minority- and women-owned business participation, although the project goals are set at zero percent for both categories. The contractual framework is based on a modified EJCDC® E-500 agreement, incorporating clauses related to equal opportunity compliance, indemnification, legal adherence under North Carolina law, and contract termination procedures. The contract incorporates several exhibits detailing services, responsibilities, insurance, dispute resolution, and special provisions, with key attachments including detailed deliverables, owner responsibilities, and insurance requirements. The RFQ specifies evaluation criteria prioritizing project approach, team qualifications, experience, local presence, UBE participation, and references, with a qualifications-based selection process that may include interviews. Payment procedures involve monthly invoicing, with no explicit mention of specific payment offices or accounting codes, but standard progress payments are anticipated. Delivery performance is expected to adhere to milestones and schedules to be finalized during contract negotiations, with work performed at designated project sites. The solicitation mandates strict proposal formatting, including a maximum of 20 pages for a single project, submission of three hard copies plus a digital PDF, and adherence to deadlines, with proposals to be addressed to the City’s Department of Water Management. Overall, the contract emphasizes compliance, transparency, and equitable participation, with detailed provisions governing personnel qualifications, diversity efforts, and administrative procedures to ensure project success.