LEWIS COUNTY NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS FOR:

Hydraulic Engineering Services Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Sargent MP 1.33 Bridge Scour, Fed. Aid Project No. BHOS-2021(070)

Lewis County solicits interest from consulting firms with expertise in Hydraulic Engineering Design. This agreement will be for approximately ten months in duration with the option for Lewis County to extend it for additional time and money if necessary. Consultants will be considered for the following project. All work is required to comply with all federal provisions, WSDOT, AASHTO, Lewis County requirements and regulations.

Lewis County is interested in entering into a professional services contract with one professional engineering firm to provide consulting services, and subsequently be asked to prepare a specific proposal (task order) for the project and negotiate based on an Actual Costs Plus a Fixed Fee Agreement. Anticipated maximum total value of contract: $150,000. The project has a 0% DBE goal. At the sole option of Lewis County Public Works, the contract amount may be increased to meet ongoing needs of Lewis County Public Works. Cost proposals, if included in the proposal, shall be in a concealed format and separate from the technical/qualifications of the proposal and will not be considered in the evaluation, ranking, and selection phase.

Lewis County reserves the right to amend the terms of this “Request for Qualifications” (RFQ) to circulate various addenda, or to withdraw the RFQ at any time, regardless of how much time and effort consultants have spent on their responses.

Lewis County is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.  Disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned firms are encouraged to submit proposals.

Project Description

The work to be performed by the CONSULTANT consists of continuing a concept level scour mitigation countermeasure plan for the Sargent Rd MP 1.33 Bridge, a federally funded scour critical bridge project in Lewis County, Washington. Lewis County is pursuing design advancement of a previously identified bridge repair option to provide long term scour mitigation counter measures that will withstand 100-yr storm events (with evaluation for 200-yr flood events and climate change) and bring the structure’s current NBI Code 113 Rating of 3-Scour Critical up to 7-Design Countermeasures Installed. Lewis County requests plan advancement from concept level (30% plans) to 75% plans, specifications and estimate (PS&E) for scour protection around existing bridge bearing piles and abutments.  Anticipated environmental mitigation efforts and costs associated with this scour mitigation project shall be fully explored to accurately estimate total costs at the 75% PS&E level.  After Lewis County (and WSDOT Local Programs) review 75% plans and estimates, the CONSULTANT will advance designs to 100% PS&E along with completing all environmental permitting required for project construction.  The timeline for this project requires 100% PS&E for construction bid advertisement by December 10, 2024, with availability to answer contractor generated questions during project advertisement (anticipated in February 2025).  Construction support, project inspection, or post construction evaluation may be added by contract supplement.    

The selected CONSULTANT will be expected to enter into a Local Agency A&E Professional Services (Cost Plus Fixed Fee) Consultant Agreement.  The Scope of Services to be provided include:

Hydrologic, Hydraulic and Geomorphic Analysis, PS&E, Environmental Permitting and Design Support for the Sargent MP 1.33 Bridge Scour Mitigation Project

• 75% Plans and Estimate:  The CONSULTANT will evaluate the previously developed scour mitigation 30% Plans and advance the least cost alternative to 75% PS&E. All construction and environmental components of this option will be evaluated to ensure constructability, identify improvement mitigation needs, and accurately develop total estimated costs for the project.  All aspects of the project must be evaluated and could include mitigation for riprap, incorporation of LWD within riprap, anchored LWD structures downstream of the bridge, planting mitigation, and other alternatives to fully address all proposed construction impacts and costs associated with this project.  As part of the 75% PS&E submittal, the CONSULTANT will provide required construction easement areas/staging for right of way acquisition by Lewis County.

• Environmental Permitting: The Consultant shall be Lewis County’s authorized agent to apply for and obtain all required environmental permits, reviews, and documents necessary for this project. Draft and final permit applications shall be prepared and submitted to Lewis County prior to CONSULTANT submittal to the various permitting agencies.  Depending on anticipated permit lead times and required project information, permit development and submittal will progress up to 75% plan development.  Anticipated environmental documents/permits required for this project include:

o Archeological review for the project impacts and staging areas.

o All NEPA documentation for this FHWA funded project including,

farmland/forestry conversion.

o Ordinarily high water and wetland delineation.

o Environmental Permits for in-water/near water work (Washington State Department of Wildlife’s Hydraulic Permit Approval, USACE Nationwide Permit, Lewis County Fill & Grade, SEPA, etc.). 

o Floodplain assessment modeling between existing conditions versus proposed scour mitigation improvements in order to create an assumed FEMA “No-Rise” Certification for Proposed Developments in the Regulatory Floodway, Region 10 (October 2013).  If FEMA’s “No-Rise” criteria cannot be met, a Contract Supplement will be negotiated for additional work associated to permit this project.  Floodplain assessment shall be completed during 75% plan development. 

• Bid Ready 100% PS&E: The CONSULTANT will finalize the scour mitigation repair construction details and contract specifications to 100% PS&E.  With environmental permit applications completed during previous plan development, all approved environmental permits shall be incorporated into the 100% PS&E documents and be ready to advertise by December 10, 2024.

Interested CONSULTANTS shall provide a statement of qualifications, experience, and extent of involvement for the assigned personnel on similar projects. The SOQ shall include the project name, description, and contact information for each project. The SOQ must be limited to fifteen total pages of text, graphs, photographs, resumes, etc. Any additional information (cover letter, cover sheet, additional graphs, photographs, project information, etc.) more than maximum fifteen pages/sheets will not be forwarded to the County's review panel for evaluation.

The following estimated schedule has been established for the submission and evaluation of the SOQs and selection of the Consultant.

• Statement of Qualifications due:               March 8, 2024 (2:00 PM Local Time)
• Short list for interviews:                                March 15, 2024
• Interviews (Zoom or Teams):                      March 20, 2024

Evaluation Criteria

Submittals will be evaluated and ranked for the following criteria:

1.  Staffing expertise consistent with contract needs – 25%

2.  Experience with similar projects and familiarity with WSDOT/FHWA Standards – 25%

3.  Performance evaluations by Lewis County and other government agencies – 15%

4.  Demonstrated ability to meet schedules/commitments given by key staff – 15%

5.  Overall Proposal evaluation by the Lewis County selection team – 20%  

Consultant Proposals will be evaluated by Lewis County’s review panel for accuracy, clarity, readability, and concise information along with consultant suggestions/comments for Lewis County’s included scope of work, PS&E timeline, environmental outline, and other potential project complications.

Submittal

CONSULTANTS desiring consideration shall electronically submit a complete proposal packet for Hydraulic Engineering Services RFQ Sargent MP 1.33 Bridge Scour, Fed. Aid Project No. BHOS-2021(070) in OpenGov https://procurement.opengov.com/signup.  SOQs are limited to fifteen (15) pages and must be submitted electronically (in OpenGov) no later than 2:00 PM March 8, 2024.   Any questions regarding this project should be directed to Rod Lakey at 360-740-2780 or Rodney.Lakey@lewiscountywa.gov .

Additional information regarding OpenGov Procurement and bridge background information is available at www.lewiscountywa.gov. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

Lewis County, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), commits to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability, in all of its programs and activities. This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing Zelma Hammer at Zelma.hammer@lewiscountywa.gov or by calling collect 360-740-1123.

Title VI Statement

Lewis County, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.”

Dates of publication:           

Lewis County’s Newspaper of Record “The Chronicle” 15-Feb-24 and 22-Feb-24

Seattle Journal of Commerce 15-Feb-24 and 22-Feb-24                            

Website Posting 15-Feb-24 through RFQ submittal date: 

Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises https://omwbe.wa.gov                                           Lewis County’s website https://lewiscountywa.gov