NOTICE TO ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Provide Engineering, Surveying, Permitting, and Environmental

Services for the Riverside Drive Improvements – 2 Project

Procurement 2024-RFQ-01 - Federal Aid Number: STPUS-7323(007)

Submission for this Request for Qualifications must be received through the City’s e-Procurement Portal no later than: 

4 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST) on December 13, 2024

The City of Mount Vernon solicits interest from consulting firms with expertise in in civil engineering, surveying, permitting, right-of-way acquisition, and related professional services. This negotiated-hourly rate agreement will extend from approximately March 2025 through March 2027 with the option for the City of Mount Vernon to extend it for additional time and money if necessary.

The City of Mount Vernon reserves the right to amend 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.

As this project is funded with a federal aid transportation grant, all prospective consultant firms must comply with federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements.

Project Description

The work to be performed by the selected consultant consists of preparing preliminary engineering design, permitting documentation and applications, and right-of-way (ROW) plan documentation to support improvements to Riverside Drive in Mount Vernon, Washington. The extent of the Riverside Drive Improvements – 2 project extends from the Skagit River Bridge/north City boundary and the intersection with College Way.

The proposed improvements include pedestrian accessibility improvements at intersections, pavement mill and thin overlay, channelization, utility relocation, and stormwater utility improvements.

This project is funded through a transportation federal aid grant and has a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal of 16%.

Major features of the project scope will include:

• Pedestrian accessibility improvements to meet applicable Americans with Disabilities guidelines.
• Pavement surface preservation through a mill and thin overlay, including channelization and similar pavement surface restoration requirements.
• Relocate overhead utilities underground, preferably in a shared-use utility trench on the west side of Riverside Drive.
• Stormwater utility improvements, as needed to meet federal and state permitting and regulatory requirements
• Environmental documentation and preparation of permit applications for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and applicable local permitting requirements.
• Determination of ROW needs and ROW plan preparation.

Submittal

Interested parties can access the full RFQ document electronically through the City’s e-Procurement Portal at the following website:  https://secure.procurenow.com/portal/mountvernonwa

Please submit your Statement of Qualifications electronically through the City’s e-Procurement Portal. 

Interested parties can register on the City’s e-Procurement Portal. Once registered, Companies may view and click “Follow” to be a prospective bidder for this solicitation and will appear on the Follower’s list. Companies that fail to follow this project procurement in this fashion will not receive automatic addenda notifications.

If prospective candidates require assistance with either access or registration for the e-Procurement Portal, please use the online help features, such as the contact information or the chat function located in the lower right corner of the webpage.  City staff are unable to provide technical assistance or support for the e-Procurement Portal.

Please submit qualifications demonstrating your firm’s ability to perform this work outlined in the RFQ.  Submittals should include the following information: Firm name, phone and fax numbers; Name of Principal-in-Charge and Project Manager; and Number of employees in each firm proposed to project.

Questions and answers will be received and responded to using the City’s e-Procurement Portal.

Evaluation Criteria

Submittals will be evaluated and ranked based on the following criteria:

• Qualifications and Experience of the Consultant (0 – 25 points possible):  including qualifications of proposed project manager, qualifications/expertise of the overall consultant firm and proposed key personnel, qualifications/expertise of key subconsultants; as demonstrated through resumes submitted with the SOQ and past project performance references for projects of a similar nature.
• Proposed Project Delivery Strategy (0 – 25 points possible):  including demonstrations of project understanding, approach to project requirements, identification and sequencing of key milestones for delivery, maintaining delivery schedules, and management approach; including incorporation of all applicable federal requirements (e.g. DBE participation, NEPA and other environmental reviews, etc.).
• Demonstration of Team Readiness (0 – 25 points possible):  including availability of key staff and subconsultants, readiness to meet the City’s schedule needs for the project, proposed coordination methods and quality control strategies appropriate for this type of project, including demands, challenges, and requirements.
• Demonstration of Current Experience with Regulatory Environment (0 – 25 points possible):  including demonstrated and successful experience with the current and applicable permitting and regulatory requirements and approvals this project will require (e.g. NEPA, Ecology stormwater management, City of Mount Vernon permitting, etc.); familiarity with applicable Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and WSDOT standards and guidance documents.

More information on each criterion is provided in the full RFQ document.

Evaluated submittals will be used to short-list finalist candidates for a selection interview anticipated in January 2025.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information

The City of Mount Vernon 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 the City of Mount Vernon Public Works Department mvengineering@mountvernonwa.gov or by calling (360) 336-6204.

Title VI Statement

The City of Mount Vernon, 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 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.

Published: Skagit Valley Herald and the Daily Journal of Commerce: November 26, 2024; December 3, 2024; and December 10, 2024.