Site work, new construction and renovation of a civil project in Independence, Louisiana. Conceptual plans call for the construction of a water / sewer project; for the renovation of a water / sewer project; and for site work for a water / sewer project.

The RFQ package is currently the only document associated with this project. Scope, American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the Water Sector Program and subsequent implementation of eligible project(s). Eligible projects include those categories of projects that would be eligible to receive financial assistance through the Office of Community Development Water Sector Program. The types of projects eligible for assistance include projects to construct, improve, and repair publicly owned treatment System and sanitary sewers, control non-point sources of pollution, manage and treat stormwater, improve resilience of infrastructure to severe weather events, create green infrastructure, and protect waterbodies from pollution. The types of projects eligible for Water Sector assistance include projects to install, upgrade, rehabilitate, or replace facilities for production, treatment, storage, transmission, and distribution of potable water facilities to improve drinking water quality and to comply with Safe Drinking Water ACT (SDWA) regulations and to consolidate existing public water systems and create new public water systems. Engineering services are requested to provide assistance in completing preliminary engineering studies and funding application(s) and then, if the project(s) are funded, to provide engineering services for the project(s). PART ONE: SCOPE OF SERVICES The Town of Independence is soliciting qualification statements for engineering services to assist the Parish with preliminary engineering, design engineering, and inspections of this project in compliance with American Recovery Plan Act program requirements. The agreement will be on a lump sum, fixed price basis (or cost reimbursement "not to exceed" basis), with payment terms to be negotiated with the selected firm. The maximum amount of engineering fees that can be paid with ARPA funds may be determined by the State of Louisiana and may require adjustments in the proposed contract amount. The services to be provided will include, but not be limited to: 1. Phase 1: a. Program Completion. Assist the Town in determining priorities for water and sewer infrastructure improvements, determining the project scope(s) and estimated cost, and determine additional funding requirements, as applicable. Provide a program completion report summarizing the project goals, scope, estimated cost (including engineering fees), funds available, and recommendations for additional funding sources, as applicable. b. Preliminary Engineering Provide preliminary engineering studies and opinions of probable cost. Prepare application(s) with any required preliminary engineering design, opinions of probable cost, review of property acquisition information, and environmental reviews to funding agencies for additional funding, if required. Funding agencies may include the Louisiana Water Infrastructure Program, LDEQ Clean Water State Revolving Fund, LDH Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund, Louisiana Community Development Block Grant Program, Louisiana State Capital Outlay, and USDA Rural Development. 2. Phase 2: Design and Construction Phase Engineering Services a. Designing system improvements and construction engineering. b. Assisting the Town in securing necessary permits. c. Assisting the Town and its administrative consultant, as applicable, with the construction bid package in conformance with applicable federal requirements and supervising the bid advertising, tabulation, and award process, including preparing the advertisements for bid solicitation, conducting the bid opening, issuing the recommendation for award, and issuing the notice to proceed. d. Assist in conducting the preconstruction conference. e. Field staking, on-site observation of construction work, and preparing inspection reports. f. Reviewing and approving all contractor requests for payment and submitting approved requests to the governing body. g. Providing reproducible plan drawings to the Town of Independence upon project completion. h. Prepare operating and maintenance manuals, as applicable. i. Conducting final inspection and testing. j. Coordinate with administrative consultants and other consultants, as applicable. k. Assisting the Town in completing required Project and Expenditure Reports relating to ARPA funds for water and sewer infrastructure. PART TWO: RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION STATEMENTS The following information should be included under the title "Request for Qualification Statements for Engineering Services for the American Rescue Plan Act Program": Contents of Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Respondents should letter and number responses exactly as the questions are presented herein. Interested Respondents are invited to submit RFQs that contain the following information: 1. Introduction (transmittal letter) 2. Background and Experience 3. Specialized Knowledge 4. Personnel/Professional Qualifications 1. General a. Name of Respondent b. Respondent address c. Respondent telephone number d. Respondent federal tax identification number e. Respondent Duns Number, SAM Registration CAGE Code, and expiration date f. Name, title address, telephone number, fax number, and email address of contact person authorized to contractually obligate the Respondent on behalf of the Respondent. 2. Introduction (transmittal letter) By signing the letter, the Respondent certifies that the signatory is authorized to bind the Respondent. The RFQ response should include: a. A brief statement of the Respondent's understanding of the scope of the work to be performed; b. A confirmation that the Respondent meets the appropriate state licensing requirements to practice in the State of Louisiana; c. A confirmation that the Respondent has not had a record of substandard work within the last five years; d. A confirmation that the Respondent has not engaged in any unethical practices within the last five years; e. A confirmation that, if awarded the contract, the Respondent acknowledges its complete responsibility for the entire contract, including payment of any and all charges resulting from the contract; f. Any other information that the Respondent feels appropriate; g. The signature of an individual who is authorized to provide information of this nature in the name of the Respondent submitting the SOQ. 3. Background and Experience Respondents should: a. Describe Respondent's firm by providing its full legal name, date of establishment, type of entity and business expertise, short history, current ownership structure and any recent or materially significant proposed change in ownership. b. Describe any prior engagements in which Respondent's firm assisted a governmental entity in dealings with clean water projects, drinking water projects, and any other projects relating to Louisiana's Department of Environmental Quality Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) or Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund (DWSRF), and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Include examples of work on similar projects as previously described in this RFQ and a list of completed projects, including the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of contact persons in the organizations for whom any projects referenced in this section were conducted. c. Describe the firm's workload and current capability to accomplish the work in the required time d. Describe any issue the characteristics of which would be uniquely relevant in evaluating the experience of Respondent's firm to handle the proposed project(s). e. Describe Respondent's firm's presence in and commitment to Louisiana. f. Provide current information on professional errors and omissions coverage carried by Respondent's firm, including amount of coverage. g. 4. Specialized Knowledge Respondents should: a. Describe their knowledge and experience in the particular types of projects described in Part One. b. Describe the firm's knowledge of federal requirements for federal grant programs. 5. Personnel/Professional Qualifications Respondents should: a. Identify staff members (as applicable), in the job classifications of (1) Principal in Charge, (2) Project Engineer, (3) Senior Engineer, (4) Mid-level Engineer, (5) Junior Engineer (6) Surveyor, (7) Engineer interns (8) Senior CAD technician, (9) CAD technician, and (10) Engineering technician; who would be assigned to act for Respondent's firm in key management and field positions providing the services described in Part One: Scope of Services, and the functions to be performed by each. b. Include resumes or curriculum vitae of each such staff member designated above, including name, position, telephone number, fax number, email address, education, and years and type of experience. Describe, for each such person, the projects relevant to CWSRF and DWRSF on which they have worked. c. Estimate the number of persons to be assigned to this project, indicating the number working in Louisiana and the number working elsewhere. PART THREE: SELECTION CRITERIA The Town of Independence shall evaluate each potential firm in terms of its: 1. Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services; 2. Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required, 3. Capability to accomplish the work in the required time. St. James Parish may consider the number of Louisiana Licensed Professional Engineers the firm has on staff and the firm's past performance history in evaluating this item. 4. Past performance on contracts with water systems, municipalities, government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules; 5. Firm experience in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project. Rating points Respondents will be evaluated on the basis of the written materials submitted and according to the following factors: 1. Experience of the firm with this particular type of construction project(s) as described in Part One Max 40 pts 2. Experience of the firm with other type of construction projects. Max 10 pts 3. Current capacity to accomplish the work in the required time. Max 25 pts 4. Past performance on contract with water systems, municipalities, government agencies and private industry; Max 15 pts 5. Location in the general geographic area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project. Max 10 pts In the event of a tie, oral interviews will be held with those firms. As a result of the interviews, the Town of Independence will determine which firm will be selected to enter into contract negotiations. Unsuccessful firms will be notified as soon as possible. PART FOUR: EXECUTION OF THE WORK AND PAYMENT Upon notification of selection, the Engineer shall immediately begin the Program Completion phase (Phase 1a). After submittal and acceptance of the Program Completion Report and negotiation of fees, the Engineer shall submit a proposed engineering services agreement to the Town of Independence for review and execution. Upon execution of the agreement, the Engineer shall immediately begin Preliminary Engineering work. The Engineer shall provide routine updates to the Parish during each phase of the project. Preliminary Engineering (Phase 1b) services shall be considered complete upon submittal and acceptance of the preliminary engineering documents and complete funding applications, if identified in the Program Completion Report. The engineer shall submit a request for payment to the Town of Independence for preliminary engineering services upon completion of the Preliminary Engineering phase. Phase 2 of the Engineer's services is design and construction phase engineering of the improvements and necessary additional services as determined during the Program Completion and Preliminary Engineering phases. Such Phase 2 services are not authorized unless the project is selected for funding. Fees for Phase 2 services shall be determined during program completion and preparation of the funding applications, as applicable. PART FIVE: RESPONSES AND QUESTION CONTACT Questions should be addressed to Mrs. Jordin Hines jmills@townofindy.com. Town of Independence is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage all small and minority-owned firms and women's business enterprises to apply. The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time.