Project Information

Bid Title

RFQ for On-Call Right-of-Way Consulting Services for Various County Projects

Issuing Agency

Merced County

Location

California

Published Date

Nov 26, 2025

Closing Date

Dec 18, 2025

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Title:	RFQ for On-Call Right-of-Way Consulting Services for Various County Projects
Category:	Public Works
Status:	Open

Description: The Merced County Department of Public Works requests Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from Right-of-Way firms to provide on-call services for various projects in Merced County.  SOQs will be received until 4:00 PM, December 18, 2025 at the Department of Public Works located at 345 West 7th Street, Merced California 95341. Statements of Qualifications, in order to receive consideration, shall be made and submitted in accordance with the requirements and conditions set forth in the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) dated November 26, 2025 and any such Addenda thereto as may be issued prior to the submittal date. Publication Date/Time: 11/26/2025 8:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 12/18/2025 4:00 PM Contact Person: Alvaro Buenrostro, Supervising Engineer Merced County Department of Public Works - Road Division 345 West 7th Street Merced, CA 95341 Email: [email protected] Download Available: NO Fee: N/A Plan & Spec Available: N/A Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00AM - 5:00PM Fax Number: 209-722-7690 Related Documents: 2025 RFQ On-Call Right of Way Consulting_Final

Attachment Preview

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

FOR

ON-CALL RIGHT-OF-WAY CONSULTING SERVICES

FOR VARIOUS COUNTY PROJECTS

DATE RELEASED: NOVEMBER 26, 2025

MERCED COUNTY

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS

345 W 7th STREET

MERCED, CA 95341

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

ARE DUE PRIOR TO 4:00 P.M. ON: DECEMBER 18, 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

ON-CALL RIGHT-OF-WAY CONSULTING SERVICES

FOR VARIOUS COUNTY PROJECTS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................. 1

2. PROCUREMENT & SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS...................................................... 1

3. QUESTIONS & CONTACT .................................................................................................. 2

4. COST PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND CONTRACT COMPLIANCE

REQUIREMENTS................................................................................................................. 2

5. SCOPE OF SERVICES .......................................................................................................... 3

6. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................................... 5

7. PROPOSAL EVALUATION ................................................................................................. 7

8. WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECT SUPPLEMENTS............................................... 8

ATTACHMENT A: SAMPLE CONTRACT AGREEMENT

ATTACHMENT B: REQUIRED LOCAL ASSISTANCE PROCEDURES MANUAL EXHIBITS

MERCED COUNTY

PAGE 1 OF 10

RFQ: ON-CALL RIGHT-OF-WAY

CONSULTING SERVICES

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

ON-CALL RIGHT-OF-WAY CONSULTING SERVICES ON VARIOUS COUNTY PROJECTS

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

The selected consultant(s) will work under the direction of the Public Works Director or designee to

perform service tasks as required. The highest-rated consultant(s) will be selected for on-call

contracts and will enter into a master on-call agreement specifying billing rates, assigned personnel,

and other contractual terms. The County anticipates executing multiple on-call agreements with

several consultants to provide on-call right-of-way consulting services for projects funded through

federal, state, and local sources. Contract supplements will be issued for specific projects, outlining

the scope of services, schedule, and costs. The County does not guarantee a specific number of

projects or a minimum contract value.

Most Public Works projects will require coordination and communication with Caltrans District 10

Local Assistance engineers and right-of-way staffs, and may also involve compliance with FHWA

requirements when federal funds are utilized. All work shall be performed in accordance with

applicable County and/or Caltrans practices, regulations, policies, procedures, manuals, and

standards.

The on-call master service agreement awarded pursuant to this RFQ shall have a cumulative not-to-

exceed amount of three million dollars ($3,000,000), with a maximum of one million five hundred

thousand dollars ($1,500,000) per contract. Each agreement will have a three (3) year term, with the

option to extend for an additional two (2) years, subject to funding availability and County approval.

All qualified firms are invited to submit their Statements of Qualifications (SOQs). SOQs will be

evaluated and ranked in accordance with the criteria provided in Section 5, “Proposal Evaluation.”

2. PROCUREMENT & SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Addenda: Any updates or modifications to this RFQ will be posted on the County’s bidding

website at https://www.co.merced.ca.us/Bids.aspx. It is the responsibility of the

consultants to check this site regularly for updates and addenda.

• Submittals: Submit three (3) hard copies and one (1) electronic PDF copy on a USB flash

drive. All SOQs shall be sealed and clearly marked: "On-Call Right of Way Consulting

Services for Various County Projects "

• Delivery Address:

Alvaro Buenrostro, Supervising Engineer

Merced County Public Works – Road Division

345 W 7th Street

Merced, CA 95341

• Deadline: All SOQs must be received before December 18, 225, 4:00 P.M. Pacific

Standard Time. Late submissions will be rejected.

• Modification and Withdrawal: Submissions may be modified or withdrawn in writing prior

to the deadline. Modified submittals must be received before the deadline.

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MERCED COUNTY

PAGE 2 OF 10

RFQ: ON-CALL RIGHT-OF-WAY

CONSULTING SERVICES

Unsigned submittals or submittals signed by an individual not authorized to bind the prospective

consultant will be considered nonresponsive and rejected.

This RFQ does not commit Merced County to award a contract, to pay any costs incurred in the

preparation of a proposal for this request, or to procure, or contract for services. Merced County

reserves the right to accept or reject any or all SOQs received as a result of this request, to negotiate

with any qualified consultant, or to modify or cancel in part or in its entirety the RFQ if it is in the best

interests of the County to do so.

The prospective consultants are advised that should this RFQ result in recommendation for award

of a contract, the contract will not be in force until it is approved and fully executed by the Merced

County Board of Supervisors.

The following information is being provided as a guideline rather than as a set of absolute deadlines.

The County reserves the right to alter the schedule as necessary.

RFQ Released Date

Submission of Questions & Request for Clarification Due

SOQ Submission Deadline

Short-list Notification

Recommended Consultant(s) Presented to Caltrans for Approval

Recommended Consultant (s) Presented to Board of Supervisors for Approval

11/26/2025

12/11/2025

12/18/2025

01/05/2026

01/12/2026

01/27/2026

3. QUESTIONS & CONTACT

Any questions related to this RFQ shall be submitted in writing to the attention of Alvaro Buenrostro

via email at Alvaro.Buenrostro@countyofmerced.com. Questions shall be submitted before 4:00

P.M. on December 11, 2025.

4. COST PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND CONTRACT COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

In order to ensure that Merced County is able to acquire professional services based on the criteria

set forth in the Brooks Act and Government Code Section 4526, the proposal shall include a cost

proposal for each service of the proposal. The SOQ shall include, at a minimum: billing rates (in a

separate, sealed envelope), and a summary of experience and qualification and supporting staff

members. The cost proposal is confidential and will remain sealed until all proposals have been

reviewed, and the most qualified consultants have been selected. The proposals are opened just

prior to negotiations. All other cost proposals are returned unopened after contract execution.

Reference the sample cost estimate in the LAPM Sample Cost Proposal 1.

Selected consultants shall comply with Chapter 10.3 of the Local Assistance Procedures Manual

regarding the A&E Consultant Contract Audit and Review process. A pre-award or post-award audit

may be performed on any contract issued as a result of this RFQ. Selected Consultants will be

required to submit certified payroll records, as needed. A&E Consultant Audit Request Letter and

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MERCED COUNTY

PAGE 3 OF 10

RFQ: ON-CALL RIGHT-OF-WAY

CONSULTING SERVICES

Checklist must be completed and approved by Caltrans Audits and Investigations (A&I) prior to

contract execution.

The County shall not reimburse the consultant for costs to relocate its personnel to the service area

of this contract. Local Agency shall not reimburse the consultant for per diem costs, unless

preapproved by the Contract Manager. The County shall not reimburse the consultant for out-of-

state travel without prior written approval from the Contract Manager.

The County shall not incur costs beyond the funding commitments in the contract and each contract

supplement. If the consultant anticipates that funding for work will be insufficient to complete work,

the consultant shall promptly notify the Contract Manager.

The consultant may claim reimbursement for providing equipment or supplies. However, such

claimed costs shall be in compliance with 48 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Chapter 1, Part 31

(Federal Acquisition Regulation - FAR cost principles) and 2 CFR, Part 200, and be consistent with

the consultant's company-wide allocation policies and charging practices with all clients, including

the federal government, state governments, local agencies, and private clients. Consultant must

provide current negotiated indirect cost rate agreements (NICRA) from a federal cognizant agency,

if applicable. The County reserves the right to terminate the agreement for convenience, with 30

days’ written notice, per LAPM Section 10.3.6.

The consultant shall provide all necessary tools, instruments, equipment, materials, supplies, and

safety equipment required to perform the work identified in each supplement and the contract

accurately, efficiently, and safely. The consultant’s personnel shall be fully trained in the use of such

necessary tools, instruments, equipment, materials, supplies, and safety equipment. The

consultant shall not be reimbursed separately for tools of the trade.

The consultant shall submit detailed invoices to the County Project Manager on a monthly basis.

Billings shall include a spreadsheet style list showing project name, personnel, County Project

Manager, mileage reimbursement, work performed, and date performed.

5. SCOPE OF SERVICES

Merced County expects to design and construct several local, state and federal aid projects in the

coming contract period. In order to comply with state and federal regulations and due to limited

staffing and expertise, certain services are contracted out. The selected consultants shall perform

right-of-way consultation services which include but are not limited to real property appraisal,

acquisition, including eminent domain and relocation assistance services under the direction of

Merced County staff.

The County maintains separate retainer agreements with design firms and environmental firms. The

selected consultants shall be required to coordinate their work efforts with these firms. In general,

the work consists of the preparation of on-call Right-of Way Acquisition and may include, but are but

necessarily limited to the following tasks:

a. Project Management

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541330Engineering Services
• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
• NAICS 541618Other Management Consulting Services

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