Project Information

Bid Title

26-011 Henry Fork Streambank and Sewer Improvements

Issuing Agency

City of Hickory

Location

North Carolina

Published Date

Jan 29, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 3, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

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Project Description

26-011 Henry Fork Streambank and Sewer Improvements

Request for Qualifications

Sales Tax Certification

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The City of Hickory

Request for Qualifications

Public Utilities

Professional Engineering Services -

HenrCyIFToYrk OStFreaHmIbCanKkOanRdYSewer

Improvements

Request Number: 26-011

Project Title:

Henry Fork Streambank and Sewer Improvements

SECTIONS WTIHIN THIS REQUEST:

a. Notice and Contact Information

b. Request for Qualifications

c. Statement of Qualifications Content Requirements

d. Sample SOQ Evaluation Form

e. Special Terms and Conditions

CITY of HICKORY

Request for Qualifications

Request Number: 26-011

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Notice is hereby given that the City of Hickory is conducting a qualification based selection

process to retain a proponent for professional engineering services for Henry Fork Streambank

and Sewer Improvements.

The City of Hickory invites interested firms/teams to submit a written Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

relating to this solicitation. Proponents are invited to review the information and to submit their SOQ in

accordance with the criteria established within this RFQ. A Project Screening Committee will evaluate

firms’/teams’ qualifications and experience with similar projects. The City will rank the submittals and, if

required, create a short list of firms/teams to interview before selecting the best qualified firm/team. The

firms/teams determined to be best qualified through review of the submitted SOQs will be invited to

interview with a project committee and the firm/team being most qualified will be selected for negotiations

to complete the project. Should negotiations become unsuccessful, the second ranked firm/team will be

invited to enter negotiations.

Written questions regarding this RFQ must be received by Friday February 13, 2026, no later than

12:00 PM. Email questions are acceptable but must contain the wording “Henry Fork Streambank and

Sewer Improvements Question” in the subject line. Questions may then be responded to as an

amendment to this document and posted to the solicitation within an anticipated three (3) working days

after questions deadline. Oral statements or instructions shall not constitute an amendment to this RFQ.

All submittals must be received by the deadline specified herein. Any submittals received after the due

date and time specified will not be considered. The City of Hickory reserves the right to reject any or all

submittals, or to withhold awarding a contract for any reason it may determine, and to waive or not to

waive any informalities in any submittal. Contact with City Council or other influential individuals to

the selection process regarding this RFQ is expressly forbidden and shall be grounds for

immediate rejection from the process. All information regarding the content of the specific submittals

will remain confidential until sealed proposals are opened.

POINT OF CONTACT:

William Hamblin, Public Utilities Director

City of Hickory

1441 9th Ave NE

Hickory, NC 28601

Mail:

PO Box 398

Hickory, NC 28603

whamblin@hickorync.gov;

828-323-7427

Page 2|8

Project Title:

Henry Fork Streambank and Sewer Improvements

CITY of HICKORY

Request for Qualifications

Request Number: 26-011

Submittals must be received before the deadline and they may

be mailed to:

City of Hickory – Public Utilities

Post Office Box 398

Hickory, NC 28603

Attention: William Hamblin, Public Utilities Director

Or delivered to:

City of Hickory – Public Works

1441 9th Ave NE

Hickory, NC 28601

Attention: William Hamblin, Public Utilities Director

Submittal Deadline:

12:00 PM

Tuesday March 3, 2026

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

I.

DEFINITIONS

A.

“The Owner” means officers or employees of the City of Hickory.

B.

“Proponent” means the person or firm/team responding.

C.

“Statement of Qualifications” or “SOQ” means the submission received from a Proponent

in response to this RFQ.

D.

“Request for Qualifications” or “RFQ” means the entire document, including all of the

documents and any addenda thereto issued before the RFQ closing time.

II.

BACKGROUND

Hickory Public Utilities Department has identified areas along the Henry Fork River of streambank

migration that is encroaching on a sewer outfall. Hickory engaged with an engineering firm to

perform a preliminary evaluation of the river and outfall to prioritize the areas needing

improvements. A combination of streambank restoration and relocation of the sewer outfall were

identified as the most cost-effective solutions. An aerial sewer crossing is also damaged,

requiring a full replacement. Included in this RFQ are areas identified needing improvements. The

full evaluation will be provided to the selected firm. Hickory prepared an application and was

selected for a Clean Water SRF-Hurricane Helene loan/grant.

III. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The City of Hickory Public Utilities Department is soliciting RFQ’s from qualified consultants to

provide surveying, engineering, structural engineering for sewer crossing foundation, design,

permitting, bidding and construction management services for the streambank and sewer outfall

improvements.

The City is seeking firms whose combination of experience and personnel will provide timely,

cost-effective, and professional services for the City. It is anticipated that the successful firm and

Page 3|8

Project Title:

Henry Fork Streambank and Sewer Improvements

CITY of HICKORY

Request for Qualifications

Request Number: 26-011

the City will work together to develop a more detailed scope of work including specific project

goals and schedule milestones. A Preliminary Engineering Report meeting the requirements of

SRF loans will be required as a part of the design scope.

IV. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

A.

No contact shall be made with Hickory City Council as this shall be grounds for dismissal

of RFQ submittal.

B.

All questions should be submitted in writing to the Point of Contact listed above.

C.

SOQs will be received prior to deadline in person at Public Services or by mail

(information at beginning of RFQ).

D.

SOQs submitted via fax or email are not acceptable and will not be considered.

E.

Proponents will be evaluated on experience and qualifications. Project fee related

information is not requested (excepting Section II, subsection D, paragraph 1) and will not

be used in the evaluation process. Receiving project fee related information will be

grounds for dismissal of the RFQ submittal.

F.

Clearly indicate on the envelope the name of the Proponent and the name of the Project

for which the SOQ is being submitted.

G. Refer to the section SOQ Content Requirements for detailed instructions.

H.

There will not be a pre-proposal conference for this project.

I.

There will not be a public opening of the SOQs with Proponents present.

V.

COST OF SUBMISSION AND OWNERSHIP OF SOQ

A.

The City of Hickory is not responsible for any costs incurred by Proponents in preparing,

submitting, or presenting their SOQs.

B.

Except as otherwise provided in this RFQ, all SOQs become the property of the City

upon submission and will not be returned.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS CONTENT REQUIREMENTS

This section specifies in detail the form and minimum content requirements for information required to be

submitted in each SOQ. Proponents may, at their discretion, include additional information which they

consider relevant to ensure a full and proper evaluation, provided that the specified maximum allowable

number of pages is not exceeded.

I.

SUBMITTAL FORMAT

A.

Four (4) bound copies and a PDF provided on a flash drive is required of each submittal.

The material should be in sequence and related to the solicitation. The sections of the

submittal shall be tabbed to match SOQ and be clearly identifiable. Failure to include all

requested information will result in the proponent being non-responsive and may result in

the rejection of the proponent’s submittal.

B.

Cover letter expressing interest in the available project. It shall also identify a principal

and secondary individual as point of contact for any future correspondence and be a

maximum of two pages.

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Project Title:

Henry Fork Streambank and Sewer Improvements

CITY of HICKORY

Request for Qualifications

Request Number: 26-011

C.

Page size of the SOQ shall be 8 ½” x 11” with a minimum font size of 10. A maximum of

two (2) 11” x 17” pages will be allowed (one (1) page if double sided). Note: this will

count towards the page limit.

D.

No more than 20 pages single sided or 10 pages double sided. Note: divider tabs (if

used), Cover Letter and Table of Contents do not count towards the page limit and shall

not include pertinent information to be evaluated.

II.

SOQ CONTENT

Please provide the following in this order:

A.

Cover Letter/Letter of Interest (does not count toward page limit; two (2) page maximum)

1.

Principal and secondary contact for the project including mailing address, email,

phone numbers, and appropriate license numbers. At least one of these

individuals shall have the ability to negotiate Contract conditions for the

Proponent.

2.

Provide a statement of interest, including a narrative describing the firm’s unique

qualifications and answering the specific question “why should the City select

your firm/team for this project?”

B.

Table of Contents Page (does not count toward page limit)

C.

Firm Profile

1.

Provide general information about the Proponent, which needs not be specific to

this RFQ. Include history of the firm, years in business, office locations, number

of staff, types of services provided and specialist areas of expertise. Indicate

office location from which services will be provided. This includes any sub-

consultants.

2.

Statement that the Proponent is licensed to provide required professional

services in the State of North Carolina.

3.

Statement (confirmation) of current general liability insurance as required to

provide services.

D.

Experience and Qualifications of the Proposed Team

1.

Provide a minimum of three similar projects (completed within the last five years)

for which your team was responsible and which you consider to be a

demonstration of your team’s design ability, including project title, reference

(name, phone, email) location, design fees, engineers cost estimate, bid amount,

approximate construction cost, year completed, and members of proposed team

included with project and their role on it. Include information on how actual

project construction cost compared to engineers cost estimate. Provide a

narrative explaining any differences.

2.

Please provide a minimum of three (3) unique municipality references (should

references in item D (1) above be duplicated, may provide a reference without a

project).

3.

Submit qualifications on the team and explain why your team is especially well

qualified to perform the required services.

a.

Provide the experience of the proposed team on similar projects. Identify

type and location of similar work to illustrate work quality and the role of

each proposed team member. Show how the experience relates to the

categories outlined.

NOTE: Projects used as examples of similar work shall be clearly noted if the

work was done by individuals while employed by other firms. The only

projects which you may claim without attribution are those projects

actually produced by your firm/team. Improper or misleading credit for

projects, in our view, is an adverse reflection on a firm’s integrity and

may be grounds for rejection of those projects from your experience or

record or dismissal of the entire RFQ submittal.

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 237110Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction

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