Project Information

Bid Title

RFQ: ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING SERVICES DRAINAGE INVENTORY AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Issuing Agency

County of Carteret

Location

North Carolina

Published Date

Nov 12, 2025

Closing Date

Dec 11, 2025

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

11-2502

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Number:	11-2502
Bid Title:	RFQ: ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING SERVICES DRAINAGE INVENTORY AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT
Category:	Planning & Building Inspections
Status:	Open

Description: Carteret County is requesting statements of qualifications from experienced architectural and engineering firms to provide professional services for a Drainage Inventory and Condition Assessment focused on the Down East, Merrimon, North River, and South River communities. Chronic flooding and inadequate drainage continue to affect these areas, disrupting access to roads, resources, and essential services. The County seeks to develop a comprehensive location and condition database to identify the areas most in need of drainage improvements and to guide future project prioritization. The selected firm will be responsible for creating a detailed drainage facility location and condition database for the identified communities, validating and integrating existing datasets or modeling from external organizations, and potentially facilitating community engagement to gather local input. Firms with proven experience in similar drainage analysis and condition assessment projects are encouraged to apply. An evaluation panel appointed by the County will review all submissions. Selected firms will be required to meet all applicable governmental design standards and review requirements. All inquiries regarding the scope of services or submission requirements should be directed to Ms. Ashley Bennett, Purchasing Agent, at 210 Turner Street, Beaufort, NC 28516, by email at For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. , or by phone at 252-515-3200. The RFQ will be issued on November 12, 2025. Questions must be submitted by Wednesday, November 26, 2025, and responses will be provided by Friday, December 5, 2025. Submittals are due no later than 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 11, 2025. Interviews are anticipated to take place in December 2025 or January 2026, with firm selection and award expected in early 2026. The project is scheduled for completion by July 31, 2026. More detailed information, including submission requirements and evaluation criteria, is available in the related RFQ documents. Publication Date/Time: 11/12/2025 8:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 12/11/2025 10:00 AM Related Documents: RCCP Phase 3 RFQ

Attachment Preview

RFQ No. 11-2502

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING SERVICES

DRAINAGE INVENTORY AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Issued: November 12, 2025

Submission Deadline: December 11, 2025 by 10:00 AM, EST.

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) – Architectural & Engineering Design Services for Drainage Inventory and Condition Assessment

1

RFQ No. 11-2502

Introduction

Carteret County is a diverse County containing eleven municipalities with Morehead City being the largest

and Beaufort being the County Seat. From vast coastal wetlands in Cedar Island to small tributaries of the

White Oak River, the County is one of the most environmentally diverse counties in North Carolina with an

estimated population of 70,259 per the 2024 Census. Carteret County is adjacent to Onslow, Jones,

Craven, Pamlico, and Hyde Counties, and is the third largest County in North Carolina by total area, with

507 square miles of land area and 823 square miles of water area. Carteret County is home to the Croatan

National Forrest, Cape Lookout National Seashore and Lighthouse, the Cedar Island National Wildlife

Refuge, the Marine Corps Auxiliary Landing Field in Bogue, and the Marine Corps Outlying Field in Atlantic.

Carteret County owns numerous water access points, including the Straits Fishing Pier.

Invitation

Carteret County (herein referred to as, “The County”) invites experienced and interested Architectural and

Engineering firms (herein referred to as, “A/E”) to submit qualifications to assist Carteret County in

developing plans, specifications, and to establish a primary contract, to survey locations and document the

conditions of all drainage features including ditches, outfalls, and culverts within areas to be assigned by

County staff. This will be used to create a location and condition database to be shared with other

government agencies, property owners, and other stakeholders for use in future assessments,

maintenance planning, and for future flood mitigation projects. Using the drainage inventory and other data

will allow other government agencies, property owners, and other stakeholders to document the condition

of each drainage feature and develop prioritized lists of necessary maintenance and improvements. The

target areas for this proposed project include the locations of: Down East Carteret County (East of the

North River Bridge) Merrimon, North River, and South River. This assessment could be conducted as a

single effort across all target areas, or divided into sub-regional phases assessing groups of communities

at a time.

Proposing firms must have performed similar services as a prime or subcontractor and provide references

from the project owners where these operations took place. Additionally, proposing firms would be

expected to work with County staff.

Objectives

The County has identified the following objectives:

The Drainage Inventory and Condition Assessment would provide the necessary data for the County to

identify specific locations with the greatest need and vulnerability in Down East communities. Chronic

flooding and inadequate drainage have greatly impacted the socioeconomic landscape of Down East by

causing regular instances where roads are flooded and access to resources is impacted. This project will

create a location and condition database that will assist in understanding which projects the County and

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) – Architectural & Engineering Design Services for Drainage Inventory and Condition Assessment

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RFQ No. 11-2502

other stakeholders need to prioritize moving forward. Organizations external to the County may have

existing data sets and modeling that can help inform the assessment. Validating the data will be the

responsibility of the selected firm.

The County is seeking firms with specific expertise of similar scope projects. All proposed project designs

will be reviewed and authorized by an evaluation panel consisting of individuals selected by the County and

shall be subject to all applicable governmental reviews and design standard approvals. Responses shall

clearly outline the firm’s ability to deliver the following minimum services:

1. This project will create a drainage facility location and condition database for the Down East,

Merrimon, North River and South River communities.

2. This project may include community engagement activities in the Down East, Merrimon, North

River and South River communities.

Contract Negotiations

The County may negotiate any aspect of the submittal or the solicitation. The County may negotiate

elements of the submittal as required to meet the needs of the County.

Proposal Evaluation/Selection Process/Agreement Award

Carteret County will form an evaluation team to initially review and evaluate the submitted responses. The

responses will be evaluated for content and ranked. Responding A/E(s) will bear all costs of this RFQ and

interviews, if any.

The following factors will, at a minimum, be considered during the evaluation process:

1. The qualifications, track record, relevant experience, and cost methodology of the respondent and

its team; and

2. Quality and completeness of a plan for delivering of all necessary and appropriate services; and

3. Respondent’s ability to provide a work plan which will successfully execute the project in an

effective and efficient manner without compromising quality, safety, and schedule; and

4. The firm’s proximity to the project location.

Additionally, please provide the following:

1. What your firm would do to meet the particular need, including proposed timeline to achieve task

(list incremental steps and completion dates) with milestones of deliverables from the consultant.

2. What expectations you would have of the County panel.

3. Name and tile of responsible “Lead” consultant.

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) – Architectural & Engineering Design Services for Drainage Inventory and Condition Assessment

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RFQ No. 11-2502

Please include information regarding your firm’s capabilities with regard to:

1. Prior experience conducting a Drainage Inventory and Condition.

2. Resources available through your firm, as well as through other relevant partners and affiliations.

3. Resumes of key personnel on this assignment.

4. Three (3) references for whom you have performed services in the last three (3) years (similar

projects if available).

5. Hourly rate schedule for staff.

All proposals submitted by the deadline will be reviewed and evaluated by the County’s selection

committee. Based on the above criteria, the committee will identify the most qualified firms and, if deemed

necessary, may invite select firms to participate in in-person presentations at Carteret County.

The County reserves the right to request clarification or additional information from any applicant. Failure to

provide requested information within a reasonable timeframe may result in the submission being deemed

non-responsive.

The County may cancel or reject any or all proposals at any point prior to an award and is not obligated to

provide an explanation for why a particular firm was not selected.

The County further reserves the right, as needed in the interest of the County, to revise or amend the RFQ

specifications prior to the submission deadline. If revisions occur, they will be communicated through a

formal addendum. The submission deadline may also be extended if determined necessary by the County.

Finally, the County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive informalities or technicalities, to

negotiate with any firm, and to accept the proposal deemed to be in the County’s best interest.

Project Budget

The work will be performed on a not to exceed fixed price basis with a specific amount and payment

program being determined through contract negotiations with the successful firm and will be based upon

major milestones and/or identified tasks and subtasks.

The County may also consider alternative proposals to provide A/E services if there is an opportunity for

substantial savings, without affecting the project quality or timeline. The County also reserves certain rights,

including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Reject any or all of the proposals.

2. Issue subsequent Requests for Qualifications.

3. Remedy technical errors in the Request for Qualifications process.

4. Seek assistance of outside technical experts.

5. Approve or disapprove the use of certain subcontractors or suppliers.

6. Negotiate with any, all, or none of the A/E(s).

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) – Architectural & Engineering Design Services for Drainage Inventory and Condition Assessment

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RFQ No. 11-2502

Upon the completion of the selection process, the County shall notify all A/E(s) of the selection and the

winning A/E shall enter into a County Contract which shall include all information regarding this RFQ. The

A/E(s) proposal shall stand firm for a minimum of ninety (90) days and/or till the project is awarded.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:

Evaluation Factor

Relevant Experience

Project Approach

Capacity and Availability

Qualifications of Personnel

Local Knowledge and Proximity

References

Clarity and Quality of Submittal

Weight %

25%

20%

15%

15%

10%

10%

5%

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Any firm wishing to be considered must be properly registered with the Office of the Secretary of State of

North Carolina and must have a good ethical and professional standing. It will be the responsibility of the

selected private firm to verify the registration of any corporate subsidiary or subcontractor prior to

submitting a proposal to Carteret County.

The firm shall provide their W-9 as well as current Certificates of Insurance for public liability, property

damage, and Workers’ Compensation. Certificates of Insurance shall have “Carteret County Government,

302 Courthouse Square, Beaufort, NC 28516” listed as additional insured, with bid submission. The

Contractor shall unconditionally guarantee materials and workmanship against patent defects arising from

faulty materials, faulty workmanship or negligence for a period of twelve (12) months following the final

acceptance of the work and shall replace such defective materials or workmanship without cost to the

owner.

The firm shall submit the attached Supplier Exemption Form, Iran Divestment Act Certification, Certification

Regarding Debarment and Suspension Form, and Non-Collusion Affidavit.

Payment will be made in one lump sum within thirty (30) consecutive days after acceptance of the work and

the submission both of notarized contractor's affidavit and four copies of invoices, which are to include the

contract, account and job order numbers, if applicable.

Sample Service Agreement

Attached is a Sample Service Agreement that describes the county’s contractual terms and conditions to

include insurance requirements. The successful Firm will be required to enter into a service agreement with

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) – Architectural & Engineering Design Services for Drainage Inventory and Condition Assessment

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541310Architectural Services
• NAICS 541330Engineering Services

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