REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS-BASED PROPOSALS

1) PURPOSE

The City of Obetz, Ohio (“City” or “Owner”) is soliciting Statements of Qualifications / qualification-based proposals from qualified professional engineering firms to provide planning, design, bidding, construction administration, resident project representative, and project closeout services for a proposed USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs water tower / water storage project.

This solicitation is being conducted as a qualifications-based competitive proposal process for architectural/engineering professional services in accordance with 2 CFR 200.320(b)(2)(iv), 7 CFR 1780.39(b), and applicable USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs requirements. The City will evaluate qualifications and select the most qualified firm, subject to negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation. Price, fee, hourly rates, or other compensation information shall not be submitted with the Statement of Qualifications and shall not be used as an initial selection factor.

2) PROJECT OVERVIEW

The City is seeking professional engineering services for the planning, design, bidding, construction, and closeout of a water tower / water storage project to be funded in whole or in part through USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs financial assistance.

• • • City of Obetz New Water Tower
    • Project location: 2465 Stegner Street Obetz, Ohio 43207
    • The new water tower will serve roughly 1,164 Residential accounts (30% of the water consumption). City of Obetz also has 7 satellite system connections to City of Columbus water system.(70% of the water consumption)
    • Existing water tank: 250,000-gallon water storage tank, 4685 Buzick Drive, Obetz, OH 43207
    • New 300,000-gallon elevated water storage tank
    • Proposed tank may be: single pedestal spheroid tank, composite elevated tank, or approved alternative elevated tank
    • Opinion of probable construction cost: $4.6M
    • Funding status: USDA Grant Awarded: $1.8M
    • Final design completion or bid date: December 1, 2026
    • City of Obetz water tower will be constructed at 2465 Stegner Street, Obetz, OH, 43207 adjacent to the existing water plant. The property is owned by City of Obetz with the water plant on the east side of the parcel, 2 existing wells on south side of property serving the water plant, on the west by the Boehm/Watkins ditch, and on the north by Stegner Street.

3) ANTICIPATED SCOPE OF SERVICES

The final scope of services will be negotiated with the highest-ranked firm following completion of the qualifications-based selection process. The anticipated scope may include, but is not limited to, the following services:

Phase 100 – Project Management and USDA RD Coordination

• • Develop and maintain a project management plan, project schedule, meeting schedule, and communication protocol.
  • Conduct kickoff meeting with City staff and USDA RD representatives, as needed.
  • Prepare monthly progress reports and invoices in a format acceptable to the City and USDA RD.
  • Coordinate with USDA RD throughout planning, design, bidding, construction, pay applications, change orders, and closeout.
  • Assist the City in maintaining a complete project procurement and administrative record.

Phase 200 – Preliminary Engineering / PER / Funding Support

• • Review existing water system information, record drawings, hydraulic data, storage needs, pressure data, demand projections, fire flow needs, and growth assumptions.
  • Prepare, update, or supplement the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER), if required, in accordance with applicable USDA RD / RUS guidance.
  • Evaluate feasible alternatives, including tank size, tank type, site alternatives, system pressure impacts, life-cycle cost considerations, and operational impacts.
  • Prepare or assist with construction cost estimates, total project cost estimates, annual operating budget information, and funding application support materials.
  • Assist with environmental review documentation and coordination required by USDA RD.
  • USDA Streamlined Preliminary Engineering Report is attached along with this Request for Qualifications-Based Proposal.

Phase 300 – Survey, Geotechnical, Site, and Permitting Support

• • Perform or coordinate topographic survey, boundary information, utility locating, easement exhibits, and base mapping. Survey shall utilize NAD83 State Plane Coordinates and NAVD88 Vertical Datum.
  • Perform or coordinate geotechnical investigation appropriate for the proposed water tower / storage facility and related site improvements. Including the soil borings, laboratory testing, geotechnical recommendations, and foundation design criteria.
  • Identify and assist with required permits, approvals, reviews, and agency coordination.
  • Assist with site access, drainage, grading, stormwater, utility extensions, site lighting, fencing, access drive, security, and restoration needs.
  • Coordinate permit documents for City of Obetz, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, Local Utility Providers, and USDA RD.

Phase 400 – Final Design and Bidding Documents

• • Prepare final plans, specifications, contract documents, and opinions of probable construction cost.
  • Civil Design: Site layout, grading and drainage, access drives, stormwater management, and erosion and sediment control.
  • Structural Design: Tank Foundation, Elevated Storage Structures, and Structural appurtenances.
  • Water System Improvements: Water line extension, system connections, valve vaults, metering, and controls.
  • Electrical and Control Systems: Electric service, Lighting systems, Telemetry Systems, Tank Level Controls, and Backup Power coordination (if applicable).
  • Mechanical Systems: Mixing Systems, Cathodic Protection, and Coating Systems.
  • Security Improvements: Fencing, Access Controls, and Site Security Features.
  • Develop tank/site design documents suitable for bidding and construction.
  • Include required USDA RD, federal, state, and local contract provisions in the bidding and construction documents.
  • Prepare bid schedule, measurement and payment provisions, technical specifications, drawings, and front-end documents as required.
  • Coordinate Build America, Buy America / domestic preference requirements, Davis-Bacon requirements if applicable, debarment/suspension requirements, and other funding conditions required by USDA RD.
  • Prepare, Coordinate and submit design documents for City of Obetz, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, Local Utility Providers, and USDA RD review and respond to review comments.

Phase 500 – Bidding and Award Support

• • Assist with advertisement for bids and bidding schedule.
  • Conduct or participate in pre-bid meeting.
  • Prepare addenda and responses to bidder questions.
  • Review bids, prepare bid tabulation, evaluate bidder responsiveness/responsibility, and prepare recommendation of award.
  • Assist with USDA RD concurrence in award and required pre-construction documentation.

Phase 600 – Construction Administration, Observation, and Closeout

• • Conduct or participate in pre-construction meetings.
  • Review shop drawings, submittals, schedules, pay applications, requests for information, field orders, and change order requests.
  • Provide construction observation and/or resident project representative services as negotiated.
  • Attend progress meetings and prepare meeting notes.
  • Assist the City with USDA RD pay application, change order, wage compliance, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements, as applicable.
  • Perform substantial completion review, punch list review, final completion review, record drawings, operation and maintenance documentation, and USDA RD closeout support.

4) SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

A. Submission Instructions

• • • • All submittals must be in the form of a single PDF file, delivered by email, to tgarwick@obetz.gov with the subject line: “SOQ – City of Obetz New Water Tower Engineering Services”.
      • Responses are due no later than June 25, 2026 @ 12:00pm
      • Late submissions may be rejected at the City’s discretion.

B. Required SOQ Content

At a minimum, each Statement of Qualifications should include the following information:

• • • • Firm information and primary contact.
      • Brief firm history and office location(s) that will perform the work.
      • Confirmation that the firm is authorized to do business in Ohio.
      • Confirmation that professional engineering services will be performed under the responsible charge of an Ohio-licensed professional engineer.
      • Relevant water storage, water tower, water distribution, and municipal water system experience.
      • USDA Rural Development, RUS, WEP, or comparable federally funded water/wastewater project experience.
      • Experience preparing or updating Preliminary Engineering Reports, if applicable.
      • Experience with USDA RD / federally funded bidding documents, construction administration, pay applications, change orders, and closeout.
      • Project team, key personnel, roles, availability, and relevant licenses/certifications.
      • Subconsultants, if any, including survey, geotechnical, environmental, electrical, controls/SCADA, structural, or other specialty support.
      • Understanding of the project and proposed approach.
      • Representative project examples and references.
      • Current workload and ability to meet the project schedule.
      • Statement regarding conflicts of interest.
      • Statement that no pricing, rates, fees, or compensation information is included in the SOQ.

C. Page Limit

• • • • The SOQ is limited to 5-page limit.
      • A separate cover/email transmittal with firm name and contact information is permitted and does not count toward the page limit unless stated otherwise.
      • The City may reject submissions exceeding the page limit or disregard excess content.

5) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To be considered, a respondent must:

• Be authorized to do business in Ohio.
• Possess required professional licensure for the services offered.
• Be qualified to perform the requested engineering and related professional services.
• Have experience with water storage, water distribution, water tower, or comparable public water infrastructure projects.
• Be able to comply with applicable USDA RD, federal, state, and local funding requirements and contract provisions.
• Not be suspended or debarred from participation in federally assisted contracts.
• Agree to use a USDA RD-acceptable Owner-Engineer Agreement form, such as an approved EJCDC engineering agreement with required USDA RD modifications, unless otherwise approved by USDA RD.

Subconsultants are permitted; however, the prime firm remains responsible for performance, coordination, contract compliance, and quality control.

6) QUESTIONS / ADDENDA

Questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted in writing via email to the RFP Contact by June 18, 2026 @ 12:00pm

The City may issue clarifications or addenda in writing. Oral statements are not binding. Respondents are responsible for confirming receipt of all addenda before submitting a response.

7) EVALUATION AND SELECTION

The City will evaluate SOQs and may rank firms based on qualifications, competence, and demonstrated ability to perform the services. The City may, in its discretion, request clarifications, conduct interviews, check references, shortlist firms, or proceed directly to ranking and negotiation.

No pricing, fee schedule, hourly rates, or compensation information will be considered during the initial evaluation. Any pricing information submitted in response to this solicitation may be rejected, disregarded, or result in disqualification, in the City’s discretion.

Ranking and Negotiation

• • • The City will rank the most qualified firm(s) based on the evaluation results.
    • The City will negotiate scope, schedule, and fair and reasonable compensation with the highest-ranked firm.
    • If negotiations are unsuccessful, the City may terminate negotiations with the highest-ranked firm and proceed to the next-ranked firm.
    • Final contract award is subject to City approvals, USDA RD concurrence/approval where required, and availability of funding.

Because this project is anticipated to be funded in whole or in part through USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs financial assistance, the selected firm must comply with applicable USDA RD, federal, state, and local requirements, including contract provisions and certifications required by the funding source.

The engineering agreement, scope, compensation, and any required contract provisions shall be subject to USDA RD review/concurrence/approval, as applicable. The City may require additional forms, certifications, insurance, and contract language prior to contract execution.

• • • 7 CFR 1780.39(b) engineer selection requirements.
    • 2 CFR 200.320(b)(2)(iv) qualifications-based competitive proposal procedures for architectural/engineering professional services, including selection based on qualifications and negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation.

9) PROCUREMENT PROCESS

This solicitation is a qualifications-based competitive proposal procurement for architectural/engineering professional services under 2 CFR 200.320(b)(2)(iv).

• • • The City will evaluate offerors based on demonstrated competence, qualifications, experience, project understanding, staff availability, and ability to perform the required professional services.
    • Price, fee, hourly rates, cost proposals, or other compensation information shall not be submitted with the SOQ and shall not be used as an initial selection factor.
    • Following ranking/selection of the most qualified firm, the City will negotiate scope, schedule, and fair and reasonable compensation with the highest-ranked firm. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the City may terminate negotiations and proceed to the next-ranked firm.
    • Any pricing information submitted in response to the initial solicitation may be rejected, disregarded, or result in disqualification, in the City’s discretion.
    • The qualifications-based method described in 2 CFR 200.320(b)(2)(iv), where price is not used as a selection factor, is used only for architectural/engineering professional services and shall not be used to procure unrelated non-A/E services.
    • The City may enter into a contract with the selected consultant following Section 8.02 – Contracting Power and Procedures in the City of Obetz Charter and all applicable funding requirements.

10) RESERVED RIGHTS

The City reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to:

• • • reject any or all submissions;
    • waive minor informalities or irregularities;
    • request additional information or clarifications;
    • cancel, revise, or reissue this solicitation;
    • interview any, all, or no respondents;
    • award all, part, or none of the services;
    • negotiate with the highest-ranked firm and, if necessary, subsequent firms;
    • modify the anticipated scope before contract execution;
    • condition contract award on USDA RD concurrence/approval and availability of funding;
    • take any action the City determines to be in its best interest consistent with applicable law and funding requirements.

Issuance of this solicitation does not obligate the City to award a contract or reimburse any respondent for costs incurred in preparing a submission.

 11) RFP INFORMATION