Public Notice
Kittitas County, Ellensburg, WA

Notice of request for qualifications supporting a Feasibility Assessment for Widening Interstate 90 from Easton to Cle Elum, Washington.

REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS SUPPORTING A FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT FOR WIDENING INTERSTATE 90 FROM EASTON TO CLE ELUM, WA 

All submittals received after 5:00 PM Local Time, on June 10, 2022, will be discarded.

PURPOSE:

Kittitas County has determined the most effective way of dealing with Interstate 90 (I-90) weekend bypassing traffic onto local roadways is to widen the interstate from Easton (MP 70) to Cle Elum/SR 970 (MP 85).  Given sensitive environmental issues associated with the interstate roadway segment (Yakima River, wetlands and associated critical habitat); Kittitas County desires defining the feasibility of widening into the median creating three lanes eastbound and three lanes westbound.

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT:

The work to be performed by the consultant consists of conducting preliminary environmental assessment work along with preliminary engineering and cost estimating.  It is anticipated that widening to the median (one lane in each direction) will be compared to widening at the existing shoulders, comparing environmental impacts and associated construction costs of the two alternatives.  The work produces a feasibility report that will be used to pursue federal design funding.  The work requires close coordination with Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) South Central Regional staff.  The selected firm will be expected to start on the project upon award and deliver a complete feasibility report by August 30, 2024.

PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTAL:

If you wish to be considered for work under this SOQ, submit a sealed envelope to Kittitas County Public Works, at 411 N. Ruby St. Suite 1, Ellensburg WA 98926 by 5:00 pm local time on June 10, 2022. Submittals shall include a one-page cover letter with the firm name and contact information. Submittals shall also include five copies of your Statement of Qualifications describing the firm’s or team’s ability to professionally provide the requested services. Submittals will not exceed twenty (20) pages in length and must be a minimum font size of 11.  The twenty (20) pages may be doubled sided.  Address submittals: 

I-90 Feasibility Widening from Easton to Cle Elum, WA

Kittitas County Public Works

411 North Ruby, Suite 1

Ellensburg, WA 98926

For your records, Kittitas County will provide a confirmation email to the contacts provided in the submittal confirming receipt of your interest in the proposal. 

Submittals received after 5:00 pm local time on June 10, 2022, will be disregarded. Kittitas County encourages disadvantaged, minority and women owned consultant firms to respond. 

The County reserves the right to retain the services of the successful firm for any subsequent phases (such as right of way or construction) associated with this project. The County reserves the right to reject any and all submittals.

SELECTION PROCESS AND PROPOSED SCHEDULE:

Kittitas County’s selection will be based on review of submittals in the following manner:

1. The firm's or team's qualifications, experience and ability performing the requested work (30 points)

2. Detailed description of the firm’s approach to the project (50 points)

3. Experience working in Kittitas County in the past five years (20 points)

4. Experience working with WSDOT South Central regional staff in the past five years (20 points)

5. Demonstrated experience working with state and federal agencies on federal interstate widening projects.  (50 points). 

Anticipated Dates  and Tasks

June 10, 2022 - Deadline for SOQ submittals

June 30, 2022 - Selection of Firms to Interview

July 21, 2022 - Interviews and Reference Checks

August 2, 2022 - BOCC contract award

August 16, 2022 - Executed contract

The selection process shall be as follows:

• Submittals are reviewed and scored by the Public Works selection committee.

• Selection of firms to interview may be waived if the selection committee decides to award to a single firm based on review of the submittals.

• Firms will be selected to interview if the selection committee decides that interviews are required. The specific interview format will be provided to firms in advance of interviews.

• Board of County Commission design contract award.

• The Public Works Director will negotiate a scope of work and fee with the selected consultant.

• The selected consultant will then enter into a Professional Services Consultant Agreement with Public Works.

Kittitas County, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office of the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises as defined at 49 CFR Part 26 will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex in consideration for an award.

Kittitas County in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) commits to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability, in all of its programs and activities. This material can be made available in an alternate format by e mailing Candie Leader at candie.leader@co.kittitas.wa.us or by calling collect 509-962-7523.

The above noted schedule is tentative and may be changed based on the number of proposals submitted. Proposals will be evaluated immediately with final selection targeted for late June 2022.

AGREEMENT OF SERVICES:

The selected consultant(s) will be expected to enter into a Professional Services Consultant Agreement. Insurance requirements are included in that agreement. The anticipated contract period shall be August 2022 through August 2024.

Persons with disabilities may request this information be prepared and supplied in alternate forms by calling collect (509-962-7523).

Kittitas County reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or any items or part thereof or to waive any information or irregularities in the proposals. Kittitas County shall have the sole discretion to determine the most responsible proposal.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

No cost or fee schedules shall be submitted with your response. Consultants will be selected on their qualifications and experience as noticed in this solicitation, with fees determined through negotiations following selection. Contracting is dependent on a negotiated mutually accepted scope of work and subsequent fee established by the consultant.

INQUIRIES:

Direct all inquiries regarding this request for services to Mark Cook, Director at (509) 962-7523 or via email to: Candie Leader  candie.leader@co.kittitas.wa.us

For more information, contact Public Works

Kittitas County shall evaluate statements of qualifications and performance data submitted by firms regarding the proposed project. Following the evaluation, the county may invite one or more firms to meet with county officials to discuss the project and the relative benefits of various methods of providing the desired services. The county then selects from among those firms the one "most highly qualified" to provide the required services. County procedures and guidelines are to include a plan to ensure that women, minority, and veteran-owned firms have the maximum opportunity to compete for the contract. The level of firm participation should be consistent with their availability within the relevant professional community.

After choosing the most qualified firm, the county then negotiates with that firm for a contract at a price the county determines is fair and reasonable, considering the estimated value of the services to be rendered, as well as the scope and complexity of the project. If a satisfactory contract cannot be negotiated, the county formally terminates the negotiations with that firm and attempts to negotiate a contract with the next most qualified firm. The process continues until an agreement is reached or the search is terminated.

In emergency situations, the process outlined above for procuring services maybe dispensed with upon a finding by the county that an emergency requires the immediate execution of the work involved.

All submittals shall become the property of Kittitas County.

Kittitas County reserves the right to reject all submittals and re-advertise if necessary.

Easton to Cle Elum_SOQ_Final 150 KB

Published:
North Kittitas County Tribune: 05/05/2022; 05/12/2022; 05/19/2022
Daily Journal of Commerce: 05/05/2022; 05/12/2022; 05/19/2022

Posted: 5/5/2022, Closes: 6/10/2022 5:00:00 PM