Cover Sheet Date: July 12, 2012 Re: Request for Qualification (RFQ) seeking engineering services for various infrastructure projects supporting the Houston Ship Channel Security District’s video projects, the Land Mobile Radio network and the Broadband Interoperability Gateway Network. DUE NO LATER THAN 3:00 P.M. (CDT), July 26, 2013 Responses received later than the date and time indicated will not be considered. Dear Sir/Ma’am: The submission requirements for this proposal are included on the attached Request for Qualifications. Submittals will be reviewed by an Evaluation Committee. The deadline for submission of qualifications is 3:00 P.M. (CDT), July 26, 2012. Harris County reserves the right to negotiate with any and all persons or firms submitting qualifications, per the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act and the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Standards. Carefully read all instructions and requirements. Fill out all forms properly and completely. Submit your RFQ with all appropriate documentation. Please return the RFQ in an appropriately sized envelope or box. Package must be labeled “Sealed Request for Qualifications for Engineering Services – Design and Engineering Services, for various infrastructure projects supporting the Houston Ship Channel Security District’s video projects, the Land Mobile Radio network and the Broadband Interoperability Gateway Network.” All questions and requests for information must be submitted in writing to John Blount by 3:00 PM (CDT) on July 19, 2012 by email at [email protected]. Cover Sheet continued on following page. Both Cover Sheet pages must be submitted. Request for Qualification (RFQ) seeking engineering services for various infrastructure projects supporting the Houston Ship Channel Security District’s video projects, the Land Mobile Radio network and the Broadband Interoperability Gateway Network. Return to: Harris County Public Infrastructure Department Architecture & Engineering Division ATTN: John Blount 1001 Preston St., 7th Floor Houston, TX 77002 713-755-4195 You must sign below in INK; failure to sign WILL disqualify the offer. Company Name: _______________________________________________________ Company Address: _____________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Code: ___________________________________________________ Taxpayer Identification Number (T.I.N.): _____________________________________ Telephone No.: ______________ Fax No.: ______________ Email: ______________ Printed Name:_________________________________________________________ Signature: ______________________________________ Date: _________________ Table of Contents Items below represent components which comprise this request for qualifications package. Respondents are asked to review the package to be sure that all applicable parts are included. It is the Respondent’s responsibility to be thoroughly familiar with all Requirements pertaining to this RFQ. Be sure you understand the following before you return your submittal. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Cover Sheet Both pages must be submitted. Your company name, address, and your signature (IN INK) should appear on page two of the Cover Sheet. Table of Contents Scope of Work and Qualification Requirements Evaluation Criteria and Process Special Instructions and Deadline for Submission Submittal Requirements Attachment A: Residence Certification/Tax Form Be sure to complete this form and return with packet Scope of Work and Qualification Requirements Harris County is seeking to enter into an engineering services contract with a state-registered engineer for engineering services as needed for various infrastructure projects supporting the Houston Ship Channel Security District’s video projects, the Land Mobile Radio network and the Broadband Interoperability Gateway Network. The following outlines this request for qualifications. I. Scope of Work – The engineering contract will include all project-related engineering services to Harris County, including but not limited to:  Preliminary and final design plans and specifications  Projects may require either detailed design and/or performance based design documents  Preparation of grant related documents  Preparation and maintenance of the project schedules  Preparation of the bid package meeting grant and county requirements  Pre-bid, Bid Phase, and Construction Phase Engineering services  Conduct all field testing and inspection (interim and final)  Other related engineering services as needed The above services will be in connection with the construction of various infrastructure projects supporting the Houston Ship Channel Security District’s video projects, the Land Mobile Radio network and the Broadband Interoperability Gateway Network. II. Qualification Requirements – The County is seeking to contract with a competent engineering firm or firms registered to practice in the State of Texas. The submittal should provide the following information and address the following requirements:  Experience in Monopole and Self-Supporting Tower design and analysis  Experience in tower inspection and reporting  Experience in structural foundation and platform design for tower systems  Experience in band path & link budget analysis  Experience in geo-technical, environmental, and civil engineering in support of site development  Experience in FEMA and/or USACE environmental review process  Experience in Electrical Distribution system and Grounding System design and modification  Experience in the design of electrical/mechanical cabinets and enclosures  Experience in Federally-funded construction projects  The firm’s staff qualifications and capabilities along with key personnel’s involvement in relevant projects (include Organizational Chart)  Examples of successfully completed projects located in the general region of the state  Examples of successfully completed public infrastructure projects  Examples of successfully completed private development projects  Experience in working within Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulated facilities and associated federal credentialing requirements (TWIC).  Certifications held by the firm and licenses held by key staff Please provide a list of past local government clients, as well as resumes of all engineers who will or may be assigned to this project if you receive the engineering services contract award in your submittal. This information can be included in the GSA Standard Form 330 "Architecture-Engineer Qualifications.” Evaluation Criteria and Process 1. Nature of Request For Qualifications (RFQ) This RFQ is governed by the procedures as contained in the Texas Government Code §2254.004. Therefore, award of contract(s) shall be made to the provider of the required services that is evaluated to be the most qualified on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications, and after negotiations, whose pricing is considered to be fair and reasonable. Harris County does not accept any financial responsibility incurred in order to respond to this RFQ. In addition, Harris County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all RFQs, or waive any and all formalities not considered advantageous to Harris County. 2. Evaluation/Selection An evaluation committee comprised of Public Infrastructure staff and Information Technology staff will review and evaluate the statements of qualifications and will select the most highly qualified provider of the services requested. Thereafter, Harris County will attempt to negotiate a contract at a fair and reasonable price with that provider. If a satisfactory contract cannot be negotiated with the most qualified provider, Harris County will formally end negotiations, select the next most highly qualified provider, and attempt to negotiate a contract with that provider at a fair and reasonable price. It is Harris County’s intent to continue the process described above until a contract is entered into. Preference will be given to a firm or team that can provide all applicable services. The following considerations will be utilized accordingly in evaluating the qualifications: Part I – Statements of Qualifications (100 pts) a. Experience (Firms will be evaluated based on overall firm/team experience.) 50 points b. Performance 30 points (Firms will be evaluated based on schedule and budget performance in previous projects, understanding the unique requirements of public and federally funded projects, and relevance of previous projects presented in the submittal to services required by Harris County. Provide information regarding track record for each project in meeting deadlines, budget constraints, and producing accurate and complete deliverables.) c. Capacity to Perform 20 points (Firms will be evaluated on staff registration in Texas and availability of key personnel. Identify the key personnel (project team) available for this project.) Phase II – Interview Evaluation (30 pts) a. Interview 30 points (If necessary, interviews will be held with the top three offerors, selected solely on the basis of qualifications. Three categories will be evaluated during the interview process: Substance and Relevance of presentation, Quality of Presentation, Responses to questions and comments during Q&A session. Each category will be scored out of 10. The resultant points (up to 30) will be added to the score generated from the above mentioned criteria.) This RFQ is the first of a two-part process, designed to result in the selection of an Engineer. In this phase of process, Harris County is soliciting a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) from sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, or other legal entities with the experience, capabilities, and qualified available staff that can act as an Engineer for the efforts described herein. Selection of Engineer candidates in the RFQ phase will be based on evaluation of submitted Statements of Qualifications (SOQs, also referred to herein as “submittals”), as in regards to the criteria detailed in this request. No information regarding fees or prices is to be included with the SOQs. All SOQs must be delivered to the Architecture and Engineering Division, 1001 Preston, 7 th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002 and received not later than July 26, 2013, at 3:00 p.m. (CDT) in order to be considered. If the second phase of the process is necessary, Harris County will request three (3) respondents, selected solely on the basis of qualifications for follow up interviews with the evaluation committee. Each selected firm will be scheduled for an interview and will present the features of the project contemplated, the anticipated schedule, and why the firm should be selected for award. The goal is to select a quality firm that has prepared a quality approach to the project. It is imperative that all projects be managed and executed with the utmost regard to cost, schedule and quality control by all participants. The integrity, reputation, skills and performance of the firm must be of the highest caliber to maintain confidence in the project team. Qualified parties must be able to demonstrate the expertise necessary to perform all portions of the work required by this RFQ and be familiar with the applicable statutes and regulations under which engineering services are provided to local governments in the State of Texas. Special Instructions and Deadline for Submission 1. Special Requirements: Carefully review the components of this RFQ as listed in the Table of Contents. Include with your response all required forms, completed and signed as necessary. Please return request for qualifications in an appropriately sized envelope or box. Package must be labeled “Sealed Request for Qualifications for Engineering Services – Design and Engineering Services for various infrastructure projects supporting the Houston Ship Channel Security District’s video projects, the Land Mobile Radio network and the Broadband Interoperability Gateway Network).” Firms shall not contact any members or employees of the evaluation committee regarding this request for Statements of Qualifications (SOQ), evaluation, or selection process from the time the request for SOQ is issued until the time a notification of intent to award is announced, except if, such contact is in writing, with a copy of any written communication being forwarded to the Architecture and Engineering Division. Contact discovered in any such manner, other than in writing and copied to the Architecture and Engineering Division, would be considered as grounds for elimination. Any submitted qualification and subsequent proposal shall remain valid for six (6) months after the request for SOQ/proposal due date or until Harris County executes a contract, whichever is sooner. Harris County may, in the event the selected firm fails to perform and/or the contract is terminated within forty-five days of its initiation, request the firm submitting the next acceptable proposal to honor its proposal. Each SOQ must include five (5) written copies. Copies must be bound in an 8.5” x 11” format. RFQs submissions shall contain all the information listed in the following section, titled “Submission Requirements.” 2. Deadline for Submission: The proposals will be received no later than 3:00 P.M. July 26, 2013, (CDT) at the following address: Harris County Public Infrastructure Department Architecture & Engineering Division ATTN: John Blount 1001 Preston St., 7th Floor Houston, TX 77002 713-755-4195 All questions and requests for information must be submitted in writing to John Blount by 3:00 PM (CDT) on July 19, 2013 by email at [email protected]. Submittal Requirements Each respondent must submit the following information/forms: 1. RFQ Cover Sheet (one original written copy signed by hand in ink, separate from and in addition to five (5) written copies). The respondent must complete and include the RFQ Cover Sheet. The authorizing signature indicates the respondent's desire to provide the services as submitted in the applicable request for qualifications. 2. GSA Standard Form 330 “Architecture-Engineer Qualifications” (five written copies). Each respondent must complete the referenced form and include it in the submitted response. 3. Residence Certification/Tax Form (five written copies). Each respondent must complete the Attachment A., Residence Certification/Tax Form, to this RFQ and include it in the submitted response. 4. Contact Information (five written copies). Each respondent should include telephone number(s), fax number(s) and email address of a representative(s) that can be reached for the purpose of clarifying, verifying, and/or negotiating the contents of the submitted response. The format of this contact information list is left up to the discretion of the respondent. RESPONDENTS OWING TAXES Pursuant to TX Local Government Code 262.0276, Harris County Commissioners Court has adopted a policy which requires that respondents’ taxes be current as of the date submissions are due. Respondents with delinquent taxes on the due date will not be eligible for award. Whether or not a respondent’s taxes are delinquent will be determined by an independent review of the Tax Office records. Respondents who believe a delinquency is reflected in error must contact the Tax Office to correct any errors or discrepancies prior to submitting their bid in order to ensure that their bid will be considered. Tax records are available online at the Tax Office website www.hctax.net. Prior to submitting an RFQ, respondents are encouraged to visit the Tax Office website, set up a portfolio of their accounts and make their own initial determination of the status of their tax accounts. Furthermore, if, during the performance of this contract, a respondent’s taxes become delinquent, Harris County reserves the right to provide notice to the Auditor or Treasurer pursuant to Texas Local Government Code §154.045. This policy is effective for all bids due on or after May 1, 2004. ATTACHMENT A - RESIDENCE CERTIFICATION/TAX FORM Pursuant to Texas Government Code §2252.001 et seq., as amended, Harris County requests Residence Certification. §2252.001 et seq. of the Government Code provides some restrictions on the awarding of governmental contracts; pertinent provisions of §2252.001 are stated below: (3) "Nonresident engineer" refers to a person who is not a resident. (4) "Resident engineer" refers to a person whose principal place of business is in this state, including a firm whose ultimate parent company or majority owner has its principal place of business in this state. I certify that is a Resident Firm of Texas as defined in [Company Name] Government Code §2252.001. I certify that is a Nonresident Firm as defined in [Company Name] Government Code §2252.001 and our principal place of business is Taxpayer Identification Number (T. I. N.): Company Name submitting RFQ: _____ ___________. [City, State] _________________ ___________ Mailing Address: If you are an individual, list the names and addresses of any partnership of which you are a general partner: PROPERTY: List all taxable property owned by you or above partnerships in Harris County. Harris County Tax Acct. No.* Property address or location** ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ * This is the property account identification number assigned by the Harris County Appraisal District. ** For real property, specify the property address or legal description. For business personal property, specify the address where the property is located. For example, office equipment will normally be at your office, but inventory may be stored at a warehouse or other location.