Downtown Franklin Water and Sewer Project

Request for Qualifications:
Engineering Services for
Downtown Franklin Water and Sewer Line
Improvements Project (ARC)
Heard County Water Authority
11520 GA 34 W
Franklin, GA 30217
(706) 675-3358
Issue Date: August 17, 2026
SOQ Due Date: October 9, 2026

Request for Qualifications
August 17th, 2026
Page - 1
Section 1: Introduction
Summary
The Heard County Water Authority ("Owner" or "HCWA") is soliciting Statements of Qualifications from
professional firms interested in providing Engineering Services for the following ("Project"):
* Downtown Franklin Water and Sewer Improvements (ARC)
This project is funded in part by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) under ARC
Project No. GA-22580 and is administered by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) as the
Registered State Basic Agency (RSBA).
This Request for Qualifications ("RFQ") seeks to identify potential providers of the above-mentioned
services. One or more firms that respond to this RFQ and that are determined by the Owner to be
especially qualified, may be deemed eligible and may be invited to discuss and negotiate for these services.
All Respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned
to completely review the entire RFQ and follow instructions carefully. The Owner reserves the right to
reject any or all statements of qualifications, and to waive technicalities and informalities at the discretion
of the Owner.
Restriction of Communication: From the issue date of this RFQ until a successful proposer is selected,
proposers are not allowed to communicate for any reason with any members of the Selection Committee
or the Owner's staff, except for:
1. Submission of questions as instructed in the RFQ,
2. As provided by any existing work agreement(s).
For violation of this provision, the Owner reserves the right to reject the proposal of the offender.
It is the responsibility of the qualified consultant to be aware of and familiar with applicable local, state,
and federal grant compliance requirements associated with such projects, including Federal Labor
Standards, Equal Opportunity, and Accessibility Requirements.
Solicitation
This Request for Qualifications for the Project invites Statements of Qualifications (SOQ), from
Consultants according to the requirements set forth in this RFQ, including the format and content
guidelines specified. SOQs will be reviewed and evaluated by the HCWA selection team and ranked in the
order of most qualified using the criteria and process described herein.
Upon completion of the evaluation process, HCWA will notify all Respondents. The top-ranked
Respondent will be selected for contract award or invited to enter negotiations for the final terms of the
Owner's Agreement for Professional Services. If the Owner determines that the top-ranked
Respondent(s)'s proposed terms are not advantageous to the Owner, the Owner may terminate
negotiations and proceed to the next-highest ranked Respondent.
Open Records
All materials submitted in connection with this RFQ will be public documents and subject to the Open
Records Act and policies of the HCWA. All such materials shall remain the property of HCWA.
If the Consultant has notified the Owner Contact that the Consultant's submittal contains trade secrets,
proprietary commercial or financial information, which is privileged and confidential, HCWA will make
every effort to protect those portions of the submittal. The title page and each page containing proprietary
information must be marked.

Request for Qualifications
August 17th, 2026
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Section 1.1: General Project Information
ARC PROJECT
Project Name: Downtown Franklin Water and Sewer Line Improvements Project
Project Location: 100 Newnan St, Franklin, Georgia 30217
Funding Agency: Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Project Description
HCWA has been awarded funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to construct water
and sewer infrastructure improvements within the downtown area of Franklin that are aging and in need of
critical repair. This project would further the ARC Goal #3: "Building Appalachia's Infrastructure" by
addressing non-standardized infrastructure with recurring issues including frequent repairs, odor problems,
lack of filtration, dead-end lines and flow issues, and unknown valve locations.
This project involves improvements to approximately 1,660 linear feet of existing 6-inch ductile iron pipe
(DIP) water main located along Newnan Street, extending from Main Street to Maple Street, a key corridor
within the downtown service area. The existing infrastructure is aged and in need of rehabilitation or
replacement to address ongoing operational and maintenance concerns, and may include relocation of the
water line from beneath Newnan Street into the adjacent right-of-way.
Figure 1. Existing Water Main Alignment Along Newman Street
In addition to the Newnan Street corridor, the Authority is also evaluating potential improvements to the
water distribution system surrounding Franklin Town Square, as shown below, due to a history of leaks
and pipe failures in this area. These improvements may include upgrades to system looping, replacement
of deficient piping, and other measures necessary to improve overall system reliability and performance
within the downtown core.

Request for Qualifications
August 17th, 2026
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Figure 2. Existing Water Main Alignment Along Franklin Town Square
These improvements are intended to enhance system reliability, improve hydraulic performance, and
reduce ongoing maintenance concerns within a highly visible and economically important area of
downtown Franklin. The project will also support long-term community and economic resiliency by
providing dependable utility service to residents, businesses, and local government facilities.
Responding firms should be technically qualified and licensed to provide design and engineering services
relevant to the scope of work, with demonstrated experience in municipal water infrastructure replacement
projects. Services to be provided will include planning, permitting, preliminary engineering, design,
funding coordination, bidding, and construction phase services.
It is the responsibility of the qualified consultant to be aware of and familiar with local, state, and federal
grant compliance requirements of such projects (Federal Labor Standards, Equal Opportunity and
Accessibility Requirements).
Project Goals
* Provide reliable and regulatory-compliant infrastructure
* Reduction in flow issues
* Removal of unknown valve locations
Project Schedule
All dates are estimates and subject to change.
* Preliminary Engineering Report (PER): December 11, 2026
* Design: March 4, 2027
* Construction: May 24, 2027 - November 26, 2027

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August 17th, 2026
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Section 2: Procurement Process
Acknowledgement of RFQ
Each potential Respondent shall acknowledge via email, to the Owner Contact listed below, no later than
5:00 p.m., August 28, 2026, that it has received the RFQ. Identify and provide full contact information for
the firm's primary point of contact for any future documents, notices, and addenda associated with this
RFQ.
Submittal of Questions and Requests for Clarification
Questions about any aspect of the RFQ, or the Projects, must be submitted via email to the Owner Contact.
The deadlines for submission of questions related to the RFQ are the times and dates shown in the RFQ
Schedule of Events below. Respondents are cautioned to review and adhere to the Restriction of
Communication (See Section 5). Late submissions will not be accepted.
Communications
The Owner Contact will act as the sole point of contact for this RFQ and will administer the RFQ process.
All communications should be submitted in writing via email, and specifically reference this RFQ. This
RFQ is subject to revision after the date of issuance via written Addenda. Any such addenda will be
distributed directly to known Respondents via email. All questions and responses will be shared by
Addenda with all parties having acknowledged the RFQ.
Please direct questions to the Owner Contact as follows:
Ms. Beth Cantrell
Executive Director
HCWA
11520 Georgia Highway 34 W
Franklin, GA 30217
Phone: (706) 675-3358
Email: bcantrell@myhcwa.com
RFQ Schedule of Events
The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner's best estimate of the schedule that will be followed.
All times indicated are prevailing times in Georgia. The Owner reserves the right to adjust the schedule as
the Owner deems necessary.
Owner Issues public advertisement of RFQ for August 17, 2026
a period of 30 days (minimum).
Deadline for Acknowledgement of RFQ August 28, 2026 5:00 PM
Deadline for Written Questions / Request for September 11, 2026 5:00 PM
Clarifications
Deadline for submission of Statements of October 9, 2026 5:00 PM
Qualifications
Final Selection and Award October 20, 2026

Request for Qualifications
August 17th, 2026
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Section 3: Submittal Requirements
Submittal and Due Date
Respondents shall deliver (3) complete copies and a memory drive containing the digitally published
version (PDF) of the SOQ to the Owner Contact at the address noted above no later than October 9, 2026 at
5:00 p.m. local time. Each Respondent assumes full responsibility for timely submittal of its SOQ at the
required location. The Respondent shall furnish and sign all information required by the RFQ. An
authorized agent of the company must sign on behalf of the firm.
Format
Each Statement of Qualifications shall provide a straightforward, concise delineation of Respondent's
capabilities. Fancy, colored displays, and promotional materials are not desired. Emphasis must be on
completeness, relevance, and clarity of content. The content of all Statements of Qualifications must be
categorized as outlined below, and responsive to all requested information.
Content
Submittal of Statements of Qualifications
Three bound Statements of Qualifications must be delivered to the Owner at the listed address and should
be delivered in accordance with instructions in the RFQ package prior to the submittal deadline.
* Provide one original, signed in wet ink, with 2 copies stamped "COPY."
* Include 1 published copy saved to a memory stick.
* Bind submittals in 1 or 1-1/2-inch, 3-ring binders with dividers separating the Sections, as needed.
* Publish pages on standard 8 12 x 11-inch paper; number each page.
* Include a table of contents with corresponding tabs to identify Sections.
* Limit SOQs to 12 pages or less using minimum 11-point font.
* 11 x 17-inch pages shall count as 1 page each.
* Resumes, exhibits, affidavits, or other enclosure information called for may be included in an
appendix and will not count toward the page limit.
Letter of Interest
Provide a 1-page Letter of Interest describing how the Authority will benefit with your firm as a trusted
advisor. In the letter, please acknowledge receipt of any and all Addenda.
Description and Resources of Firm
* Provide basic company information: Company name, address, name of primary contact, telephone
number, email address, and company website. If the firm has multiple offices, the qualification
statement shall include information about the parent company and branch office separately. Identify
office from which project will be managed and this office's proximity to the project site. Provide
form of ownership, including state of residency or incorporation, and number of years in business. Is
the offeror a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), joint
venture, or other structure.
* Briefly describe the history and growth of your firm(s). Provide general information about the firm's
personnel resources, including disciplines and numbers of employees and locations and staffing of
offices.
* Provide a statement of disclosure, which will allow the Owner to evaluate possible conflicts of
interest. Respondents must provide, in their own format, a statement of all potential legal or
otherwise significant conflicts of interests possibly created by the Respondent's being considered in
the selection process or by the Respondent's involvement in the project. Respondents should include
information as to the nature of relationship(s) with parties in such potential conflict.
* Has the firm ever been removed from a Service Contract, had a contract terminated for default, or
failed to complete a contract as assigned.

Request for Qualifications
August 17th, 2026
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Qualifications
Respondents should possess and demonstrate a minimum of 20 years of firm / key team member experience
in the water and wastewater arena for municipal, public or private agencies. Engineering Respondent's key
team members, including the Project Manager and Project Engineer(s), should be licensed Professional
Engineers in the State of Georgia.
Include resumes for key team members in the Appendix. Resumes should be 1-page maximum length.
Experience
Provide information on the firm's A/E Consulting Services experience on projects of similar type, size,
function, and complexity. Describe no more than and no less than 5 projects completed in the last 10 years, in
order of most relevant to least relevant, which demonstrate the firm's capabilities to perform the project at
hand.
For each project, the following information shall be provided:
* Project name, location, and dates during which services were performed.
* Brief description of project (pipe size, length, installation method, replacement or rehabilitation scope,
and key challenges).
* Description of project outcomes, including improvements to system performance, reliability, or
regulatory compliance (if applicable).
* Services performed by the Respondent.
* Owner contact information including email and telephone number.
Respondents should have a minimum of 20 years of progressive project experience in water and wastewater
infrastructure projects. Respondents should also have experience with local, state, and federal grant
compliance requirements such as Federal Labor Standards and Equal Opportunity and Accessibility
Requirements. Respondents should have prior experience with getting Owner's reimbursement through
federal grants.
Respondents should demonstrate familiarity with the Owner's operational procedures, design standards, and
project delivery expectations. Prior experience working with the Owner on similar projects is preferred.
Statement of Suitability
Provide any information that may serve to differentiate the firm from other firms in suitability for the
projects. Suitability may include, but is not limited to, the firm's fit to the project and/or needs of the Owner,
any special or unique qualifications for the projects, current and projected workload, the proximity of office
to the project locations, and any services that may be particularly suitable to the projects.
Compensation and Fee Negotiation
Billing rates, fee schedules, and cost proposals shall not be included in the Statement of Qualifications.
Compensation for services will be negotiated with the highest-ranked firm(s) following completion of the
qualifications-based selection process, in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal procurement
requirements.

Request for Qualifications
August 17th, 2026
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Section 4: Evaluation and Selection
Evaluation Criteria
A selection team comprised of HCWA Staff and/or Board representatives will evaluate and rank the
responsive SOQs that best satisfy the Project requirements. The selection team will apply the evaluation
criteria below.
Evaluation Criteria Value
Description and Resources of Firm 25
Qualifications 30
Experience and Past Performance 25
Statement of Suitability 20
Selection Process
After evaluation of Statements of Qualifications, the top-ranked Respondent will be selected for contract
award or invited to enter negotiations for the final terms of the Owner's Agreement for Professional
Services. If the Owner determines that the top-ranked Respondent(s)'s proposed terms are not
advantageous to the Owner, the Owner may terminate negotiations and proceed to the next-highest ranked
Respondent.

Request for Qualifications
August 17th, 2026
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Section 5: Additional Terms and Conditions
Restriction of Communication
From the issuance of this RFQ until a successful Respondent is selected and the selection is publicly
announced, Respondents shall not communicate regarding this solicitation or the Project with any member of
the Selection Committee or the Owner, except as expressly permitted in this RFQ. Violation of this provision
may result in disqualification.
Submittal Costs and Confidentiality
All costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a response shall be borne solely by the Respondent.
The Owner shall not be responsible for reimbursement of any such costs. All submittals become the property
of the Owner upon receipt. Submittals are subject to the Georgia Open Records Act. Any information
submitted that is considered proprietary should be clearly marked; however, such designation does not
guarantee confidentiality. Proposal contents will remain confidential until the final award is made, to the
extent permitted by law.
Award Conditions
This request is not an offer to contract or a solicitation of bids. This request and any statement of
qualifications submitted in response, regardless of whether the statement of qualifications is determined to be
the best statement of qualifications, is not binding upon the Owner and does not obligate the Owner to
procure or contract for any services. Neither the Owner nor any party submitting a response will be bound
unless and until a written contract mutually accepted by both parties is negotiated as to its terms and
conditions and is signed by the Owner and a party containing such terms and conditions as are negotiated
between those parties. The Owner reserves the right to waive non-compliance with any requirements of this
Request for Qualifications and to reject any or all statements of qualifications submitted in responses. Upon
receipt and review of responses, the Owner will determine the party(s) and statement(s) of qualifications that
in the sole judgment of the Owner is in the best interest of the Owner (if any is so determined), with respect
to the evaluation criteria stated herein. The Owner then intends to conduct negotiations with such party(s) to
determine if a mutually acceptable contract may be reached.
The Owner reserves the right to:
* Reject any or all submittals.
* Waive technicalities or informalities.
* Request clarification of information submitted.
* Cancel or reissue this RFQ.
Award, if made, will be to the Respondent determined to be most qualified based on the evaluation criteria.
Contract negotiations will then be conducted with that Respondent. If a satisfactory agreement cannot be
reached, the Owner reserves the right to terminate negotiations and proceed to the next-ranked Respondent.
Statement of Agreement
By submitting a Statement of Qualifications, the Respondent acknowledges that it has carefully reviewed the
requirements of this solicitation and accepts responsibility for requesting clarification of any provisions it
finds unclear or with which it disagrees. Failure to identify such issues in the Statement of Qualifications shall
be interpreted as acceptance of all terms, conditions, specifications, and requirements contained herein.
The Respondent further certifies that: (a) the Statement of Qualifications is genuine and is not submitted on
behalf of any undisclosed person or entity; (b) the Respondent has not directly or indirectly colluded with or
solicited any other party to submit an insincere or non-responsive proposal; and (c) the Respondent has not
taken any action to restrict or limit competition, including inducing any person or firm to refrain from
submitting a Statement of Qualifications.

Request for Qualifications
August 17th, 2026
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Section 6: Grant Administration and Compliance Requirements
This project is funded in part by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) under Project No. GA-22580
and will be administered through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) as the Registered State
Basic Agency (RSBA).
The selected Consultant shall support the Owner in fulfilling all grant administration, documentation, and
compliance requirements associated with this funding.
Coordination and Agency Interface
The Consultant shall coordinate with the Owner and assist in communications with:
* Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), acting as RSBA.
* Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
* State program representatives, as applicable.
The Consultant shall provide necessary technical information and documentation to support Owner coordination
with these entities throughout the duration of the project.
Progress Reporting Support
The Consultant shall assist the Owner in preparing documentation required for grant reporting, including:
* Semiannual progress reports.
* Supporting data for performance tracking and project status updates.
Documentation shall include measurable progress, schedule status, and project milestones sufficient to support
reporting requirements.
Reimbursement and Payment Documentation
The Consultant shall support the Owner in obtaining reimbursement of project costs by:
* Preparing or reviewing contractor pay applications.
* Verifying quantities and completed work.
* Providing documentation necessary to support payment requests.
* Maintaining records sufficient to demonstrate that costs are allowable, reasonable, and properly
incurred.
All documentation shall be organized and maintained in a manner suitable for audit review.
Scope, Schedule, and Budget Consistency
The Consultant shall ensure that project deliverables remain consistent with the approved grant scope, schedule,
and budget. The Consultant shall notify the Owner of any potential deviations that may require coordination,
modification, or approval through the applicable funding agencies.
Construction Procurement and Contract Documents
The Consultant shall support the Owner in procuring construction services by:
* Preparing plans, specifications, and contract documents.
* Incorporating all required federal provisions into bid and contract documents.
* Assisting with bid administration and evaluation.
All procurement-related documents shall be structured to support compliance with applicable funding
requirements.
Construction Phase Compliance Support
During construction, the Consultant shall:
* Monitor contractor compliance with applicable federal requirements included in the contract documents.