REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES FOR A CLIMBING WALL RECONSTRUCTION AT THE CHAPEL HILL COMMUNITY CENTER

Agency:	State Government of North Carolina
State:	North Carolina
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	236220 - Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Posted Date:	Jan 15, 2026
Due Date:	Feb 3, 2026
Solicitation No:	323-P26-117R
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

Solicitation Number:	323-P26-117R
Project Title:	REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES FOR A CLIMBING WALL RECONSTRUCTION AT THE CHAPEL HILL COMMUNITY CENTER
Description:	Pursuant to N.C. General Statute 143-128.1A, the Town of Chapel Hill is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified design-build teams interested in providing professional design and construction services for the reconstruction of the climbing wall at the Chapel Hill Community Center. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) provides complete information on the services being sought, the submittal requirements, and the timeline.
Opening Date:	2/3/2026 2:00 PM
Posted Date:	1/16/2026
Status:	Open
Department:	TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL


Solicitation Number * 323-P26-117R	Department TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL	Status Reason Open
Opening Date 2026-02-03T14:00:00.0000000	Posted Date * 2026-01-15T21:25:37.0000000Z	Commodity Code Design Services
Mandatory Conference/Site Visit — —	Special Instructions —	Solicitation Type * Select RFP IFB RFI
Owner Lenora Bishop
Description Pursuant to N.C. General Statute 143-128.1A, the Town of Chapel Hill is soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified design-build teams interested in providing professional design and construction services for the reconstruction of the climbing wall at the Chapel Hill Community Center. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) provides complete information on the services being sought, the submittal requirements, and the timeline.

Attachments P26-117R Climbing Wall Reconstruction Design-Build RFQ-Resolicitation.pdf (387.04 KB)

Attachment Preview

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) FOR THE DESIGN-BUILD

SERVICES FOR A CLIMBING WALL RECONSTRUCTION

AT T H E CHAPEL HILL COMMUNITY CENTER

RFQ: P26-117R

Date: January 15, 2026

Pursuant to N.C. General Statute 143-128.1A, the Town of Chapel Hill is soliciting Statements

of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified design-build teams interested in providing professional

design and construction services for the reconstruction of the climbing wall at the Chapel Hill

Community Center. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) provides complete information on the

services being sought, the submittal requirements, and the timeline.

Submittals are due by 2:00 pm on February 3, 2026. Please email submittals to Lenore Bishop,

Purchasing and Contracts Manager at lbishop@townofchapelhill.org with a subject line of

“Design-Build of Climbing Wall project at The Chapel Hill Community Center.”

Questions concerning this Request for Qualifications must be submitted in writing no later than

5:00 p.m. on January 22, 2026, to Kevin Robinson, Senior Manager of Planning & Park

Operations, via e-mail at krobinson@townofchapelhill.org. All responses to submitted questions

will be published in the form of an addendum on the Town’s website at Bids: Current under the

Project Title, by 5:00 P.M. on January 26, 2026.

If you have any questions concerning the bidding procedures, please contact the Purchasing

Division at (919) 969-5022.

The Town of Chapel Hill reserves the right to reject any and all submittals received as a result

of this solicitation, to negotiate with any qualified source, to waive any formality and any

technicalities, or to cancel the RFQ in part or in its entirety if it is in the best interest of the

Town of Chapel Hill.

RFQ – Design/ Build Climbing Wall Project at the Chapel Hill Community Center

RFQ: P 2 6 - 1 1 7 R , Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina

January 15, 2026

1.0 Background Information

The existing climbing wall at the Chapel Hill Community Center facility has been in service for almost

40 years. The Town seeks a high-quality, structurally sound, and aesthetically appropriate climbing

wall that complies with all relevant safety codes. The integrated team approach of design-build

promotes accountability for overall project outcomes. The selected design-build team will be expected

to attend and lead one community input meeting at the Chapel Hill Community Center, perform

demolition and removal of existing climbing wall structure, design and construct a new climbing wall

system, including bouldering, top-rope, and lead climbing zones, and structural reinforcements if

required. The Town also expects customization for users of varied skill levels and Americans with

Disabilities Acts (ADA) accessibility, as well as installation of crash pads, belay anchors, route-setting

holds, and climbing surface finishes that will comply with all applicable local building codes and

climbing safety standards (e.g., Advancing Standards Transforming Markets (ASTM), Climbing Wall

Association (CWA)).

The Town is looking for a team that is familiar with working in the municipal government setting and

has installed at least ten (10) climbing walls in municipal gyms. The Town of Chapel Hill has always

been proud of its climbing wall and looks to continue to highlight this facility for years to come.

The Town is seeking a design-build team to provide the technical expertise and regulatory guidance

to assess, design, and construct a new climbing wall. The team will perform an assessment of the

existing conditions to undertake initial design work and estimate to provide an opinion of probable

costs for conceptual designs. These concepts would then be presented to Town Staff to determine the

most desirable, viable, and cost-effective approach. Upon concurrence of the design concept, the

design-build team would proceed with design plans and permit submission packages. As permitting

is completed, the team will develop the construction documents. The selected vendor will prepare the

construction documents, develop the construction plan, manage the permitting requirements, and

perform construction administrative assistance for the project.

Project Site:

Chapel Hill Community Center, 120 South Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Anticipated Project Budget:

Parks and Recreation estimates an approximate Budget of up to $800,000.00, inclusive of all design,

permitting, materials, labor, and contingencies. This project is not Federally funded.

Anticipated Project Schedule:

The Town hopes to have the wall constructed during the dates of March 16 through June 1.

RFQ – Design/ Build Climbing Wall Project at the Chapel Hill Community Center

RFQ: P 2 6 - 1 1 7 R , Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina

January 15, 2026

2.0 Scope of Work:

Project Scope:

• Attend and lead one community input meeting at the Chapel Hill Community Center

• Demolition and removal of existing climbing wall structure

• Design and construction of a new climbing wall system, including bouldering, top-rope, and

lead climbing zones

• Structural reinforcements if required

• Customization for users of varied skill levels and ADA accessibility

• Installation of crash pads, belay anchors, route-setting holds, and climbing surface finishes

• Compliance with all applicable local building codes and climbing safety standards (e.g., ASTM,

CWA)

• Ability to conduct site assessments, cost estimating, and project scoping exercises to provide the

basis of design

• Ability to perform the necessary surveys and inspections, utility locations, evaluate existing

conditions, and review available records and reports to determine any required design, regulatory,

or constraints

• Ability to produce multiple alternative basic conceptual designs in discussion with Town staff to

determine the most cost-effective and dynamic design

• Ability to provide cost estimates at all phases of design development so that the proper funding is

requested, budgets are developed, and reimbursement thresholds are maintained

• Ability to prepare a complete set of signed and sealed construction documents (drawings, materials

specifications, materials testing requirements, etc.) as the Engineer of Record. Construction

documents must meet all applicable Federal, State, and local ordinances

• Ability to prepare and submit all required federal, state, or local permit applications and packages to

be able to perform the construction installation of the project

• Ability to prepare a complete construction package

• Ability to provide Construction Administration services, such as responding to requests for

information or other construction-related questions, construction material submittal review and

approvals, progress payment, and change order review and approvals, as well as attendance at

regularly scheduled Owner and Contractor team progress meetings throughout the course of

construction

• Ability to coordinate and work with any regulatory agency that may be applicable to the design of

the project

• Ability to work closely with Town staff and all other relevant officials and stakeholders throughout

the entire design and construction process of the project

RFQ – Design/ Build Climbing Wall Project at the Chapel Hill Community Center

RFQ: P 2 6 - 1 1 7 R , Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina

January 15, 2026

3.0 Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Content:

It is the design-build team’s responsibility to clearly describe its qualifications in response to this RFQ.

Organization, conciseness, and thoroughness of the response will be critical to the Town’s evaluation of

the submittals. The Statement of Qualifications shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages in length, including

the cover page and the table of contents, and shall be situated on 8’1/2”x11” sheets. Any Statement of

Qualifications containing more than fifteen (15) pages will not be considered.

The Statement of Qualifications should include the following information:

• Executive Summary: Include the lead firm name, contact person, address, email, and phone number.

• Describe the understanding of the requested services and the firm or teams’ approach for this RFQ’s

scope of services.

• Qualifications and experience related to the scope, including specific experience with similar types

of projects. Preference will be given to submitting firms that demonstrate:

o Familiarity with modern construction techniques and relative costs for climbing wall design

options

o Experience designing and constructing climbing walls in large gyms

o Familiarity and experience in applicable federal, state, and local permitting

• Brief explanation of the project team selection which shall consist of either of the following:

A) List of the licensed contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals whom the design-builder

proposes to use for the project's design and installation,

B) an outline of the strategy the design-builder plans to use for open contractor and subcontractor

selection based upon the provisions of Article 8 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes.

• Relevant experience providing similar services to the Town of Chapel Hill and/or to other municipal

clients.

• Organizational Chart and Key Personnel: The organizational chart shall identify the lead principal

who will be responsible for the work; project team members; and team members employed by sub-

consultants and contractors who would be assigned to the project.

o The SOQ shall include key team members’ roles for this project and their resumé/ qualifications

with emphasis on related experience; their approximate percentage of time that would be

dedicated to this project; and their office locations.

• Describe the program that will be used to maximize minority and women business participation,

including pre-qualification procedures. List proposed subcontractors and outline specific outreach

efforts that your firm will take to notify minority and women owned firms of opportunities for

participation. Indicate the minority participation goal expected for this project. If a firm is a Small,

Minority, or Disadvantaged Business please include certification(s).

• Identification of potential conflicts of interest, independence issues, or biases associated with the

scope of work.

RFQ – Design/ Build Climbing Wall Project at the Chapel Hill Community Center

RFQ: P 2 6 - 1 1 7 R , Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina

January 15, 2026

• References from at least three other clients that have had similar types of projects designed by firm

and constructed recently. References shall include the date, type, and cost of services performed and

contact information for all references.

4.0 Submittal Requirements:

4.1 Electronic Delivery:

The Statements of Qualifications must be submitted as a PDF file attached to an email message and

sent to lbishop@townofchapelhill.org with the following inserted in the "subject" line of the email:

“Design-Build of Climbing Wall Project at the Chapel Hill Community Center.”

Please note that the emailed proposals must be received by the specified deadline according to the

internal clock of the Town of Chapel Hill’s server receiving the proposal. Please do not submit

paper copies.

4.2 SOQ Format:

Firms are required to prepare their SOQ in accordance with the instructions outlined in this part and

elsewhere in this RFQ. To be eligible for consideration, the submitted SOQ must include the

following:

• Cover letter stating the intentions of the proposal. Submittal must be signed, certifying that the

individual is authorized to offer the submittal on behalf of the consultant.

• Table of Contents

• SOQ content per Part 3.0 above

• A listing of all services available in response to the proposal

For the purposes of consideration, the Town of Chapel Hill requires that all firms:

• Possess qualifications and experience related to the scope, including specific experience with

engineering and design services, regulatory support, and permit acquisition for municipal

climbing wall design and construction.

• Possess any necessary licensing to conduct work, as outlined in the scope, in the state of North

Carolina.

RFQ – Design/ Build Climbing Wall Project at the Chapel Hill Community Center

RFQ: P 2 6 - 1 1 7 R , Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina

January 15, 2026

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

* Disclaimer: This website provides information about bids, requests for proposals (RFPs), or requests for qualifications (RFQs) for convenience only and does not serve as an official public notice. Individuals who wish to respond to or inquire about bids, RFPs, or RFQs should contact the relevant government department directly.

Sign-up for a Free Trial, Government Bid Alerts

With Free Trial, you can:

You will have a full access to bids, website, and receive daily bid report via email and web.

Try One Week FREE Now

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES FOR A CLIMBING WALL RECONSTRUCTION AT THE CHAPEL HILL COMMUNITY CENTER

Attachment Preview

Sign-up for a Free Trial, Government Bid Alerts

See Also