RFP: OWASA.ORG Website Rebuild

Orange Water and Sewer Authority
Our community's trusted partner for clean water and environmental protection.
RFP NO. 27-001
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR
OWASA.ORG WEBSITE REBUILD
Date Issued: August 13, 2026

Table of Contents
NOTIFICATION .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
1 NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ......................................................................................................... 1
2 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 1
3 SCOPE OF WORK ................................................................................................................................................. 2
4 PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................... 2
5 SECTION 1 - QUALIFICATIONS AND APPROACH ......................................................................................... 3
6 SECTION 2 - COST PROPOSAL .......................................................................................................................... 4
7 EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SELECTION PROCESS.................................................................................. 5
8 GENERAL PROPOSAL CONDITIONS ................................................................................................................ 6
8.1 Addenda and Communication Guidelines ............................................................................................................... 6
8.2 Public Proposal Opening ......................................................................................................................................... 6
8.3 Late Proposals ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
8.4 Confidentiality and Public Records Disclosure ....................................................................................................... 6
8.5 Method of Response ................................................................................................................................................ 6
8.6 Withdrawal of Proposals ......................................................................................................................................... 6
8.7 Acceptance of Terms and Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 6
8.8 False, Incomplete or Unresponsive Statements ....................................................................................................... 6
8.9 Clear and Concise Submission ................................................................................................................................ 6
8.10 Prime Proposer's Responsibilities ........................................................................................................................... 7
8.11 Insurance ................................................................................................................................................................. 7
8.11.1 Excess/Umbrella Liability Insurance ............................................................................................................ 7
8.11.2 General Liability Insurance .......................................................................................................................... 7
8.11.3 General Liability Property Damage Liability ............................................................................................... 7
8.11.4 Automobile Liability Insurance .................................................................................................................... 7
8.11.5 Workers' Compensation Insurance ............................................................................................................... 7
8.12 Contract Term ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
9 PROTEST PROCEDURES ..................................................................................................................................... 7
9.1 Protests Received Prior to Receipt of Proposals...................................................................................................... 7
9.2 Selection Protests .................................................................................................................................................... 7
9.3 Filing Procedures .................................................................................................................................................... 8
10 COSTS AND DAMAGES ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Attachment A--------------Scope of work
Attachment B--------------Cost Proposal Form
Attachment C--------------E-Verify Affidavit
Attachment D--------------Certification Regarding Conflict of Interest
Attachment E--------------Iran Divestment Act Certification
Attachment F--------------Companies Boycotting Israel Divestment Act Certification
Attachment G--------------Non-Collusion Affidavit

Attachment H--------------Reference Form
Attachment I---------------RFP Response Checklist

NOTIFICATION
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
SOLICITATION NO. 27-001
FOR
OWASA.ORG WEBSITE REBUILD
1 NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Orange Water & Sewer Authority (hereinafter called "OWASA") invites qualified web development
firms to submit proposals for the rebuild of OWASA.org website. OWASA seeks a collaborative and
innovative web development partner to update the look, functionality, and technology supporting its
website. The selected firm will work with OWASA through discovery, strategy and planning, design,
development, content migration, quality assurance and testing, launch and stabilization, training, and
post-launch support.
The project is intended to create a modern, accessible, secure, user-friendly website that improves
customer access to information and services, provides an easy-to-manage content platform for
OWASA staff, supports existing and future integrations, and strengthens the overall online customer
experience.
To obtain a copy of the RFP, suppliers shall download the document from OWASA's proposal
opportunities webpage.
Proposal submission deadline: September 2, 2026, by 3:00 PM ET.
Questions regarding the RFP shall be directed to David Moore, Procurement Supervisor, at
dmoore@owasa.org.
OWASA reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals
2 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
DATE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Wednesday, August 13, 2026 RFP distributed and posted to OWASA's website
Wednesday, August 19, 2026, by 3:00 PM ET Inquiries must be received in writing by email to
David Moore at dmoore@owasa.org
Monday, August 24, 2026 Responses to questions will be posted on
OWASA's website
Wednesday, September 2, 2026, by 3:00 PM ET Proposals are due to OWASA
September 9-10, 2026 (tentative, if needed) Interviews/presentations with shortlisted firms
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 (tentative) Announcement of Intent to Award Contract
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3 SCOPE OF WORK
(SEE ATTACHMENT A)
4 PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
Proposals must be signed by an authorized official and submitted electronically by the date and
time stated in the Schedule of Events. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Paper
submissions will not be accepted.
Proposals shall be clearly identified as:
"Response to RFP 27-001 for OWASA.org Website Rebuild."
Electronic Submission
Proposals shall be submitted via email to David Moore, Procurement Supervisor, at
dmoore@owasa.org. The email subject line shall read:
"Response to RFP 27-001 - OWASA.org Website Rebuild."
Proposals must be submitted as two separate PDF files:
* Section 1 - Qualifications and Approach
* Section 2 - Cost Proposal
All proposal materials must be clearly organized and include a table of contents identifying
sections and page numbers. The information requested in this RFP must be presented in a clear,
comprehensive, and concise manner and in the specified order to facilitate OWASA's evaluation.
Page Limit
Section 1 - Qualifications and Approach shall not exceed fifteen (15) pages, excluding the
cover page, table of contents, resumes, references, and other specifically requested appendices.
OWASA reserves the right to disregard content exceeding the stated page limit.
Section 2 - Cost Proposal and all required forms and certifications are excluded from the
fifteen (15)-page limit.
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Receipt of Proposals
Proposers are responsible for ensuring that their complete proposal is received by OWASA prior
to the submission deadline. Proposers are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for
electronic submission and confirmation of receipt before the deadline.
OWASA will provide an email acknowledgment upon receipt of a proposal. If a proposer does not
receive confirmation of receipt within a reasonable period after submission, the proposer should
promptly contact David Moore at 919-271-3905 to verify that the proposal was received.
Proposers should not wait until the submission deadline to confirm receipt, as sufficient time
should be allowed to address any email transmission or delivery issues.
Late proposals will not be accepted.
5 SECTION 1 - QUALIFICATIONS AND APPROACH
This section should include the proposer's experience, capabilities, proposed team, and approach for
completing the work outlined in Attachment A. Proposals should be clear, focused, and tailored specifically
to OWASA's website rebuild objectives and requirements.
1. A summary of the firm's experience successfully completing website rebuilds of similar size,
complexity, and public-facing importance, particularly for utilities, local governments, public
agencies, or other service-oriented organizations.
2. Demonstrated experience with modern web design and development, user experience, responsive
design, information architecture, intuitive navigation, site search, SEO, analytics, content
migration, and content management systems.
3. Demonstrated experience achieving WCAG 2.2 AA compliance and establishing processes,
documentation, and staff training to help maintain accessibility after launch.
4. Demonstrated experience with cybersecurity, user privacy, emergency readiness, low-bandwidth
functionality, performance optimization, Core Web Vitals, structured data/schema markup,
redirects, Google Search Console, and Google Analytics.
5. Demonstrated experience integrating third-party platforms and tools comparable to OWASA's
current and desired integrations, including GIS/iframes, Power BI, Cognito forms, eScribe, social
media, customer portals, employment platforms, and development portals.
6. A description of the proposed CMS/platform, including why it is appropriate for OWASA staff
with beginner-to-intermediate web content management experience and how it supports easy page
creation, content updates, design consistency, modernization, and future needs.
7. Identification of the proposed project team, including the project manager and key personnel, their
roles, qualifications, relevant experience, and availability. Resumes may be included in an
appendix.
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8. A detailed methodology for discovery and information gathering, stakeholder engagement, user
research, content and technical audits, design, development, content migration, testing, launch,
stabilization, training, documentation, hosting, warranty, and ongoing support.
9. A preliminary project timeline consistent with OWASA's anticipated 12-13 month discovery-to-
launch schedule, including major tasks, milestones, dependencies, stakeholder review periods, and
estimated completion dates.
10. Examples of at least three similar website rebuild projects completed within the past five years.
Include client name, scope of work, dates, platform/CMS, key integrations, project value, and
contact information for references.
11. A description of the firm's project management and communication process, including stakeholder
collaboration, quality control, risk management, schedule management, and change management.
12. Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest, regulatory actions, or pending litigation.
6 SECTION 2 - COST PROPOSAL
The Cost Proposal shall be submitted as a separate PDF and clearly labeled:
"Cost Proposal - RFP 27-001 - OWASA.org Website Rebuild."
Proposers shall complete and submit Attachment B - Cost Proposal Form in its entirety. The
Cost Proposal shall include:
* A lump-sum Total Base Project Cost for completing the full Scope of Work.
* A breakdown of the Total Base Project Cost by major project phase or service.
* Separate pricing for post-launch hosting, ongoing maintenance and technical support, and
additional or ad-hoc development services.
* Identification of any reimbursable expenses, third-party fees, licenses, subscriptions, or
other costs necessary to implement, host, maintain, or operate the proposed solution.
* Separate pricing for any recommended optional services not included in the Total Base
Project Cost.
* Any assumptions, exclusions, limitations, or conditions that materially affect the
proposed pricing.
All costs necessary to perform the base Scope of Work shall be included in the Total Base
Project Cost, except for costs expressly identified on Attachment B as excluded, optional, or
separately priced.
a. Scope of Work (Attachment A) Reference Only
b. Cost Proposal Form (Attachment B) Mandatory Form
c. E-Verify Affidavit (Attachment C) Mandatory Form
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d. Certification Regarding Conflict-of-Interest (Attachment D) Mandatory Form
e. Iran Divestment Act Certification (Attachment E) Mandatory Form
f. Companies Boycotting Israel Divestment Act Certification (Attachment F) Mandatory
Form
g. Non-Collusion Affidavit (Attachment G) Mandatory Form
h. Reference Form (Attachment H) Mandatory Form
i. RFP Response Checklist (Attachment I) Mandatory Form
Proposers are advised that late Proposals will not be accepted.
7 EVALUATION CRITERIA AND SELECTION PROCESS
Proposals will be evaluated to identify the firm that best meets OWASA's needs and demonstrates a clear
understanding of the project scope, a strong record of comparable work, and the capacity to deliver a high-
quality website aligned with OWASA's objectives.
Relevant Website Rebuild Experience (25 Points)
Experience with comparable website rebuilds, including public-sector or utility projects, accessibility, CMS
modernization, integrations, content migration, SEO, and post-launch support.
Technical Approach and Methodology (30 Points)
Quality and completeness of the proposed approach to discovery, stakeholder engagement, user research,
information architecture, design, development, accessibility, cybersecurity, integrations, migration, testing,
performance, launch, and stabilization.
Team and Process (20 Points)
Qualifications and availability of the project team; project management; communication; collaboration;
stakeholder engagement; training; documentation; quality control; and schedule management.
Cost and Value (15 Points)
Reasonableness, completeness, and transparency of pricing and overall value to OWASA. Lowest cost will
not necessarily receive the highest score.
References (10 Points)
Relevance and quality of references and demonstrated past performance, responsiveness, client satisfaction,
and successful delivery of similar projects.
Shortlisted firms may be invited to participate in interviews, presentations, and/or demonstrations to
discuss their proposals and proposed solutions in greater detail.
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8 GENERAL PROPOSAL CONDITIONS
8.1 Addenda and Communication Guidelines
Any changes to this RFP will be issued in writing by OWASA. Proposers must acknowledge all addenda.
All questions related to the RFP must be submitted in writing to the designated procurement contact by
the deadline in the Schedule of Events.
8.2 Public Proposal Opening
There will not be a Public Proposal Opening.
8.3 Late Proposals
Late submissions will not be accepted. It is the proposer's responsibility to ensure its complete proposal
is received by the stated deadline.
8.4 Confidentiality and Public Records Disclosure
Proposers must clearly identify any information they consider trade secret, privileged, proprietary, or
confidential. OWASA will handle proposal records in accordance with applicable North Carolina public
records requirements.
8.5 Method of Response
Proposals must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the Scope of Work and instructions in this
RFP. Failure to follow these instructions may result in rejection.
8.6 Withdrawal of Proposals
Proposers may withdraw a proposal before the closing date and time by written request from an authorized
representative.
8.7 Acceptance of Terms and Conditions
Submission of a proposal constitutes acknowledgment and acceptance of the RFP requirements except as
otherwise specifically identified in the proposal. Portions of the selected proposal may become part of
the resulting agreement.
8.8 False, Incomplete or Unresponsive Statements
False, incomplete, or unresponsive statements may be sufficient cause for rejection.
8.9 Clear and Concise Submission
Proposals shall provide a straightforward, concise description of the proposer's capability to satisfy the
requirements of the RFP and provide all required information.
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8.10 Prime Proposer's Responsibilities
The selected prime proposer will be responsible for all requested deliverables in Attachment A regardless
of who performs the work and will serve as OWASA's sole point of contact for contractual matters.
8.11 Insurance
During performance of the Contract, the selected proposer shall maintain the minimum insurance levels
required by OWASA.
8.11.1 Excess/Umbrella Liability Insurance, with a limit of $4,000,000.
8.11.2 General Liability Insurance, with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 for each
occurrence and $1,000,000 in the aggregate.
8.11.3 General Liability Property Damage Liability, with a limit of $1,000,000 for each
occurrence.
8.11.4 Automobile Liability Insurance, with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 for
each person and $1,000,000 for each accident.
8.11.5 Workers' Compensation Insurance in accordance with statutory requirements and
Employers' Liability Insurance, with a limit of $1,000,000 for each occurrence.
8.12 Contract Term
The website rebuild is anticipated to require approximately 12-13 months from discovery through
launch, followed by the required 90-day post-go-live warranty period. Ongoing hosting,
maintenance, and support will be addressed in the resulting agreement.
9 PROTEST PROCEDURES
9.1 Protests Received Prior to Receipt of Proposals
Protests concerning the procedures or requirements of this solicitation must be submitted in writing to
the OWASA Director of Finance no later than five (5) working days prior to the proposal submission
deadline.
Upon receipt of a protest, the Director of Finance may, at their discretion, extend or postpone the proposal
submission deadline. OWASA will issue a written response no later than three (3) working days prior
to the proposal submission deadline.
9.2 Selection Protests
Following OWASA's Notice of Intent to Award Contract, a Proposer may protest the recommended
selection. The protest must be submitted in writing to the OWASA Director of Finance no later than
five (5) working days after the Notice of Intent to Award Contract.
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