RFQ Mill Creek Road Archaeological Services

Walla Walla County Public Works Department
Request For Qualifications
Mill Creek Road MP 6.5 to MP 8.0, CRP 22-02
Federal Aid No. FLAP-K364(008)
Cultural Monitoring / Archaeological Services
The Walla Walla County Department of Public Works solicits interest from
consultants who wish to be evaluated and considered to provide Cultural
Monitoring / Archaeological Services for the County's Mill Creek Road MP 6.5
to MP 8.0 project. The agreement, under the terms of a "Negotiated Hourly
Rates" Agreement, will be for approximately one (1) year in duration with the
option for Walla Walla County to extend it for additional time and money if
necessary.
The Walla Walla County Department of Public Works reserves the right to
amend terms of this "Request for Qualifications" (RFQ) to circulate various
addenda, or to withdraw the RFQ at any time, regardless of how much time
and effort consultants have spent on their responses.
Project Description:
The federally funded Mill Creek Road MP 6.5 to MP 8.0 project is located on
Mill Creek Road in Walla Walla County, Washington, between the
intersections of Blue Creek Road and Scenic Loop Road, in Sections 25 and
36 of Township 7 North, Range 37 East. The County proposes to reconstruct
and widen the roadway from the current 10-foot travel lanes with narrow gravel
shoulders to 11-foot travel lanes and 5-foot paved shoulders, with 8-foot
sloped gravel shoulders. Safety improvements such as guideposts will be
installed, as well as drainage improvements which includes new drainage
ditches with check dams for infiltration, new roadway and driveway culverts,
and a swale will be installed to improve stormwater drainage.
Walla Walla County intends to select an archaeological consultant who
specializes in cultural resources. The archaeological firm must have a strong
ability to provide complete archaeological services, have the ability to provide
field exploration services through their firm or subcontractor, perform
archaeological surveys for roads, bridges, walls, cuts, fills, slides, monitor
sites, evaluate potential constructability problems, and develop contract
specifications as appropriate to meet project needs.
Scope of Work:
The Consultant will provide archaeological monitoring and reporting services
in accordance with the project Cultural Resource Survey Report and
state/federal standards. At the request of the County, the Consultant may
provide the Contracting Agency with an Archaeological Monitoring Plan for the
construction of the project. The Consultant will obtain an archaeological
excavation permit for the County prior to construction of the project. The
consultant will provide on-site monitoring for the ground disturbing activities of
the project, anticipated to be approximately 30 working days of disturbance,
and prepare an archaeological monitoring report describing the methods and

results of monitoring. Project construction is anticipated to begin in May of
2027, and be completed by December of 2027. Anticipated maximum total
value of contract: $100,000. The project has a 0% DBE goal. At the sole
option of Walla Walla County, the contract amount may be increased to meet
ongoing needs of Walla Walla County on the specified project.
The consultant is expected to furnish all necessary field equipment, survey
equipment, and other supporting equipment and consumables. The
Consultant is expected to be able to plan, coordinate and complete detailed
field exploration programs.
Estimated Schedule:
* Advertise RFQ on County Website July 17, 2026
* Advertise RFQ in Walla Walla Union Bulletin July 18 & 25, 2026
* Qualifications Due August 10, 2026
- 1:00 p.m. PDT
* Evaluation of Qualifications Complete August 21, 2026
* Interviews August 24 - 27, 2026
* Notice of Award August 31, 2026
* Sign Contract September 7, 2026
Evaluation Criteria:
Pursuant to county, state, and federal regulations, a qualifications-based
selection process will be used to select a consultant. Consultants will be
evaluated and ranked based on their submittal in the following criteria areas:
1. Qualifications of prime consultant and sub consultants to include
qualifications and experience of personnel to be used on this contract.
2. Experience with similar types of work and familiarity with
WSDOT/FHWA Standards.
3. Demonstrated ability to meet schedules/commitments given by key
staff personnel.
- Availability and response time should include response times
after contact as well as typical turnaround times for document
preparation and revisions.
4. Methods, techniques, processes, and data control used.
5. Overall Proposal evaluation by the Walla Walla County selection team.
Consultant Proposals will be evaluated by Walla Walla County's review panel
for accuracy, clarity, readability, and concise information along with consultant
suggestions/comments for Walla Walla County's included scope of work,
construction timeline, environmental outline, and other potential project
complications.
Note: All categories will be rated on a scale of 0 to 10. These categories will
be used to create a ranking of consultants. The criteria for selection would be
identified to those consultants involved in the interviews. In the event of tied
rankings, selection shall be based on the discretion of the contracting agency.

Interviews:
Following evaluation of the submittals, the highest-ranking firms will be invited
to participate in an interview process. Walla Walla County Public Works will
schedule interviews with the project manager provided in the firm's submittal.
Additional interview information shall be provided at the time of the invitation.
The intent of the interviews is to help clarify and verify information provided in
the firm's submittal, and to give the County's selection committee an
opportunity to learn more about the consulting firm's available relevant
experience and expertise.
Submittal Requirements:
Consultants that submit proposals in response to this RFQ must have the
capability of providing the products and services listed under the project
description of this RFQ. Walla Walla County assumes no obligation of any kind
for expenses incurred by any respondent to this solicitation. All submittals
become the property of Walla Walla County and will not be returned.
The RFQ submittal shall meet the following requirements, otherwise it will be
deemed non-responsive and will not be eligible for further consideration.
* Each criterion for selection must be addressed;
* The maximum number of sheets allowed per submittal will be fifteen
(15) sheets, submitted ONLY on single sided 8.5" x 11" paper. We
will allow one (1) page of the fifteen (15) sheets to be submitted on
paper other than 8.5" x 11" size. The page count limitation applies to
ALL sheets contained in the submittal. The only exceptions to the page
count are the front and back cover.
* Federal Forms SF 254 and SF 255 are not required for this solicitation.
If these forms are included in the submittal, they will count towards the
maximum limitation of fifteen (15) pages.
* Submittals should include the following information: Firm name, phone
number(s) and email(s); Name of Principal-in-Charge and Project
Manager; and Number of employees in the firm.
* Four (4) originals/copies of the submittals are due no later than 1:00
P.M. August 10, 2026, to Alex Zitterkopf, at the following address:
Walla Walla County Department of Public Works
990 Navion Lane
Walla Walla, WA 99362
* Late submittals, or those delivered by facsimile, electronic mail, or any
other format other than bound paper copies, will be deemed non-
responsive and will not be eligible for consideration.
* Refer questions pertaining to this RFQ to Alex Zitterkopf at 509-524-
2710.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information
Walla Walla 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 emailing
pwinfo@co.walla-walla.wa.us or by calling (509) 524-2710.
Title VI Statement
Walla Walla County, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4) and the
Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in
any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged
business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in
response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds
of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.
All prospective consultants must be advised that federally funded projects will
be held to Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) requirements.
Advertised: Walla Walla Union Bulletin, per 23 CFR 172.7(a)(1)(i)
July 18 & 25, 2026
https://www.co.walla-walla.wa.us/government/public_works/request_for_proposals_qualifications.php