RFQ Sea Wall and Beach Improvements

TOWN OF
NORTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND
100 FAIRWAY DRIVE
NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02852-6202
PHONE: (401) 294-3331
FAX: (401) 583-7145
www.northkingstownri.gov
TOWN OF NORTH KINGSTOWN - PUBLIC WORKS &
RECREATION DEPARTMENTS
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
*Sealed qualifications for the above will be accepted in the Office of Purchasing/Finance, Town of
North Kingstown Municipal Offices, 100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852, until
Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 11:00AM, and will then be publicly opened read aloud. The
Municipal Offices are opened 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. Please plan accordingly.
NO QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE WEDNESDAY, May 6 2026,
11:00AM DEADLINE.
All questions are to be submitted in writing via email ONLY to: Tim McDavitt, Purchasing /
Finance- tmcdavitt@northkingstownri.gov). Questions must be received no later than 4:00PM on
Friday, April 27, 2026.
A NON-MANDATORY SITE WALK WILL BE HELD AT THE NORTH KINGSTOWN
TOWN BEACH (10 BEACH STREET; MEET AT BEACH PARKING LOT) ON
WEDNESDAY, April 15, 2026 AT 10:00AM.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS TO MONITOR THE
TOWN AND/OR STATE OF RHODE ISLAND PURCHASING AND/OR
BIDNETDIRECT.COM WEBSITES FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT BID ADDENDUM. NO
ADDENDA WILL BE ISSUED OR POSTED WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS OF
THE BID SUBMISSION DEADLINE.
A contract shall be negotiated with the highest qualified firm in accordance with R. I. General Laws
Section 45-55-8.1 and the qualification based selection process outlined in Sections 37-2-64; 37-2-
66; 37-2-67 and 37-2-68.
A certificate of Insurance showing $1 million General Liability and $1 million Any Auto, with the
Town being named as an additional insured, Worker's Compensation, with a waiver of subrogation
will be required of the successful bidder.
The Town of North Kingstown reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or parts thereof; to
waive any formality in same, or accept any proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the Town.
The Town of North Kingstown will provide interpreters for the hearing impaired at any pre-bid or
bid opening, provided a request is received three (3) days prior to said meeting by calling 294-
3331, ext. 142.
*PLEASE SUBMIT AN ORIGINAL AND ONE (1) ELECTRONIC COPY (Thumb Drive).

SELECTION CRITERIA
The submittals will be evaluated as to RIGL 45-55-8.1 "Qualification based selection of
architects and engineers." The submittals will also be evaluated as to RIGL 37-2-64;
37-2-66; 37-2-67; and 37-2-68 and the award shall be made on the basis of the highest
qualified firm.
The following factors will be considered in determining the highest qualified firms and your
submission must demonstrate and include your firm's:
Overall responsiveness of proposal to submittal requirements.
Competence to perform the services as reflected by technical training and education;
general experience; experience in providing the required services; and the qualifications
and competence of persons who would be assigned to perform the services;
Ability to meet the proposal requirements and to demonstrate an understanding of the
scope of the projects;
Demonstrated understanding of project goals, thoroughness of work plan, and frankness of
response to proposed task and listing timeline and deliverables.
Quality of work previously performed by the firm for the Town of North Kingstown, if
any.
Past performance as reflected by the evaluation of private persons and officials of other
governmental entities that have retained the services of the firm with respect to such
factors as control of costs, quality of work, and an ability to meet deadlines;
Familiarity/experience with permitting, requirements, and standards of Coastal Resources
Management Council.
Meets or exceeds insurance requirements, including proof of Errors and Omissions
Insurance Coverage;
Services offered;
Qualifications and previous related work experience of key project personnel in working
on projects of a similar scope. Experience of personnel to be assigned to the project
including detailed resumes for each individual, qualifications, licenses and professional
registration: (NOTE: all engineering services requiring a Professional Engineer shall be
performed by a RI Licensed Professional Engineer, all architectural services shall be
performed by a Rhode Island Licensed Architect; all Landscaping Architecture Services
shall be performed by a RI Licensed Landscape Architect, substitutions will not be
allowed without prior approval of the awarding authority).
Qualifications and demonstrated experience of principals and/or subcontractors in leading
community discussions and in producing graphic diagrams, site plans, renderings and
concepts.
The Town of North Kingstown reserves the right to waive informalities or irregularities in
proposal received where such is merely of form and not substance. In addition, the town
reserves the right to hold oral interviews with those consultants with the highest scores.
Finally, by submitting a proposal package, the consultant hereby authorizes the town or its
authorized representatives to contact references and make such further investigation as
may be in the best interest of the town.
The consultant or sub-consultants shall identify any groups, individual or organization that
they may have worked for or organization that they may have worked for or currently
work for, that has ownership, lease, development related or similar interests in the Town
of North Kingstown. The Town reserves the right to reject any proposal or proposer whom
the Town believes has a conflict of interest.

TOWN OF NORTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND
INFORMATION FOR BIDDERS
ARTICLE 1. RECEIPT AND OPENING OF QUALIFICATIONS
Requests for Qualifications must be submitted in SEALED ENVELOPES, addressed
to the Town of North Kingstown Municipal Office Building, ATTN:
Purchasing/Finance, 100 Fairway Drive, North Kingstown, Rhode Island 02852, and
clearly marked with the name of the project, and the date and time of opening. Qualifications
will be received by the Purchasing Agent up to the specified time as noted on the Request for
Qualifications.
Qualifications submitted for a specified item must not be combined under the same
cover with any other qualifications.
It is the bidder's responsibility to see that their Qualifications Request is delivered
within the time and at the place prescribed. Qualifications received prior to the deadline will
be date/time stamped and securely kept unopened. No responsibility will attach to any officer
or person for the premature opening of qualifications not properly addressed and identified.
Any Qualifications received after the time and date specified shall not be considered,
by messenger or by mail, even if it is determined by the Town that such non-arrival before
the deadline was due solely to delay in the mails for which the vendor is not responsible.
Conditional or qualified bids will not be accepted.
ARTICLE 2. PREPARATION OF QUALIFICATIONS
Erasures or other changes must be explained or noted over the signature of the vendor.
Each qualification must be submitted in sealed envelopes, clearly labeled, so as to guard
against opening prior to the time set therefore.
The Town may consider any qualifications not prepared and submitted in accordance
with the provisions hereof and reserves the right to reject any or all proposals in whole or in
part, toward any item, group of items, or total bid; to waive any technical defect or formality
in same, or to accept any qualifications deemed to be in the best interest of the Town.
ARTICLE 3. TELEGRAPHIC MODIFICATION
Telephonic, telegraphic, or oral proposals, amendments or withdrawals will not be accepted.
ARTICLE 4. WITHDRAWAL OF QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications may be withdrawn personally or by written request at any time prior
to the time specified for the deadline. Qualifications may be modified in the same manner.
Negligence on the part of the vendor in preparing the qualifications confers no right of
withdrawal or modifications of their qualifications after such qualifications has past the
submittal deadline.

ARTICLE 5. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE VENDOR
The Town reserves the right to request each bidder to present evidence that they are
normally engaged in purveying the type of product, service, or equipment bid on. No bid shall
be considered from bidders who are unable to show that they are normally engaged in
purveying the type of product or equipment specified in the bid proposal.
To receive full consideration, the vendor must submit literature and necessary details,
when applicable, on the material or service he proposes to furnish in order that the Town may
have full information available when analyzing the proposals.
ARTICLE 6. OBLIGATIONS OF THE VENDOR
At the time of the deadline for the request, each vendor will be presumed to have inspected
the Specifications and Contract Documents (including all Addenda) which has been sent to the
address given by such vendor. The failure or omission of any vendor to receive or examine any
form, instrument, or document shall in no way relieve any vendor from any obligation in
respect to his qualifications submittal.
Any exceptions or deviations from the provisions contained in this Request for
Qualifications must be explained in detail and attached to the submittal. If such deviations do
not depart from the intent of this notice and are in the best interest of the Town, the qualification
request will receive careful consideration.
ARTICLE 7. PRICING (ONLY FOR HIGHEST QUALIFIED VENDOR)
Any pricing by the highest qualified vendor in regards to this qualification request shall
be irrevocable for (90) ninety days, or until the qualification request is awarded by the Town
Council. After award by the Town Council, said prices shall then remain firm for the duration
of the Contract.
ARTICLE 8. TAX EXEMPTIONS
The Town is exempt from payment of the Rhode Island Sales Tax under the 1956 General
Laws of the State of Rhode Island, 44-18-30 Para. I, as amended. The Town is exempt from
payment of Federal Excise Taxes. The prices proposed must be exclusive of taxes and will be
so construed. Exemption certificates will be completed as required by the successful vendor.
ARTICLE 9. CONTRACT PERIOD AND TERM OF AGREEMENT (N/A)
Contract period - PER CONTRACT. If financially advantageous to the Town of North
Kingstown, these contracts may be renewed or extended, from time to time, when agreed to,
in writing, by both parties.
ARTICLE 10. INSURANCE (N/A)
The Vendor shall assume responsibility and liability for all injuries to persons or
damages to property, directly or indirectly due to, or arising out of, his operations under the
contract and shall be responsible for the proper care and protection of all work performed until
completion and final acceptance by the Town.

The Vendor shall also indemnify and save harmless the Town of North Kingstown
against any and all claims of whatever kind and nature due to, or arising out of, his breach or
failure to perform any of the terms, conditions, or covenants of the contract resulting from
acceptance of his Qualifications Request.
The Vendor shall furnish the Purchasing Agent with certificates of insurance from
companies acceptable to the Town of North Kingstown. All insurance companies listed on
certificates must be licensed to do business in the State of Rhode Island. The Vendor shall
provide a certificate of insurance as specified in the Request for Qualifications. Contracts of
insurance (covering all operations under this contract) shall be kept in force until the Vendor's
work is accepted by the Town.
The limits of the insurance must be at least in the amounts specified below:*
(R). Commercial General Liability-Occurrence Form $1,000,000/$1,000,000
(R). Automobile Liability - $ 1,000,000.
(R). Worker's Compensation (if legally allowed and available).
(R). Professional Liability - $ 1,000,000.
Also: the Town shall be named as additional insured on all such certificates of insurance.
*Sample Certificate of Insurance attached
The Vendor shall require similar insurance in the above amounts to be taken out and
maintained by each sub-vendor. The Vendor shall be fully responsible for the acts and
omissions of his sub-vendors and of persons employed either directly or indirectly by them, as
he is for the acts and omissions of persons directly employed by him. Nothing contained in
the contract shall create any contractual relation between any sub-vendor and the Town of
North Kingstown.
ARTICLE 11. LAWS, ORDINANCES AND CODES
All applicable Federal and State Laws, Ordinances and Codes of the Town of North
Kingstown and regulations of all authorities having jurisdiction over this Project shall apply to
this contract the same as though written herein in full.
The Town of North Kingstown will not award the Contract to any Vendor who is, at the
time, ineligible under the provisions of any applicable regulations issued by the Secretary of
Labor, United States Department of Labor, or is not qualified under applicable Ordinances of
the Town of North Kingstown, or the laws of the State of Rhode Island.
ARTICLE 12. LIQUIDATED DAMAGES
Failure on the part of the vendor to complete the project within the agreed time schedule
will result in a liquidated damage cost of Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00) per day, excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, to the vendor, until completion (final acceptance), excluding
warranty periods. The Town may apply liquidated damage costs to current payment requests
not yet paid.

TOWN OF NORTH KINGSTOWN
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THE
TOWN BEACH SEA WALL REVETMENT PROJECT
I. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The Town is seeking statements of qualifications, experience and availability from
professional firms to submit their credentials showing that they are the most qualified entity
to execute the design, planning and construction of the project and vision described herein.
The selected firm will develop innovative strategies that are designed to ensure the long-term
sustainability of the town-owned coastal property located off Beach Street on the West
Passage of Narragansett Bay by mitigating future impacts from sea level rise and increased
storm activity. The property is experiencing the effects of sea level rise with bay waters
rising, reducing the amount of sandy beach between the existing seawall and the bay
especially at higher tide events. As sea level rise continues, the Town will lose more of our
sandy beaches, leaving less room for beach goers to enjoy this special resource. It is a place
where residents and visitors often park and walk to view and enjoy the waterfront scenery
while the town beach and its many amenities.
II. PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Town of North Kingstown, Rhode Island is home to a local gem in the town beach
located off Beach Street. The town beach is a popular shoreline public access point year-
round but particularly in the summer months. It is the only municipal beach in North
Kingstown. This town property is located in the VE flood zone and is adjacent to CRMC
designated Type 2 waters. The property is a cuspate beach with evidence of beach migration
already happening. The beach is connected to a larger campus where visitors recreate. The
town would like to adapt to the natural processes already occurring by redesigning and
relocating the existing seawall and implementing new stormwater measures across the
campus. These improvements will support ADA accessibility for the campus that attracts
thousands of people.
The continuous seawall separates the beach from the raised upland campus area that is mostly
grass with a variety of structures, parking lots and walking paths. The seawall is currently
comprised of dry stacked granite stones with a small segment of concrete wall on the
northernmost end. Fill was placed immediately against the seawall along with some smaller
stone placed between the fill and seawall. Geotechnical fabric has also been found in isolated
areas associated with repairs made over the years.
The primary access road to the beach campus also dead ends at the grassy area between the
parking lot and the beach. There are stormwater catch basins in this grassy area, as well as
outfall structures in the wall that discharge untreated stormwater to the coastal waters. During
intense precipitation events, stormwater runoff sheet flows across the lawn, across the wall
and onto the beach, causing beach erosion. After heavy precipitation, ponding also occurs at
the end of the right-of-way, causing the surface to degrade.
The primary parking area on the northern portion of the campus is a compact gravel surface.
Stormwater accumulates in the parking lot and cannot infiltrate into the compact gravel.
Puddles form and create maintenance issues that require frequent regrading of the parking lot.
There is one catch basin with riprap swale to collect some stormwater from this parking lot
area; however, sediment often accumulates, clogging the swale. Additionally, there are two

catch basins located on Wright Lane that collect stormwater from the roadway/ neighborhood
impervious surfaces. These three catch basins are directly piped to an outfall at the
Northeastern end of the existing seawall. This untreated stormwater discharges to the beach,
causing erosion issues and potentially discharging pollutants. The outfall also frequently gets
buried in the sand and blocked due to its proximity to the water and rising tide level.
The beach has experienced the impacts of increased storminess with nor-easters and other
storm events as well as heavy precipitation negatively impacting the integrity and
functionality of the shoreline infrastructure. The existing wall has also been overtopped by
bay water during storm events. Previous storms and associated flooding and wave action
have had a variety of impacts on the seawall over the years. Typical impacts include creation
of large voids underneath the cast-in-place concrete slabs, as well as behind the granite rock
portion of the seawall; wave action displacing the cap stone along the seawall into the voids;
and settling of the seawall from wave action scouring the base of the seawall and/or shifting
the stones.
The project will include a design to relocate the seawall and add stormwater mitigation
measures for the beach campus. The existing seawall is in a deteriorated state and despite
recent repairs has reached the end of its design life. Part of the redesign is to move the wall
away from the shore to make it more resilient and extend the sandy beach area. For the
stormwater component, heavy rains in recent years have increased the stormwater impacts on
the area such as ponding and erosion. Additionally, the design will include a walking path
and landscape plantings.
The Beach Sea Wall Revetment project is key to maintaining the beach and allowing
continued access to the town beach campus. It will provide the community with expanded
recreational, cultural and civic opportunities and enhance the physical character of the
property on which it is located.
III. SCOPE OF WORK
The selected design firm will fully analyze existing conditions with a goal of preparing
design plans, obtaining applicable permits, and providing an opinion of probable construction
cost to address the desired aesthetic, functionality and infrastructure improvements described
herein. The selected consultant will also assist the town in engaging and educating the
community about the plan and receiving public input. This work shall be completed no later
than December 31, 2026.
1. Design the sea wall, including value engineering, to move the structure away from the
shoreline to make it more resilient and extend the sandy beach area. Municipal staff met
with staff from CRMC to discuss wall-replacement options. A revetment versus
replacing the wall in-kind was the preferred option at that time.
2. Design retrofit stormwater measures, including, value engineering that could include
various bioretention practices and subsurface gravel storage/infiltration as follows:
a. Relocate the outfall and concrete headwall in the northern portion of the property
further inland from the shoreline
b. Install a combination of measures including a biofiltration area and a subsurface
gravel wetland to mitigate the stormwater impacts and improve the quality of
stormwater discharged into the Bay. The new outlet structure could have a weir
structure to prevent seawater intrusion.
c. Redesign the parking lot area to direct sheet flow to the northern/seaward edge,
removing curbing to allow the water to flow past the parking lot area, and
installing a series of linear bioswales to collect the stormwater, allow infiltration,
and pipe the overflow to a rain garden.
i. The rain garden would be installed in the northeastern corner of

the parking lot to treat runoff collected at this location with a
high flow bypass to an outlet structure.
ii. Resurface the parking lot with a more pervious material to allow
local infiltration.
3. Design a new end of road retrofit design at the end of Beach Street to mitigate
the runoff from the right-of-way and decrease ponding on the surface.
4. Investigate, design, and potentially incorporate irrigation as a mitigation
method to stabilize the grassy area and make it more resilient.
5. Investigate removing the concrete portion of the northern wall to remove the
hardened shoreline altogether. Consideration of how removing the wall could
impact the playground in the area will be assessed.
6. Design a new concrete walking path at the top of the relocated seawall
incorporating landscape plantings as well as educational signage to provide
information on climate resilience stormwater mitigation and beach/habitat
restoration.
7. Attend progress meetings with municipal staff.
8. Attend a pre-application meeting with the regulatory agencies.
9. Prepare permitting documents for submission to regulatory agencies.
10. Prepare an estimate (non-binding and not part of selection criteria) of the
overall cost of the project.
IV. PROJECT FUNDING
In 2024, the town applied for and received a grant from the Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management (DEM) and Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management
Council (CRMC) for funding under the Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience
(OSCAR) program. OSCAR funds projects that protect or enhance coastal or riverine
habitats to address the impacts of climate change. The program also includes certain projects
that repair existing shoreline protection structures in public parks.
We strive to fully complete this project within the financial scope of the grant. However, if the
estimated project costs exceed the amount of the grant but the selected consultant can
adequately demonstrate that the highest and best outcome of this project will be
accomplished through additional funding, the Town may explore additional financing
opportunities to supplement the grant. Alternatively, the Town may look to break the project
into two or more parts whereby the grant funded segment may be the first phase of tiered
project implementation.
V. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
The proposal shall include cover sheet, table of contents, resumes, and index sheets. Resumes
included with the proposals shall not exceed two single-sided printed pages per person listed
in the table of organization. The proposal shall include the following:
1. Transmittal Letter - The transmittal shall include the legal name of your firm, address,
contact person, telephone number, and email address.
2. Narrative Description of Work - Provide a detailed narrative of the project proposal
including a description of the proposed work plan necessary to complete all services. Include
a discussion of deliverables and project milestones. Consultants are encouraged to explain, in
detail, their understanding of the scope of work and to identify any supplemental tasks

deemed necessary that may enhance the project or reduce the costs. Identify the decision,
products, data and corollary information the consultant expects from the town to ensure
successful completion of the project by the consultant. The level of assistance and
information required from the town staff by the consultant shall be clearly stated.
3. Project Team - Include a table of organization for the project indicating the proposed
principal-in-charge, project manager, and key project staff including sub-consultants that will
be assigned to the project. Provide a narrative description of the qualifications and experience
of each key person along with their proposed project responsibilities. A resume must be
included for each person shown on the table of organization. List the names, addresses,
telephone number, and email address of any anticipated sub-consultants.
4. Statement of Qualifications - Include descriptions of relevant example projects completed
within the past five years that are comparable to the scope of the proposed project. Identify
key staff, including sub-consultants and their responsibilities in the example projects and how
they will be utilized for the Town's proposed project.
5. References - Provide three (3) references including the name of the project referenced,
contract time span and dollar amount, contact names and information.
6. Minority business enterprises shall be included in all procurements and construction
projects under this chapter and shall be awarded a minimum of fifteen percent (15%) of the
dollar value of the entire procurement or project. Of that fifteen percent (15%), minority
business enterprises owned and controlled by a minority owner, as defined in 37-14.1-3,
shall be awarded a minimum of seven and one-half percent (7.5%), and minority business
enterprises owned and controlled by a woman shall be awarded a minimum of seven and one-
half percent (7.5%). Annually, by October 1, the department of administration shall submit a
report to the general assembly on the status of achieving the aforementioned participation
requirements in the most recent fiscal year. The director of the department of administration
is further authorized to establish by rules and regulation the certification process and
formulas for giving minority business enterprises a preference in contract and subcontract
awards. A listing of MBE firms is available at www.mbe.ri.gov
7. Proposed project task schedule. Shall show the project can be fully completed (including
designed and permitted) by December 31, 2026.
8. Proposals must be received by North Kingstown no later than 11:00 am U.S. Standard
Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 6, 2026. is the responsibility of each individual or firm to
ensure the timely submission of its proposal. Proposals received after the scheduled date and
time cannot be accepted.
Please submit one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy on flash drive to the following:
Office of the Purchasing Agent
Municipal Offices
100 Fairway Drive
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Electronic copy on flashdrive must be submitted with hard copy proposals.

VI. PROJECT SPECIFIC EVALUATION CRITERIA
The proposal will be evaluated as to R.I.G.L. 37-2-64; 37-2-66; 37-2-67 and 37-2-68, and the
award shall be made on the basis of the highest qualified firms.
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria:
Overall responsiveness of proposal to submittal requirements.
Competence to perform the services as reflected by technical training and education;
general experience; experience in providing the required services; and the qualifications
and competence of persons who would be assigned to perform the services;
Ability to meet the proposal requirements and to demonstrate an understanding of the
scope of the projects;
Demonstrated understanding of project goals, thoroughness of work plan, and frankness
of response to proposed task and listing timeline and deliverables.
Quality of work previously performed by the firm for the Town of North Kingstown, if
any.
Past performance as reflected by the evaluation of private persons and officials of other
governmental entities that have retained the services of the firm with respect to such
factors as control of costs, quality of work, and an ability to meet deadlines;
Familiarity/experience with permitting, requirements, and standards of Coastal Resources
Management Council.
Meets or exceeds insurance requirements, including proof of Errors and Omissions
Insurance Coverage;
Services offered;
Qualifications and previous related work experience of key project personnel in working
on projects of a similar scope. Experience of personnel to be assigned to the project
including detailed resumes for each individual, qualifications, licenses and professional
registration: (NOTE: all engineering services requiring a Professional Engineer shall be
performed by a RI Licensed Professional Engineer, all architectural services shall be
performed by a Rhode Island Licensed Architect; all Landscaping Architecture Services
shall be performed by a RI Licensed Landscape Architect, substitutions will not be
allowed without prior approval of the awarding authority).
Qualifications and demonstrated experience of principals and/or subcontractors in leading
community discussions and in producing graphic diagrams, site plans, renderings and
concepts.
The Town of North Kingstown reserves the right to waive informalities or irregularities
in proposal received where such is merely of form and not substance. In addition, the
town reserves the right to hold oral interviews with those consultants with the highest
scores. Finally, by submitting a proposal package, the consultant hereby authorizes the
town or its authorized representatives to contact references and make such further
investigation as may be in the best interest of the town.
The consultant or sub-consultants shall identify any groups, individual or organization
that they may have worked for or organization that they may have worked for or
currently work for, that has ownership, lease, development related or similar interests in
the Town of North Kingstown. The Town reserves the right to reject any proposal or
proposer whom the Town believes has a conflict of interest.