CityTX
Posted
Nov 6, 2026
Dec 1, 2026
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Engineering/Architecture/Surveying Services - Cover Letter For Application Preparation and Grant Contract Implementation Services November 6, 2026 Pre-Award and Post-Award Services
Re: Proposed Funding for the 2027-2028 Texas Community Development Block Grant Fund Program Dear Engineering Service Providers: Attached is a copy of the City of Port Neches's Request for Qualifications for Engineering/Architectural/Surveying Services. These services are being solicited to assist the City of Port Neches in its application(s) for funding and project implementation of a contract, if awarded, from the 2027-2028 Texas Community Development Block Grant Fund Program of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). The City of Port Neches will be applying for such funding to support eligible activities in the City of Port Neches. More than one contract may be awarded as a result of this RFQ. The submission requirements for this Statement of Qualifications are also included on the attached Request for Qualifications (RFQ) form. Firms and/or individuals should have past experience with federally funded programs. Please electronically submit your Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) in .pdf format via email to the City Secretary and the City's grant administrator. Please submit one (1) original, two (2) copies and a digital pdf file of the SOQ of services to the address provided by the City Secretary. The deadline for submission of SOQs is December 1, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. The City of Port Neches reserves the right to negotiate with any and all persons or firms submitting SOQs. Section 3 Residents, Minority Business Enterprises, Small Business Enterprises, Women Business Enterprises, and Labor Surplus Area firms are encouraged to submit SOQs. The City of Port Neches reserves the right to negotiate with any and all persons or firms submitting proposals, per the Texas Professional Services Procurement Act and the Uniform Grant and Contract Management Standards. The City of Port Neches is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Sincerely, Andre Wimer Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Engineering/Architectural/Surveying Services The City of Port Neches is seeking to enter into an Engineering/architectural/surveying services contract with a state-registered engineer/architect/surveyor. The following outlines this request for qualifications. I. Scope of Work - The Engineering/architectural/surveying contract will encompass all project-related engineering/architectural/surveying services to the City of Port Neches, including but not limited to the following: • Application preparation • Preliminary and final design plans and specifications; • Preparation of the bid packet; • Conduct all field testing and inspections (interim and final); and • Other special services. Please specify actual tasks to be performed under each of these categories. II. Statement of Qualifications - The City of Port Neches is seeking to contract with a competent engineering/architectural/surveying firm, registered to practice in the State of Texas, that has had experience in the following areas: • Municipal construction including but not limited to water and wastewater system projects; • Registered and in good standing as a professional engineer per the Texas Engineering Practice Act • Federally-funded construction projects; and • Projects located in this general region of the state. Experience and Qualifications. Set forth your experience and qualifications as they relate to the proposed project in terms of technical scope, tasks involved, deliverable products, and other elements of the work as they relate to the evaluation criteria and all requirements of this RFQ including the following: • Experience with public works construction including but not limited to mitigation projects; • Experience with federally funded construction projects; • A list of past local government clients, as well as resumes of all engineers/architects that will or may be assigned to this project if you receive the engineering/architectural services contract award. SAM.gov Registration. Firms must have an active registration with the System for Award Management (SAM) AND have been cleared (not suspended or debarred). Provide proof of SAM registration along with your Statement of Qualifications. References. Each firm must furnish a minimum of five (5) references. III. Evaluation Criteria - The SOQs received will be evaluated and ranked according to the following criteria: TDA TxCDBG Suggested Scoring Criteria Maximum Points Experience 60 Work Performance 25 Capacity to Perform 15 Total 100 IV. For this RFQ, Respondent's qualifications will be evaluated, and the most qualified Respondent will be selected, subject to negotiation of fair and reasonable compensation. Upon the award of this contract, profit (either %/actual cost) must be identified and negotiated as a separate element of the price for any contract in excess of $50,000.00. V. Submission Requirements- the following documents must be included in your SOQ: • A copy of your current certificate of insurance for professional liability. • Statement of Conflicts of Interest (if any) the service provider or key employees may have regarding these services, and a plan for mitigating the conflict(s). • System for Award Management. Service Providers must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). Service provider and its Principals may not be debarred or suspended. Include verification that the service provider as well as its principals are not listed through SAM. This clearance information should be included in the service provider's Proposal. The clearance in the Service Provider's proposal must be re-verified prior to award. Enclose a printout of the search results that includes the record date. • Form Conflict of Interest Questionnaire (CIQ) required by Texas Local Government Code chapter 176. • Certification Regarding Lobbying - Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (enclosed). • Form 1295 (Certificate of Interested Parties) as required by Texas Government Code § 2252.908. • Required Contract Provisions (enclosed). VI. Contracting with HUB, small and minority businesses, women's business enterprises, veteran-owned businesses, and labor surplus area firms. If the awarded vendor (prime) uses subcontractors, small and minority businesses, women's business enterprises, veteran-owned businesses and labor surplus area firms must be included in the solicitation. The following affirmative steps are required of the prime contractor: placing qualified small and minority businesses, women's business enterprises and veteran-owned businesses on solicitation lists; assuring that such businesses are solicited whenever they are potential sources; dividing total requirements when feasible into smaller tasks; establishing delivery schedules that encourage participation; and using available resources when developing solicitation lists (referenced guidance provided by the City). VII. Deadline for Submission - It is the responsibility of the submitting entity to ensure that the SOQ is received in a timely manner. SOQs received after the deadline will not be considered for award. Please electronically submit your SOQ in .pdf format via email to the City Secretary and the City's grant administrator. Please submit one (1) original, two (2) copies and a digital pdf file of your SOQ to the following address: Holly Alexander, City Secretary, City of Port Neches, P.O. Box 758, 1005 Merriman Street, Port Neches, Texas 77651. SOQs must be received by the City of Port Neches no later than 2:00 p.m. on December 1, 2026 to be considered. Failure to comply with these instructions or the submission requirements may result in disqualification of the response. 2027-2028 Texas Community Development Block Grant Fund Program (TxCDBG) Engineering/Architectural/Surveying Services Program Description The goal of the TxCDBG program is to develop viable communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, as well as by expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low-to-moderate income. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) shall give priority to eligible activities in the areas of economic development, community development, rural health, and rural housing to support workforce development. Objectives include improving public facilities for low-to-moderate income persons, improving housing conditions, expanding economic opportunities by creating/retaining jobs, and providing assistance/public facilities to eliminate hazardous conditions and emergencies. For the Community Development Fund, applications must document low-to-moderate income benefit types and must request a minimum of $200,000 in eligible project activities, including engineering and administration costs. Grant funds may be used for general administration (up to 16% of funds requested for construction and acquisition activities) and engineering services (up to 25% of funds requested for construction and acquisition activities). Caps for engineering and administrative fees are subject to TDA announcement. The RFQ package includes a sample contract (Parts I-V) covering agreement terms, scope of services, subcontracting requirements, standard of performance, payment schedule, terms and conditions, monthly status report format, rating sheet and required federal and state contract provisions (including Davis-Bacon, Copeland Anti-Kickback, Equal Opportunity, Section 3, debarment/suspension, Byrd Anti-Lobbying, record retention, and other federal award requirements). The scope of services details tasks from preliminary conferences, surveying, permit preparation, preliminary engineering report, design, bidding, construction observation and testing, final record drawings, digital deliverables, and closeout documentation. The RFQ includes evaluation scoring guidance and detailed contract provisions required for federal awards and TxCDBG projects. The RFQ instructs respondents regarding federal compliance obligations and standard contract clauses to be incorporated into any resulting agreement.
