Title
Specialty Consultant Selections - Multiple County Projects
Action
ACTION:
Authorize the County Manager to negotiate terms and conditions, including fees to execute a contract with the selected firms for Geotechnical Investigation, Construction Phase Materials Testing, and Special Inspection Services for multiple County projects and in the event negotiations with the selected firms are unsuccessful, approve negotiations and contract execution with the alternate firms.
Staff Contact: Steven Wallace, Project Manager, Asset and Facility Management Department
Presentation: No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
Mecklenburg County has the need to select and contract with specialty firms for Geotechnical Investigation, Construction Phase Materials Testing, and Special Inspection services on each of the following projects:
7th & College Street Parking Deck
Tuckaseegee Recreation Center
Latta Place Historic Site Visitor Center
Ribbonwalk Nature Center
Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Materials Testing and Special Inspection firms are licensed engineering firms that are hired separately from the primary design consultant and construction contractor. These firms work directly for the Owner and provide onsite observation and laboratory services to verify the proper installation of critical construction elements that can include soils, concrete, masonry, structural steel, seismic resistance, fire-proofing, etc.
PROCUREMENT BACKGROUND:
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised on July 24, 2025 in the Charlotte Observer, the Charlotte Post, Greater Diversity News and the State of North Carolina Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) web site. The selection of the consulting firms followed NC General Statute 143-64.31, which prescribes a qualifications-based selection process.
Ten (10) firms (listed below) submitted a Statement of Qualifications.
Bunnell-Lammons Engineering, Inc.
ECS Southeast, LLC
ESP Associates, Inc.
Froehling & Robertson, Inc.
Kleinfelder, Inc.
LKN Engineering & Testing, PC
NOVA Engineering and Environmental, Inc.
S&ME, Inc.
Terracon Consultants, Inc.
WSP USA, Inc.
Per the Board's instructions, the Engineer Selection Committee submits the following report:
SELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Mark Hahn, AIA, Director, Asset and Facility Management Department (AFM)
Matthew H. Stiene, PE, Sr. Director Plant Engineering Services Novant Health (AFM Appointed Engineer)
David Gieser, AIA, AFM Design and Construction Division Director
Also participating in the discussions were:
Jamila Davis, MPA, Office of Economic Development, Director of Business Diversity & Inclusion (BDI)
Barry Turner, Economic Development Office, Management Analyst
Becky Miller, AIA - AFM Construction Project Manager III
Bryan Turner, AIA - AFM Construction Project Manager III
David Murdock, AIA - AFM Construction Project Manager III
Shannon Crane, AIA - AFM Construction Project Manager II
Steven Wallace, AIA - AFM Construction Project Manager II
Based on the information provided in the written submittals, the Engineer Selection Committee selected the following firms and alternates for the projects:
7th & College Street Parking Deck:
Selected Firm: SM&E Inc.
Alternate Firm: ECS Southeast, LLC.
Tuckaseegee Recreation Center:
Selected Firm: ESP Associates, Inc.
Alternate Firm: Froehling & Robertson, Inc.
Latta Place Historic Site Visitor Center:
Selected Firm: Froehling & Robertson, Inc.
Alternate Firm: NOVA Engineering and Environmental, Inc.
Ribbonwalk Nature Center:
Selected Firm: ECS Southeast, LLC
Alternate Firm: Kleinfelder, Inc.
POLICY IMPACT:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A