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Commissioner Keigher - Office of Capital Improvements - To Authorize the County Manager, or his Designee, to Execute a Professional Services Contract with Terracon Consultants, Inc. for the Special Inspections & Materials Testing of the Health Department Major Renovation & Expansion
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STAFF CONTACT
Ray Maxwell, P.E. - Executive Director of Capital Projects - 704-862-7551
BUDGET IMPACT
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BACKGROUND
The Health Dept. Major Renovation & Expansion Project located on Hudson Blvd. consists of an approximate 5,200 sq ft addition and 76,000 sq ft of renovations on both levels of the building. The renovations and addition include administrative, clinical, pharmacy, storage spaces, and expansion of the main entrance. The facility will remain operational during the project. The project will be financed with local funds. Gaston County contracted with McMillan, Pazdan, Smith Architecture (MPS) to provide programming, design and bid services for the renovation and expansion of the facility.
North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 5143-64.31 requires the initial solicitation and evaluation of firms to perform architectural, engineering, surveying, construction management-at-risk services, and design-build services (collectively "design services") to be based on qualifications and without regard to fee. NCGS 5143-64.32 authorizes units of local government to exempt contracts for design services from the qualifications-based selection requirements of NCGS 5143-64.31 if the estimated fee is less than $50,000. However, the design fees for this project may exceed the $50,000 cap for exemption, thereby requiring the engineer to be selected through the qualifications-based process.
Office of Capital Improvements staff developed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) packet for the Health Dept. Major Renovations & Expansion project in accordance with the statutory requirements and publicly advertised this project beginning on September 19, 2025. Statements of Qualification (SOQ) submittals were received on October 14, 2025. The eleven (11) firms submitting SOQs were:
• Catawba Valley Engineering & Testing
• ECS Southeast LLC
• ESP Associates, Inc.
• Geo-Hydro
• LKN Engineering and Testing
• NOVA Engineering
• Terracon Consultants, Inc.
• Thrasher
• Three Notch Group
• UES
• WSP
After reviewing the SOQs submitted by the eleven firms, Terracon Consultants, Inc. was deemed to be the best qualified for the corresponding project.
Approval of this Board Action by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners officially selects Terracon Consultants, Inc. as the best qualified for the project listed above. Further, approval of this Board Action authorizes the County Attorney to negotiate and draft the necessary contract documents for the work and authorizes the County Manager, or his designee, to negotiate and execute said contract.
POLICY IMPACT
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ATTACHMENTS
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