REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS: ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN SERVICES 
The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors is soliciting qualifications from firms or a qualified professional architectural engineer who has the experience, knowledge, and expertise to aid the County in developing a plan for the DeSoto County Safe Room. This site is adjacent to a reclaimed landfill on County-owned land within the city limits of Southaven. The primary purpose of this RFQ is to locate an architect or architectural firm that has the ability and experience to provide plans for a safe room and who is able to follow state and federal guidelines including:
 
Meet FEMA 361 Standards for Safe Room, Multi-use design, 3600 square feet with restrooms/electrical 
Conform to ICC 500 Standard of Design & Construction of Storm Shelters 2020, Local County Building (IBC2018) and Fire (IFC 2018) codes
Perform the services at a fair and reasonable price
Use of maximum practicable amount of recovered material consistent with the performance requirements, availability, price reasonableness, and cost effectiveness

Consider energy conservation, pollution prevention, and waste reduction to the maximum extent practicable in developing the construction design specifications 
The successful proposer should have experience and/or expertise in design of such a building and may make recommendations to accomplish the plan as efficiently and cost effectively as possible. This plan is in the preliminary stages and additional recommendations are encouraged.
 
Top ranked professionals or firms will be required to participate in oral interviews with the Desoto County Board of Supervisors.
 
DeSoto County may make investigations as deemed necessary to determine the ability of the Proposer to perform the work, and the Proposer shall furnish to DeSoto County all such information and data for this purpose.
 
Proposers must provide information and qualifications on the following:
 
Principal Architect assigned to the project
Mechanical Engineer or Firm
Electrical Engineer or Firm
Structural Engineer or Firm
Civil Engineer or Firm 
Proposers having experience with landfills and/or flood plains are encouraged to submit a description of those particular projects. Proposers must submit a description of their firm:  number of employees, roles, and project descriptions of at least three (3) references for who the firm’s principal has designed similar or comparable projects. Proposers must provide the following on those specific projects:
 
Name of Project
Scope of Project
Project Cost including the budget for project
Contact
Address/Phone/E-mail
SCOPE OF SERVICES IF SELECTED: 
The design professionals will be required to complete a Schematic Design of the project utilizing the objectives established by the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors.
The selected design team/architect will complete all work necessary to obtain the following Schematic Design Requirements: 
Make certain the plan complies with all federal, state, local, and other regulations such as MDEQ, MEMA, FEMA, etc.
Confirm that all site restrictions have been met including, but not limited to, setbacks, utilities, ingress and egress, vehicle circulation, landscaping, special planning groups, etc.
Confirm adequate sizes and workability of primary support spaces including, but not limited to, mechanical rooms, mechanical shafts, utility entries, etc.
Complete the exterior design of the facility which harmonizes with the surrounding environment including the DeSoto County Agri Educational Building, National Guard Armory and proposed EOC.
Complete the site plans which address the design requirements identified immediately above in item #d.
Provide a complete Schematic Design Construction Cost Estimate itemized and as detailed as possible through utilizing the design information made available at this phase of the project.
Identify the cost to operate new facility.
Prepare a Design/Construction Schedule.
Other requirements deemed necessary and appropriate by the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors. 
A standard AIA C141 Architect/Owner Agreement will be utilized, but negotiated, for contractual purposes between the selected architect and the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors.  The County will modify the contract to reflect certain items that the County cannot and will not approve. For example, the county will not pay travel expenses for the architect to and from the jobsite or county offices.  The County does not pay markups for expenses. The County must approve any additional services, sub-contracts, or testing BEFORE any costs are incurred, and the County will have sole discretion of whether to approve the costs or make other arrangements for the work.  The County will make modifications to comply with laws, statutes, and guidelines provided by the State of Mississippi.  The architectural, engineering, and construction administration services required in the final contract shall include, but not be limited to the following:

Obtaining existing site conditions (i.e., topographical survey, property survey, soil conditions, location of present utilities, etc.)
Design and engineering to include:

Completion of schematic documents and cost estimates
Preparation of design development documents and cost estimates
Preparation of construction documents and cost estimates
Bidding Processes
Pre-bid conferences
Evaluation of bids and qualifications of bidders

Produce construction documents as necessary to bid and construct project
Presentations
Value engineering during design
Cost estimating during each phase of the design process
Selection of fixtures, equipment and signage
Renderings as required
Permitting
Construction administration
Attend design and construction project progress meetingsl.    Contract terms & conditions, including warranty & bonding or security requirements are identified in this packet.
Questions concerning this RFQ should be submitted in writing to:
 
Lynn Ford, Director of Administrative Services & Procurement 365 Losher Street, Suite 300
Hernando, MS 38632
Phone: 662-469-8180
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
 
Proposals must be sent to the following address in the form of one paper copy and a flash drive.
 
Desoto County Procurement Office 365 Losher Street, Suite 340
Hernando, MS 38632
 
Deadline for submission is February 04, 2025 at 10:00AM.  Any submission received after that date/time will not be considered. The Board of Supervisors reserves the right to reject any or all submissions.
 
NOTE: No proposer shall, directly or indirectly, engage in any conduct (other than the submission of a proposal or other prescribed submissions and/or presentations before the Board of Supervisors) to influence any employee or elected official of DeSoto County concerning award of a contract as a result of this solicitation. Violation of this prohibition may result in disqualification of the proposer from further participation in the solicitation for services or goods sought herein, or from participation in future DeSoto County contracts.
 
WITNESS MY SIGNATURE, this the 16th day of December, 2024.
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                          /s/ MISTY HEFFNER
 
(SEAL)                                                                                   MISTY HEFFNER, CHANCERY CLERK
DeSoto County Board of Supervisors
 
SUBMITTED:                                                                       DESOTO TIMES TRIBUNE CLARION LEDGER
 
FOR PUBLICATION ON:                                                  December 26, 2024
  January 02, 2025