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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS STATEMENT FORPROFESSIONAL DESIGN BUILD DELIVERY SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN OF AN INDUSTRIAL SITE AND A “JOB READY” SHELL BUILDING AT THE BURKE BUSINESS PARK

August 17, 2026

Date: August 17, 2026

Burke Partnership for Economic Development DBA Burke Development Inc. and Burke County, North Carolina (the “County”) is requesting Statements of Qualification from interested and qualified firms to provide qualifications for a design build proposal of an industrial site and a “job ready” shell building at the Burke Business Park, located at 1080 UNIX Drive near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Kathy Road in Burke County, North Carolina. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications is to obtain expert professional, technical, and advisory services for designing and delivering a “job ready” shell building at the Burke Business Park, located at 1080 UNIX Drive near the intersection of Interstate 40 and Kathy Road in Burke County, North Carolina. This project will consist of the new construction of a 65,000 SF shell building that will be owner move in ready.

SCOPE OF WORK

  1. Prepare and submit architectural and civil design plans and proposed schedule to Burke County for review and comment. In which case a final GMP will be delivered based upon this pre-con workshop.
  2. Incorporate the County’s comments and prepare construction documents to provide a GMP for approval.
  3. Design of “Job Ready” shell building (minimum guidelines):
    1. 60,000 SF industrial shell space.
      1. Structural
      1. Plumbing
      1. Mechanical
      1. Fire Protection
      1. Electrical
    1. Site Drainage and Stormwater control measures
    1. NCDOT approved driveways for employees and trucks off Unix Drive (UNIX Drive will be extended from current cul-de-sac to lot line of the site)
    1. Employee parking lot(s)
    1. Truck loading area
    1. Site details (asphalt, concrete, sidewalks, etc)
  4. Preparing a detailed cost estimate
  5. Other professional services for the project may include, but are not limited to:
    1. Surveying
    1. NPDES Phase II Stormwater Management Permit compliance
  6. Obtaining all associated governmental and environmental permits required.
  7. Ability to provide construction administration and inspection, if requested.
  8. Completion of bidding process and providing certified bid tabulation.
  9. If geotechnical evaluation is needed, it will be completed by the County under a separate agreement.

REQUIREMENTS

The selected design build team will be required to enter into an agreement with the BDA. The types of services and expertise required for this solicitation are described below. Consultants offering expertise in the services described below are encouraged to submit statements of qualifications.

PROPOSAL CONTENT AND EVALUATION

Five (5) copies of your proposal must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday August 28, 2026. The proposals must be addressed to:

Burke County, North Carolina

Attn: County Manager

P.O. Box 219

Morganton, NC 28680

Include in your proposal the following specific items, which will assist in the evaluation of all proposals:

  1. Project Approach:
    1. Describe your team’s approach to successfully delivering the project. Provide details on how each task will be completed. Include any recommendations for maximizing effectiveness and efficiency.
  2. Relevant Project Experience:
    1. Provide a summary of your experience with similar projects, including location and client contact information. Specify the services provided, the office location from which the work was performed, and staff members’ responsibilities.
  3. Project Team:
    1. Provide an organizational chart identifying all staff assigned to the project, including any sub-contractors, defining roles, responsibilities, and task assignments for the duration of the project.
  4. Qualifications of Personnel:
    1. Provide relevant experience and qualifications of all personnel assigned to the project.
  5. Scope of Work:
    1. Provide an outline for keeping the project on schedule and within budget. Include projected workloads and staff availability, as well as a projected schedule for completion of significant milestones and the draft and final plan.
  6. Insurance Certification:
    1. Submit current insurance certificates for professional liability insurance, which indicates limits of liability.  If selected, the successful firm shall provide certificates of insurance that also name the County as additional insured.
  7. References:
    1. Provide contact information for at least three (3) references for clients familiar with similar work by your firm.

Proposals shall be limited to a maximum of fifteen (15) pages, not including a cover page or cover letter.

DO NOT INCLUDE A PRICED PROPOSAL

INQUIRIES

Questions that arise shall be submitted via email to Mr. Brandon Ruppe and Mr. Brian Epley at Brandon@burkedevinc.com and brian.epley@burkenc.org (respectively) by 5:00 p.m. on August 31, 2026. Questions and answers will be provided to others receiving this request. 

INCURRING COSTS

The Company nor the County is not liable for any cost incurred by the consultant in the preparation or presentation of a response to this request.

RIGHT OF AWARD OR REJECT

It is understood that all submittals will become part of the public’s file on this matter, without obligation to the Company or the County.  The Company and the County reserves the right to accept and/or reject any and all submittals.

QUALIFICATIONS

All firms responding to this request must meet the following minimum qualifications:

  1. Services shall be performed under the direction and supervision of qualified personnel and if required by law a licensed engineer or architect duly licensed and authorized to conduct a practice in the State of North Carolina.
  2. Firm must have at least ten (10) years of relevant experience in the design of similar projects.
  3. Firm must demonstrate their ability and knowledge of construction standards and design standards for this type of project.
  4. Firm must be able to demonstrate their ability through verifiable experience in the design, bidding, and construction of public projects of similar size, scope, and function.
  5. Firm must show experience related to the product type and experience in working in North Carolina.

STATEMENT OF INTEREST AND QUALIFICATIONS

Each submittal from a qualified consultant received in response to this request will be judged as a demonstration of the consultant’s capabilities and qualifications.  Only those consultants who supply complete information as required by this request will be considered for evaluation. The factors used to determine those to be considered are:

  1. An understanding of the requirements of this request demonstrated by the organization, clarity, and completeness of the submittal.
  2. The past performance record and qualifications of the firm and the individuals who will do the work, verifiable through references and resumes, and
  3. The ability of the consultant to provide a timely response.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The contract will be awarded to a qualified design build team. Minimum standards for qualifications are:

  1. Technical Approach/Understanding of Project
  2. Experience of Proposed Personnel
  3. Availability of Staff and Resources
  4. Familiarity with Local Development Requirements and Processes
  5. Relevant Site Development and Shell Building Design Experience
  6. Location of the Firm Relative to the Project

SELECTION

The DBA and the County will form a selection committee that will evaluate the submittals received. DBA and the County will review all requests, evaluate required criteria, select a consultant and enter negotiations with the selected firm, or select a short list for interviews, then complete the process. In person interviews may be requested if further evaluations are needed beyond the application packets have been reviewed though, this step may not be required.

Each of the criteria listed in this outline will be evaluated on how fully each submittal meets the requirements, and each will be ranked. Particular emphasis will be placed on the consultant’s past successful completion of similar projects shown by work summaries of the firm and individuals to do the work, and by references.

After selection of a design build team, a contract will be prepared based on a negotiated Scope of Services and final GMP proposal. Should the negotiations be unsuccessful with the number one ranked firm, negotiations will cease with that firm, and negotiations will begin with the number two ranked firm. This process will continue until a satisfactory contract is completed.

 

CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

The final selection of design build team will be required to complete a Service Contract, which will incorporate the submittal and work schedule as a part of the contract. In addition, it will be necessary for the successful consultant to be covered by Workman’s Compensation insurance, which will extend to the work done within the State of North Carolina.

NONDISCRIMINATION

BDA and the County complies with all civil rights provisions of federal statutes and related authorities that prohibit discrimination in programs and activities receiving federal and state financial assistance. Therefore, the County does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, national origin, religion or disability, in the admission, access to and treatment in the County programs and activities.

About Development Burke, Inc.

Burke Development, Inc. (BDI) is a nonprofit organization supported by private and public funding that is charged with accelerating economic growth in Burke County. BDI works with industry leaders, site selection consultants, government agencies and other entities to facilitate expansion strategies for existing businesses and recruit target industries to Burke County. For more information about BDI, visit www.BurkeDevInc.com.

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Contact:

Brandon Ruppe, President and CEO, Burke Development Inc.

Tel: 704-418-1898

Email: brandon@burkedevinc.com



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