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Home My WebLink About26-0072 - 2026-06-02 - Informal ReportINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 26-0072 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 2, 2026 Page 1 of 4 SUBJECT: SELECTION PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR CITY CAPITAL PROJECTS The purpose of this Informal Report is to clarify how construction contractors and engineering professional services are selected for contracts, report on which contracts have been awarded over the past two years, and identify methods for contractors to access information on upcoming contracting opportunities with the City of Fort Worth (CFW). Construction Contracts: Two -Year Award History Construction contracts are awarded by multiple City departments. The two departments that award the most projects are the Water Department and the Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW). In the past two years, the Water Department has awarded 56 contracts to 25 construction companies. During the same time, TPW has awarded 62 contracts to 28 different contractors. TPW procures construction using the low -bid method 94% of the time while Water procures horizontal construction 100% low -bid. The Water Department also oversees its own procurement and delivery of specialized plants and facilities, some of which use the alternative procurement methods provided for in Government Code 2269. Municipal Procurement The general rules for Municipal Procurement are set forth in the Texas Local Government Code Chapter 252 and Texas Government Code Chapter 2269 for public works procurements. In Fort Worth, procurement by low bid is most often used for public works projects and are awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder. The City has the right, in both statute and Charter, to reject any or all bidders for any reason and the Small Business Ordinance (27832-08-2025, Sept. 1, 2025) also provides measures for not qualifying a low bidder. Strict compliance with procurement statues is maintained and the public works departments work with the Law Department for guidance. Oversight of Proiect Managers Although project managers serve as the primary point of contact for the procurement of construction contracts, the process is monitored and supported by the Purchasing Division within the Financial Management Services Department. The procurement process is done using a software known as Bonfire. All bids are advertised in the Fort Worth Star -Telegram as well as posted on Bonfire for the public. Bonfire securely receives bids and staff evaluates required submittals within the system. Communication of Future Bid Opportunities The Bonfire system is also utilized to communicate with the contracting community regarding upcoming bid opportunities. The twelve-month bid-lookahead reports are compiled, updated monthly, and posted on the Bonfire system and online on the City's website at https://fortworthtexas.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities so that all potential contractors have access to this information. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 26-0072 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 2, 2026 Page 2 of 4 SUBJECT: SELECTION PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR CITY CAPITAL PROJECTS Construction Contract Summary The awarding of construction contracts is a highly regulated process that is carefully monitored by multiple departments. Individual project managers drive the process but must follow strict rules regarding the award of projects. The two departments who award the most projects have averaged about two projects per contractor over the past two years. Upcoming contract opportunities are available using the City's Bonfire system. Interested parties must pre -register in Bonfire and select the applicable NAICS commodity codes for their services. Vendors and contractors who opt in to these codes will automatically receive notifications through Bonfire when solicitations matching their selected NAICS categories are advertised. Small Business Development Program An offshoot of the Small Business Ordinance is the Small Business Development Program (SBDP) that is managed in the Economic Development Department. This program is developing and the goal is to expand opportunities for local small businesses to grow and compete for City contracts. IR No. 26-0051 (April 7, 2026) (https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:8aOe9990-801e-449c- 9012-dccd7aee1d4f) provides a comprehensive review of the project's actions. A round table team including the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce meets regularly to monitor the progress and to discuss issues their constituents are facing. Engineering Professional Services Selection: Procurement Law In Texas, the Professional Services Procurement Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 2254, Subchapter A) governs how Fort Worth must select certain professional service providers. The law is designed to ensure that selection is based on demonstrated competence and qualifications, not on competitive bids or lowest price. The Small Business Ordinance does not apply to professional services, unlike the prior MWBE ordinance, which still may be causing some confusion among local firms or their advocates as there is no small business goal applicable to this work type. TPW Professional Services Selection Process On May 2, 2026, Fort Worth voters passed the 2026 bond election. In anticipation of this, TPW issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Professional Engineering Design and Consultant Services for the Delivery of Planning, Design, and Construction of Capital Projects in the Spring of 2025. This list was assembled to ensure that the City can quickly negotiate contracts with the most highly qualified firms. The RFQ was issued on the City's Bonfire system and advertised in the Fort Worth Star -Telegram on March 5 and 12, 2025. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 26-0072 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 2, 2026 Page 3 of 4 SUBJECT: SELECTION PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR CITY CAPITAL PROJECTS Evaluation teams consisting of three City Staff subject matter experts, led by a category captain, were created for each RFQ category to evaluate Statements of Qualifications (SOQ's) submitted for the respective categories. Team members scored each submitted SOQ using the evaluation criteria point values described in the RFQ and its addenda. The TPW leadership team reviewed and approved the final list of selected firms for each category. TPW Professional Services List The City has established a Pre -Qualified TPW Capital Delivery Professional Services Provider List. The list was announced in the Fall of 2025 for the following seven categories: 1. Major Roadways (9 firms selected) 2. Neighborhood Streets (20 firms selected) 3. Intersection Projects (12 firms selected) 4. Bridges (9 firms selected) 5. Storm Water (26 firms selected) 6. Safety (16 firms selected) 7. Additional Professional Services (5 firms selected) In total, 59 firms submitted SOQ's in response to this RFQ. Of these, 44 different firms were selected for the 97 project opportunities listed above. Debriefing sessions were held with all firms who requested feedback on why they were not selected for a category. Contract negotiations do not begin until after the firm is further selected for a specific project. It is important to note that the City of Fort Worth contracts with the prime firm only. The prime selects the subconctractors they will utilize to accomplish the work, which is factored into the scope and fee negotiations. Neighborhood Streets Program The 2026 Bond Program Neighborhood Streets projects are being delivered as combined TPW and Water Department projects to improve coordination, reduce future pavement cuts, and maximize overall project efficiency. The RFQ for the Neighborhood Streets design services will primarily support bond -funded projects on streets in poor condition that have deteriorated beyond the point of cost-effective maintenance and will ultimately require full reconstruction, including replacement of pavement, curb and gutter, and sidewalks. All of these projects include water and wastewater main replacements that will be funded by the Water Department. Because the Water Department is a participating funding partner and utility improvements are a critical component of the overall project scope, the selected prime firm and its relevant subs must be familiar with the Water Department's standards, specifications, design criteria, and project delivery requirements. For this reason, firms pursuing these projects were required to be included on the Water Department's open list. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 26-0072 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 2, 2026 Page 4 of 4 SUBJECT: SELECTION PROCESS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR CITY CAPITAL PROJECTS Water Capital Delivery Division "Open List" The Water Capital Delivery Open List is a standing listing of civil engineering firms who respond to a Water Department RFQ by submitting SOQ's for the design of water and sanitary sewer replacements, extensions, rehabilitation and relocation design. Water Capital Delivery Division assigns consultants to design projects from the open list as water/sanitary rehabilitation or replacement needs are identified. Most engineering firms on the Water list have the necessary credentials to design water and/or sanitary sewer improvements that must be replaced in conjunction with Transportation and Public Works neighborhood Street Bond Projects. The Open List is generally maintained for about a three-year period before the next RFQ for the Open List is advertised. The Water Department allows consulting firms who do not respond to the latest RFQ to submit SOQ's which are added to the current "Open List" or revise their submitted RFQ at any time. TPW's Future Opportunitv TPW is planning to issue an RFQ in the next few months for projects that will receive federal funding. Interested firms should register on the City's Bonfire system at https://fortworthtexas.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=login and watch for advertisements in the Fort Worth Star -Telegram and the Dallas Morning News. Consultant Selection: Professional Services (non -engineering) are generally known as consulting services. The selection process is also qualifications —based. and is not governed by state law as closely as professional engineering. Project managers must follow the procurement process described in the Public Works Procurement Administrative Regulation. All scoring is done by a team in accordance with pre -established guidelines that are published with the RFQ. Consultant opportunities are published using the City's Bonfire system and advertised in local newspapers. The City remains committed to transparent communication and continuous improvement in project delivery. For additional information, please contact Lauren Prieur, Transportation and Public Works Director, by e-mail at lauren.prieur(a.fortworthtexas.aov. Jesus "Jay" Chapa City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS