In accordance with the requisite State statutes, local ordinances and resolutions, Franklin County, NC shall receive submittals for the services specified herein below at the above Receipt Location, until the Time and Due Date cited above. Submittals received at the Receipt Location by the correct Time and Due Date shall be considered. Any submittals received at another location or after the Due Date and Time will not be considered and shall be rejected without exception. Submittals shall be sealed and labeled on the outside Franklin County, NC Architect Services New Public Utilities Maintenance Building, along with the submitter's name and address clearly indicated on the envelope/package. Instructions for preparing a submittal to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) are provided herein. Mail or hand-deliver submission packets to the Receipt Location cited above. It is the responsibility of the submitter to ensure delivery in Time and by the Due Date. Electronic (email) or facsimile submissions will not be accepted. Questions: Submit all questions regarding this RFQ in writing to the Contact Person cited above. There will be no pre-submittal conference. Franklin County, NC is requesting qualifications (RFQ) from firms to assist Franklin County in the design, permitting, and construction management for a new public utilities maintenance building. The funding for this project could be Federal Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), in which case the contracting of an architectural firm must follow the Franklin County Uniform Guidance Procurement Policy (attached). All prospective bidders must acknowledge that the funding is contingent upon compliance with all terms and conditions of the ARPA funding. All prospective bidders must comply with all applicable federal laws, regulations, executive orders and terms and conditions of the ARPA funding. BACKGROUND Franklin County Public Utilities Department has 48 full-time employees, with 30 employees working out of the existing maintenance facility (5,000 SF) located at 1099 Lane Store Road. The Department is expecting staff growth as Franklin County Public Utilities continues to grow. The Department is anticipating the renovation and expansion of the existing building to include new office space, locker rooms with showers, lunch/meeting/training room, oversized drive-through equipment bays, inventory storage, and improved traffic flow through the site. 3. GENERAL TERMS EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: All firms will be required to follow Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) policies. Franklin County will require that the successful firm(s) offer equal employment opportunity to all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status about public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability, sexual orientation, or age. Firms and any sub-consultants with offices in North Carolina which are paying unemployment and income taxes in North Carolina will be granted preference over those firms that do not. MINORITY BUSINESSES (MBE) OR DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES (DBE): Minority Businesses Enterprises (MBEs), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) and other small businesses in North Carolina shall have the opportunity to compete fairly in contracts financed in whole or in part with public funds. Consistent with this policy, County will not allow any person or business to be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be discriminated against in connection with the award and performance of any contract because of sex, race, religion, or national origin. County will undertake a good faith effort to notify minority firms.