Overview
Beaver Watershed Alliance (BWA) requests qualifications for professional engineering services to develop updated hydrologic and hydraulic analysis for the Beaver Lake Watershed (Project) for the purpose of identifying flooding and stormwater problem areas. This service is to be financed with 319 Nonpoint Source Program funding in partnership with Arkansas Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Division.
BWA will consider qualifications from entities and organizations that demonstrate the ability to complete the Project within the guidelines of this solicitation and any applicable federal, state, or local laws, rules, and regulations.
Background and Purpose
As urban areas expand, increased impervious surfaces result in higher volumes of runoff and more frequent flooding. This runoff carries nutrients, sediment, metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, and litter into storm drains, which then flow untreated into creeks and streams. Current infrastructure cannot keep pace with the rapid growth and increased precipitation, creating a gap in watershed data needed to fully understand high-risk flood and stormwater hot spots. The objective of the analysis is to identify areas within the Beaver Lake watershed that contribute to major flooding and sedimentation and utilize the data to inform decision-making within communities.
Scope of Services Requested
- BWA aims to create a watershed-scale analysis to identify flooding and stormwater hot spots to reduce nonpoint source sediment and nutrient loads into Beaver Lake. The selected firm is required to develop a surface water runoff model for the Beaver Lake watershed using 50-, 10-, 4-, 2-, 1-, 0.5-, and 0.2% annual chance, 24-hour precipitation events.
- Selected firm will work closely with BWA throughout the process and facilitate and/or participate in at least 3 stakeholder meetings with cities and counties to discuss model development and results.
- Selected firm will assist in providing a useful version of the model through development of ESRI shapefiles (.shp), with water surface elevation, and inundation animations to assist with the goal for flood mitigation and water quality tools for communities.
- In addition to the analysis performed, the selected firm will be required to produce a technical report documenting approaches selected and results determined in this analysis.
This modeling needs to implement recommendations from the Beaver Lake Watershed Protection Strategy to reduce nonpoint source sediment and nutrient loads going into Beaver Lake, meet the goals of the Arkansas Nutrient Reduction Strategy, support the Arkansas Flood Plan, and analyze and implement three Smart Growth – Nature-based Solution projects. Additionally, the model will be used to provide technical assistance to communities for Smart Growth initiatives.
This analysis will be used to support communities to better understand local water quality aspects, reducing flooding and environmental impacts, and advancing efforts on regional Smart Growth initiatives.
Requirements
Respondent must submit all information identified below to be considered. Incomplete or late responses to this RFQ will not be considered.
Responses to this solicitation must not exceed 20 pages. (Letter of Transmittal and Table of Contents shall not count towards maximum number of pages). Submittal font size shall not be less than 11pt. in size. Maximum Page size 8.5” x 11”.
- Project Approach and Understanding
- Relevant Project Experience
- Key Personnel and Expertise
- Technical Capabilities
- Project Schedule
Respondents must demonstrate experience with the following:
- Experience developing hydrologic and hydraulic modeling at various geographic scales
- Experience in hydrology and hydraulics (H&H)
- Experience with survey and remote sensing and processing
- Experience with GIS, flood data management, analytics, and process application development
- Experience with public interfacing and stakeholder engagement methods
- Project and schedule management and quality control management
Submissions
The entity will be selected based on the above qualifications. BWA may negotiate a contract rate with the selected entity based on experience, cost, and qualifications.
The above information must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 via email to Becky Roark, Executive Director, becky@beaverwatershedalliance.org. File size should not exceed 10 MB.
Questions regarding this Request for Qualifications should be provided no later than 5:00 p.m. local time on December 1, 2025. Questions shall be submitted to becky@beaverwatershedalliance.org. BWA responses to questions will be provided in the form of an addendum to the RFQ to be distributed via email to all solicited entities no later than 5:00 p.m. local time on December 5, 2025.
Schedule
BWA will begin evaluating responses to this request on December 17, 2025 and may conduct phone or virtual interviews with the highest-ranking respondents, if deemed appropriate. BWA will notify all respondents once a firm or organization has been selected. BWA will schedule a meeting with the selected entity following notification of selection for any applicable contract negotiations and to discuss the entity’s role and responsibilities in the overall project. BWA anticipates announcing the selected respondent by January 9, 2026 and having an executed contract with the selected respondent no later than January 30, 2026.
Event Date (Central Standard Time)
| Event | Date/Time |
| Solicitation Release | November 16, 2025 |
| Deadline for submitting questions | December 1, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. CST |
| Anticipated Response to Questions released | December 5, 2025 |
| Deadline for submission of Solicitation Response | December 16, 2025, by 5:00p.m. CST |
| Anticipated Evaluation Period | December 17, 2025 – January 9, 2026 |
| Anticipated Contract Start Date | Date of Execution, no later than January 30, 2026 |
BWA reserves the right to change the dates in the Schedule of Events above upon written notice to prospective Respondent(s) as an addendum to this solicitation.
Response Evaluation and Award
BWA will make any award to a Respondent that provides the best response with respect to the scope of work listed above. The evaluation of Responses to the RFQ will be based on the following criteria:
| Points Available | Category |
| 50 | Clarity and understanding of project scope and clear workplan with tasks to accomplish project goals. |
| 20 | Specialized experience and technical competence of the Project Team to conduct proposed work. |
| 20 | Company or organization’s prior experience with projects of similar size and scope, including familiarity with the area in which the project is located. |
| 10 | Project Schedule and team capacity. |
| Total Available Points | 100 |
Additional Information
Respondents are responsible for all costs incurred in the preparation and delivery of the Solicitation Response to BWA.
Rights of the BWA in Request for Proposal (RFP) Process, specifically the following:
- BWA reserves the right to rank firms and negotiate with the highest-ranking firm. Negotiation with an individual Proposer does not require negotiation with others.
- BWA reserves the right to select the proposal it believes will serve the best interest of the watershed.
- BWA reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals.
- BWA reserves the right to cancel the entire request for proposal.
- BWA reserves the right to remedy or waive technical or immaterial errors in the request for proposal or in proposals submitted.
- BWA reserves the right to request any necessary clarifications, additional information or proposal data without changing the terms of the proposal.
- BWA reserves the right to make selection of the Proposer to perform the services required on the basis of the original proposals without negotiation.
- BWA reserves the right to request any additional information it deems necessary from any or all Proposers after the submission deadline.
- BWA reserves the right to request additional services relating to this RFP from the Proposer. When approved by BWA as an amendment to the contract and authorized in writing prior to work, the selected contractor shall provide such additional requirements as may become necessary.
Click HERE to download RFQ documents
ADDENDUMS:
Addendum 1 (Added 11-26-2025) Addendum 1_11-26-2025
