The following activities associated with Locally Administered Projects (LAP) are potentially eligible for Consultant Services:
Planning and Design
Planning and Design consists of conceptual plans, planning or environmental studies, preliminary design, final design, and all other related design work necessary to advance a project to physical construction. Examples include preparation of surveys; environmental documents; plans, specifications, and estimates; and construction proposals. See Design/Plans for more information.
For projects that do not result in physical construction, Design/Plans includes activities that are necessary for the development or implementation of the project, such as developing or preparing safety programs, feasibility studies, conceptual studies, or other planning documents.
If a Local Government Agency (LGA) engages outside professionals in the planning, design and administration of the project, the LGA must follow state and federal regulations. All procurement for Professional Services funded by federal-aid is governed by the Procurement, Management, and Administration of Engineering and Design Related Services (23 CFR 172) and NCDOT's Major Professional or Specialized Services Contracts Procurement Policy.
To identify whether a firm is already pre-qualified, consult NCDOT's online Directory of Firms.
IMPORTANT: Firms must also have a certified overhead rate (or safe harbor rate) in compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (48 CFR 31). Pre-qualification by NCDOT does not necessarily mean that the overhead rate has been certified.
Right of Way
All work associated with acquisition of property interests needed for the project is part of Right of Way (ROW). Examples include preparation of ROW plats; appraisals for parcel acquisitions; review of appraisals; preparation for and trial of condemnation cases; and furnishing of relocation advisory assistance. See ROW Acquisition for more information.
Utility Coordination/Relocation
Work that results in the encroachment or relocation of utilities falls under this category. Examples include preparation of utility relocation and/or utility encroachment agreements and complying with utility certification requirements. See Encroachments and Utility Relocation for more information.
Construction Contract Administration/Construction Engineering and Inspection
Construction Contract Administration (CA) refers to the standardized processes and procedures that NCDOT and the LGA utilize to document, test, and certify projects constructed by third parties, such as Contractors and Subcontractors, under contracts by NCDOT or the LGA.
Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) describes the engineering field inspection and on-site field testing of materials and contractor work to provide the necessary documentation to satisfy the requirements of FHWA and NCDOT project specifications, as well as compile/validate quantities of acceptable work for payment/reimbursement.
In addition, there could be other construction services needed, unrelated to CA and CEI, including the following:
- Plan revisions
- Submittal reviews
- Requests for Information (RFI)
- Construction Supplemental Agreement reviews
See CA and CEI for more information.
Additional information is included in this chapter related to Contract Types and Contract Process, along with the procedures for acquiring the Consultant Services described above.
