Jafza South Carolina LLC has requested professional civil engineering firms to provide their qualifications for design, permitting and construction administration for the first phase of its $600 million, 1,322-acre county logistics/industrial park.

The Request for Qualifications was sent to more than 50 civil engineering firms that have expressed interest in Jafza. Firms receiving a RFQ are mainly from South Carolina, though some are from Georgia.

The RFQ allows firms to present their qualifications for consideration. Jafza will review the responses to the RFQ against its own evaluation criteria.

From this review, the company will select no more than six firms. The firms will then submit requirements to a Request for Proposals.

Amid the economic downturn, the RFQ submittal is a sign the company is still moving forward with its plans.

“We are still on schedule,” Jafza spokesperson Tara Robertson said. “Of course, some things are out of our control, but we are still on schedule for the first phase.”

The RFP, which will be released in the spring, will request more specific and detailed information as well as a firm lump-sum price and schedule for providing the specific scope of services.

The RFP includes a general review of the firm, project experience, resume of key employees, partnerships that include small and minority businesses, the number of years the company has operated in South Carolina and references.

Finalization of the RFP is projected to be in the summer.

Jafza announced in September 2007 its plans to build the five-phase park near Santee.

The park will include light manufacturing, light industrial space, a public intermodal facility, a truck plaza, warehousing and mixed-use offices and commercial uses.

Jobs will include clerical, managerial, food service and transportation jobs. In addition, the project could create 1,500 indirect spin-off jobs in the state by 2020.

The company plans to break ground on the project in late 2009 or early 2010. It estimates it could create about 3,700 direct jobs in the county over the next 12 years.

Phases will be determined by market conditions.

The first phase will include about 135 acres of mixed-use development including light manufacturing, light industrial, and office and retail space. The $140 million phase would be completed in 2012-2013.

The RFQ submittals must be postmarked or emailed by the close of business on March 13. Applicants must submit questions via email.

Companies interested in doing future work with Jafza should email information to manager@jafza-usa.com.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.

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