849153engWssc.pdf

Solicitation No. 1177, Water Engineering Services (BOA)

WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION

SOLICITATION NO. 1177

WATER ENGINEERING SERVICES (BOA)

Due Date and Time: Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 2:00 pm

Table Of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION

2. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

3. INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS/OFFERORS

4. ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

5. SPECIAL CONDITIONS

6. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

7. SCOPE OF WORK

8. EVALUATION FACTORS

9. MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE (MBE) AND SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS

ENTERPRISE (SLBE) PROGRAMS

10. PRICING PROPOSAL

11. VENDOR QUESTIONNAIRE

12. ATTACHMENTS

Attachments:

A - SAMPLE BOA FOR 120590

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Summary

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, MD (the "WSSC"), is soliciting sealed responses for Water

Engineering Services (BOA). Responses are to be submitted via WSSC's eProcurement Portal via https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wsscwater PRIOR TO 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

Late responses will not be accepted.

The primary purpose of this Blanket Order Agreement (BOA) is to provide specialized engineering services to support the ongoing maintenance, enhancement, calibration, and evaluation of WSSC Water's water distribution system through the use of its computerized hydraulic model within the WaterGEMS modeling platform. As

WSSC Water's standardized hydraulic modeling software, WaterGEMS is a critical planning and operational tool that requires advanced technical expertise to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness of system analyses.

In addition to hydraulic model updates and calibration, the BOA will provide engineering support for a variety of water system planning and evaluation initiatives, including:

• Updating 20-year water demand projections to support long-range planning.

• Evaluating water loss reduction initiatives and their impacts on system performance.

• Assessing the feasibility and implementation of potential reclaimed water systems.

• Analyzing system redundancy and resiliency to improve reliability and operational flexibility.

• Reviewing proposed growth and development to assess impacts on the water distribution system and associated infrastructure.

• Providing technical analyses and recommendations to support strategic planning, capital improvement programs, and system optimization.

Through these services, the BOA will ensure WSSC Water maintains a reliable, resilient, and efficiently managed water distribution system while supporting future growth, regulatory compliance, and long-term infrastructure planning.

1.2. Timeline

Release Project Date: October 14, 2026

Pre-Bid Meeting (Non-Mandatory): October 27, 2026, 11:00am

Microsoft Teams meeting:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/25553386

02830470?p=hjRaBk5UBEypVUE6GI

Question Submission Deadline: October 30, 2026, 2:00pm https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wsscwater https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2555338602830470?p=hjRaBk5UBEypVUE6GI https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/2555338602830470?p=hjRaBk5UBEypVUE6GI

Response Submission Deadline: November 18, 2026, 2:00pm

2. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Each Offeror shall meet the following minimum qualifications to be considered for the Award:

A. The Offeror shall have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in North America.

B. Shall have experience in designing at least five (5) water hydraulic modeling and planning projects in the past five (5) years.

a. At least three (3) of the five (5) projects mentioned above must demonstrate experience in the following:1. Hydraulic modeling of water networks 2. Water system master planning

Submittal Requirements

A. Submit proof of previous experience in North America.

B. Submit evidence that the firm has five (5) years of experience designing water hydraulic modeling and projects. The evidence shall show at least five (5) projects in water hydraulic modeling and planning; at least three projects shall include hydraulic modeling of water networks and Water system master planning.A one-page overview of each project should be provided.

3. INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS/OFFERORS

3.1. COMPLIANCE WITH COMMISSION PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS

The Commission's Procurement Regulations, WSSC Code of Regulations, Title 6, Chapter 6.15, are incorporated into this Solicitation and made a part of this Solicitation by reference. The Procurement

Regulations can be viewed online at https://wssc.district.codes/Code/6.15.

3.2. DEFINITIONS

Whenever the following words occur in these Instructions to Bidders/Offerors, they shall have the following meanings.

A. "Bidder" means any person submitting a bid in response to an invitation for bids ("IFB") or a request for quotations ("RFQ").

B. "Contract Documents" means all documents that are included, attached, or referenced in a Solicitation.

C. "Invitation for bids" ("IFB") means all documents, whether attached or incorporated by reference, utilized for soliciting bids.

D. "Invitation for prequalification" ("IFP") means all documents, whether attached or incorporated by reference, utilized for prequalifying potential bidders.

E. "Offeror" means any person submitting a proposal to a request for proposals ("RFP") or invitation for prequalification ("IFP").

F. "Request for proposals" ("RFP") means all documents, whether attached or incorporated by reference, utilized for soliciting proposals.

G. "Responsible" means a person who has the capability in all respects to perform fully the requirements stated in the invitation for bids and request for proposals, respectively, and the integrity and reliability that will assure good faith performance.

H. "Responsive" means a person who has submitted a bid or a proposal that fully conforms to the invitation for bids or request for proposals.

I. "Solicitation" means an invitation for bids, a request for proposals, a request for quotations, an invitation for pre-qualification, or any other document issued by WSSC for the purpose of soliciting bids or proposals to perform a WSSC contract.

https://wssc.district.codes/Code/6.15

3.3. WSSC’S SUPPLIER PORTAL SYSTEM

Bidders/Offerors are required to register in WSSC's Supplier Portal System in accordance with WSSC Code of

Regulations, Title 6, Chapter 6.25, at the time of bid opening or proposal submission due dates. Failure to have an active supplier profile prior to this time may render the bid or proposal non-responsive. Information regarding the Supplier Portal System can be found online at https://wssc.district.codes/Code/6.25 and www.wsscwater.com.

3.4. EXPLANATION OF CONTRACT DOCUMENTS TO PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS/OFFERORS

Any prospective Bidder/Offeror must carefully examine the Solicitation. If a prospective Bidder/Offeror is unclear as to the meaning or intent of any of the Contract Documents included in the Solicitation, the prospective Bidder/Offeror shall request a clarification from the Procurement Office before its bid/proposal is submitted.

All questions pertaining to the Solicitation or Contract Documents shall only be submitted by a Bidder/Offeror to the Procurement Officer identified in the Solicitation via the Online Discussion feature in the Supplier Portal.

Questions submitted via email shall not be answered. Replies, where warranted, will be by addenda issued electronically to all parties who have downloaded the Solicitation. Questions received less than ten (10) days prior to the date for opening of bids or due date for receipt of proposals may not be answered. Only questions answered by formal written addenda will be binding. Questions received after this deadline may be addressed at the discretion of the Commission. Oral and other interpretations or clarifications will be without legal effect.

Any information given to a prospective Bidder/Offeror by the Commission will be furnished to all prospective

Bidders/Offerors via Online Discussion in the Supplier Portal.

Any information given to a prospective Bidder/Offeror by the Commission will be furnished to all prospective

Bidders/Offerors.

3.5. SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR ACCESS TO PLANS AND DRAWINGS

In order to receive plans and drawings related to the Solicitation, a prospective Bidder's/Offeror's representative must first be approved through a security background investigation. The Bidder's/Offeror's representative can obtain an application for a security clearance by contacting WSSC''s Procurement Office by phone, (301) 206-8288. Requests for plans and drawings can only be fulfilled for representatives having successfully completed the security investigation. Multiple representatives may gain security clearance to request plans and drawings.

Additionally, plans and drawings may be accessed through E-Builder® ASP software. A user name and password is issued by the Procurement Officer upon request. To obtain a user name and password for access, a

Bidder's/Offeror's representative must first obtain a security clearance.

3.6. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS (COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS)

A. Form And Content Of A Proposal The Solicitation will identify the required form and contents of a proposal. Failure to submit a proposal that meets the requirements of the Solicitation may lead to the proposal being deemed non-responsive or non-responsible.

https://wssc.district.codes/Code/6.25 https://www.wsscwater.com/

B. Proposal Delivery The Solicitation will identify the time and manner in which a proposal shall be delivered to the Commission. Any proposal received after the exact time for receipt will be deemed non-responsive. The proposal will not be considered for award and will be returned to the Offeror unopened.

However, an exception may be made when a late proposal would have been timely but for the action or inaction of the Commission. An Offeror assumes all risks for timely delivery of a bid.

3.7. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS TO THE SOLICITATION

Each Bidder/Offeror shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to the Solicitation in accordance with the instructions stated in the amendment or otherwise stated in the Solicitation. If a Bidder/Offeror fails to acknowledge the amendment prior to the deadline for submitting a bid or proposal, the bid or proposal may be deemed nonresponsive.

3.8. WITHDRAWAL OF A PROPOSAL (COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS)

An Offeror may withdraw a proposal by "Unsubmitting" their response in the eProcurement Portal. The established due date for the written notice is either the time and date stated in the Solicitation for receipt of proposals or receipt of modifications to proposals, if any; or if discussions have begun, it is the time and date by which best and final offers must be submitted.

3.9. MISTAKES IN PROPOSALS (COMPETITIVE SEALED PROPOSALS)

A. Mistakes in Proposals Discovered Before Proposal Opening A Offeror may correct mistakes discovered before the time and date set for proposal opening by withdrawing or correcting the proposal.

B. Mistakes Discovered After Receipt of Proposals But Before Award

i. During Discussions - Prior to Best and Final Offers. Once discussions are commenced with any offeror or after best and final offers are requested, any offeror may freely correct any mistake by modifying or withdrawing the proposal until the time and date set for receipt of best and final offers.

ii. After Best and Final Offers. If discussions are not held or if the best and final offers upon which award will be made have been received, mistakes may be corrected, and the intended correct offer considered only if:

1. The mistake and the intended correct offer are clearly evident on the face of the proposal, in which event the proposal may not be withdrawn; or

2. The mistake is not clearly evident on the face of the proposal, but the offeror submits objective evidence which clearly and convincingly demonstrates both the existence of a mistake and the intended correct offer, and such correction would not be contrary to the fair and equal treatment of other offerors.

iii. Withdrawal of Proposals. If discussions are not held, or if the best and final offers upon which award will be made have been received, the offeror may be permitted to withdraw the proposal if:

1. The mistake is clearly evident on the face of the proposal and the intended correct offer is not;

2. The offeror submits objective evidence which clearly and convincingly demonstrates that a mistake was made but does not demonstrate the intended correct offer; or

3. The offeror submits objective evidence which clearly and convincingly demonstrates the intended correct offer, but to allow correction would be contrary to the fair and equal treatment of the other offerors.

3.10. BIDDER/OFFEROR QUALIFICATIONS

A. Performance Capability A Bidder/Offeror shall be responsible and have the capability to properly perform the work described in the Contract Documents, and shall have the necessary expertise, manpower, equipment, capacity and sufficient financial resources to execute the work described in the Contract

Documents properly within the time specified.

The Commission, at its discretion, may make such investigations it deems necessary to determine the ability of a

Bidder/Offeror to perform the work described in the Contract Documents, and the Bidder/Offeror shall furnish to the

Commission such information and data for this purpose as the Commission may request. The Commission may visit any prospective Contractor's place of business, contracts in progress, or contact persons knowledgeable of the

Bidder/Offeror's background to determine its ability, capacity, reliability, financial stability, or other factors necessary to perform the work described in the Contract Documents in a manner satisfactory to the Commission.

The Commission may determine a Bidder/Offeror non-responsible if the Commission determines the Bidder/Offeror does not have the capability, integrity, or reliability to perform the work described in the Contract Documents.

3.11. BONDS AND INSURANCE

The Bidder/Offer to whom a contract is recommended for award shall submit any required bonds and insurance documents to the Procurement Office in accordance with the Procurement Office's instructions. Failure to submit the required documentation within the time period specified may be cause for deeming the bid or proposal non-responsible.

3.12. PROTESTS

Any protest concerning the Solicitation shall be decided by the Chief Procurement Officer in accordance with Procurement

Regulations, WSSC Code of Regulations, Title 6, Chapter 6.15.550.

A. Right To Protest Any actual or prospective Bidder or Offeror who is aggrieved in connection with a Solicitation or an award of a Contract may protest to the Chief Procurement Officer. The protest shall be in writing and filed with the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer within seven (7) days after such aggrieved person knows or should have known of the facts giving rise to the protest. A protest shall be considered untimely if it is not received by the Office of the Chief

Procurement Officer within the time period stated above. A Bidder or Offeror is aggrieved only if the Bidder or Offeror can demonstrate that, should the protest be sustained, the Bidder or Offeror may be eligible for the award.

B. Form Of Protest The written protest shall include, at a minimum, the following: (a) name and address of the protestor,

(2) Solicitation or Contract number, (3) statement of reasons for the protest, and (4) supporting exhibits, evidence, or documents to substantiate any claims.

C. Filing Fee The filing fee for a protest is ONE THOUSAND AND EIGHTY DOLLARS ($1,080.00). The filing fee shall be paid in the form of a check payable to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. If the protest is sustained by the Chief Procurement Officer, the protester will be entitled to a refund of the filing fee. A PROTEST

SHALL BE CONSIDERED UNTIMELY IF THE FILING FEE IS NOT RECEIVED BY THE PROCUREMENT

OFFICE WITHIN THE TIME LIMITATIONS TO FILE A PROTEST.

D. Authority To Resolve Protests The Chief Procurement Officer, after consultation with the General Counsel's Office, shall have the authority, before the commencement of an action in court concerning the controversy, to settle and resolve a protest of an aggrieved Bidder or Offeror concerning the Solicitation or award of a contract.

E. Award Of A Contract During A Protest In the event of a timely protest, the Commission shall not proceed further with a Solicitation or with the award of a contract until after a written decision on the protest has been issued by the

Chief Procurement Officer, unless the Chief Procurement Officer, after consultation with the General Counsel's Office and the appropriate using department, determines in writing that awarding a contract without delay is necessary to protect the interests of the Commission.

F. Final Decision If the protest is not resolved by mutual agreement, the Chief Procurement Officer must adjudicate the protest on the record and issue a final written decision within twenty-one (21) days of receiving the protest. The decision must: (a) state the reasons for the action taken and (2) inform the Bidder or Offeror of its right to appeal the written decision.

G. Appeal To Court The aggrieved Bidder or Offeror may appeal the written decision of the Chief Procurement Officer to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County or the Circuit Court for Prince George's County under the Maryland Rules governing administrative mandamus actions.

H. Entitlement To Bid Preparation Costs If a protest is sustained by the Chief Procurement Officer and the protesting

Bidder or Offeror should have been, but was not, awarded the contract under the Solicitation, the aggrieved Bidder or

Offeror shall be entitled to the reasonable costs incurred in connection with the Solicitation, including bid preparation costs. The aggrieved Bidder or Offeror shall not be entitled to recover any attorneys' fees incurred in connection with the Solicitation or protest.

3.13. SOLICITATION CANCELLATION

A Solicitation may be canceled, or any or all bids or proposals may be rejected in whole or in part when the Chief Procurement

Officer deems it to be in the best interests of WSSC. Notice of such a decision must be made in writing and provided to all bidders or offerors.

3.14. CONTRACT AWARD

A. Construction Contracts or Design/Build Contracts (Competitive Sealed Bidding) Contracts for construction or design/build using a competitive sealed bidding procurement will be awarded in accordance with MD. Code Ann., Pub. Util. § 20-105(b).

B. Construction Contracts or Design/Build Contracts (Competitive Sealed Proposals) Contracts for construction or design/build using a competitive sealed proposals procurement will be awarded in accordance with MD. Code Ann., Pub. Util. § 20-105(c).

C. Other Contracts (Competitive Sealed Bidding) Contracts that are not for construction or design/build using a competitive sealed bidding procurement will be awarded in accordance with Procurement

Regulations, WSSC Code of Regulations, Title 6, Chapter 6.15.310.

D. Other Contracts (Competitive Sealed Proposals) Contracts that are not for construction or design/build using a competitive sealed proposals procurement will be awarded in accordance with

Procurement Regulations, WSSC Code of Regulations, Title 6, Chapter 6.15.320.

3.15. EXECUTION AND ACCEPTANCE OF A CONTRACT

A contract shall not be considered accepted by the Commission and binding upon the Commission until (1) a contract has been executed by the Chief Procurement Officer or an authorized designee acting within the scope of his/her authority and (2) a Notice to Proceed has been issued.

The Commission reserves the right to cancel a recommended award of a contract without liability to the Commission at any time prior to (1) a Contract being executed by the Chief Procurement Officer or an authorized designee acting within the scope of his/her authority or (2) a Notice to Proceed being issued. Upon cancelling a recommended award, a recommended award may then be made to the next ranked responsive and responsible Bidder/Offeror or the Solicitation may be cancelled and re-advertised.

Failure by a Bidder/Offeror to execute a contract, submit such other documents as required by the

Contract Documents, or file acceptable insurance and bonds within the time directed shall be just cause for canceling the recommended award. Upon cancelling a recommended award, a recommended award may then be made to the next ranked responsive and responsible Bidder/Offeror or the Solicitation may be cancelled and re-advertised.

Subcontract plans must be entered and approved in the web-based compliance system in accordance with the Commission's directives. Failure by a Bidder/Offeror to comply with such directives shall be just cause for canceling a recommended award. Upon cancelling a recommended award, a recommended award may then be made to the next ranked responsive and responsible Bidder/Offeror or the Solicitation may be cancelled and readvertised.

A Notice to Proceed will be issued after (1) a contract has been executed by the Chief Procurement Officer or an authorized designee acting within the scope of his/her authority, (2) upon receipt and acceptance by the

Commission of a Bidder's/Offeror's insurance, bonds, any other designated documents, (3) upon verification of entry and acceptance of subcontracting plans in the web-based compliance system, and (4) upon approval of background investigations of employees to work on Commission property. The Notice to Proceed represents the final document required before a contract shall be considered accepted by the Commission and binding upon the

Commission.

3.16. MARYLAND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT NOTICE

The Commission is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act. Bidders and Offerors are strongly encouraged to specifically identify those portions of their bids or proposals, if any, which they deem to contain protected trade secrets, confidential commercial information, confidential financial information, or confidential geological or geophysical information pursuant to Md. Code Ann., General Provisions, §§ 4-335 and 4-336.

4. ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

This Solicitation shall be conducted in accordance with the Commission’s or WSSC Water Procurement

Regulations: WSSC Water Code of Regulations, Title 6 Ch. 6.15. The following instructions are in addition to those contained in the Instructions to Bidders/Offerors included in the Solicitation.

4.1. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

This solicitation is being advertised through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Each proposal shall be evaluated to determine which proposal will be deemed the most advantageous offeror. The solicitation will be awarded in accordance with the guidelines outlined through WSSC’s Procurement Regulations (§ 6.15.320) for

Competitive Sealed Proposals.

4.2. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

A. Submission

1. Only one Proposal may be submitted by an Offeror.

2. The Technical and Price Proposal shall be submitted via the eProcurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wsscwater.

3. Proposals submitted in any form other than as specified herein may be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for award. Oral and telegraphic proposals, including e-mail submissions, are considered invalid and will not be accepted or considered for award.

4. Proposals shall be concise, yet sufficiently comprehensive to set forth the Offeror’s understanding of the required services. Proposals must be organized to the structure described in these instructions to

Offerors.

4.3. EVALUATION FACTORS

All Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with WSSC Procurement Regulation 6.15.320, Competitive Sealed

Proposals. Accordingly, Offerors must note that a number of factors will be considered by WSSC in making an award. Price will not be the sole determining criterion.

Evaluation Factors

Firm Experience 30%

Key Personnel 25%

Technical Approach 40%

Pricing 05%

4.4. PROPOSAL EVALUATION

A. Technical Proposals received will be evaluated by the Evaluation Committee based on the Offeror’s qualifications as described in the proposal.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wsscwater

B. Proposals that do not meet the minimum requirements as stated in the Solicitation, or which are deemed non-responsive or non-responsible, will not be evaluated.

C. Shortlisting / Competitive Range – WSSC reserves the right, after the initial technical evaluation, to establish a competitive range and shortlist the highest-rated offerors for further consideration. Only shortlisted offerors’ price proposals will be opened and evaluated.

1. WSSC may conduct discussions and request Best and Final Offers (BAFOs) from shortlisted offerors and may make an award without discussions. Inclusion on a shortlist does not guarantee an award. WSSC may adjust the competitive range, reject any or all proposals, or cancel the solicitation at its sole discretion.

D. Price Proposals selected to proceed to the next phase will be opened and evaluated. Price proposals that are not selected to advance to the next phase will be unopened.

E. Once the Evaluation Committee has completed its review, the results of the Technical Proposals and the

Price Proposals will be combined for a final evaluation.

F. Offerors may be required to give an Oral Presentation to further address their Technical Proposal.

G. The proposal(s) deemed most advantageous to WSSC, taking into consideration the evaluation outlined in the Request for Proposal, will be recommended for award.

H. If two (2) or more proposals are equally ranked, WSSC reserves the right to select the proposal deemed most advantageous to WSSC by the Evaluation team.

I. The WSSC reserves the right to award this Contract based on Proposals received with or without further discussion or negotiation.

J. Offerors may be asked to submit Best and Final Offers (BAFO) after the price proposals have been opened.

K. All Offerors will be notified by the WSSC of the final awardee(s).

4.5. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

The Technical Proposal must demonstrate the Minimum Qualifications of the Solicitation.

The Technical Proposal shall be no more than 50 single-sided pages in length (exclusive of the documentation required in Tabs 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 below), including the Project Manager’s resume, exhibits, appendices, attachments, required documentation, and forms required to be submitted with the Proposal. Electronic copies shall be bookmarked to enable easy navigation of the PDF documents.

The Technical Proposal must clearly demonstrate the minimum qualifications. Proposals shall be page numbered, tabbed into the specified sections. The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

TAB 1: Firm Experience

TAB 2: Staffing and Resources

TAB 3: Technical/Project Approach

TAB 4: Exceptions to Terms and Conditions

The Contract Documents attached to this Solicitation are not subject to negotiation after award. Offerors shall carefully review all Contract Documents, including all terms, conditions, exhibits, and attachments.

Any objection to, exception to, or requested deviation from the Contract Documents must be clearly identified in the Offeror’s proposal at the time of submission. Such objections or requested deviations shall be set forth in a separate section of the proposal titled “Exceptions to Contract Documents” and shall specifically reference the applicable section number, page, and provision to which the exception is taken, along with the Offeror’s proposed alternative language.

Failure to expressly identify an objection, exception, or requested deviation in the proposal shall be deemed a waiver of such objection, exception, or deviation. By submitting a proposal without identified exceptions, the

Offeror represents that it accepts the Contract Documents in their entirety and agrees to execute the Contract in the form attached to the Solicitation.

The Owner reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any proposal containing exceptions to the Contract

Documents, to deem such exceptions material, or to evaluate the impact of any identified exceptions in its proposal evaluation and award determination.

TAB 5: Appendix C forms (please refer to the vendor questionnaire).

The following forms are located in Appendix C.

• Certified Insurance Confirmation

• Consent to Use of Electronic Signature

• Contract Certification Affidavit

• Consultant Conflict of Interest Affidavit

• Iran Investment Certification

• Statement of Offeror’s Qualification Form

• References

TAB 6: OSDI Participation (please refer to the vendor questionnaire).

Provide all forms required in Appendix A of the Solicitation.

1. OSDI Subcontracting and Supplier Certification for Professional Services, Goods and Services and

Construction. Ensure that each subcontracting participation certificate includes a percentage of work to be completed by the subcontractor.

2. Non-Discrimination Declaration.

3. Good Faith Efforts Affidavit.

4.6. Scoring Scale

5 – Excellent: Exceeds requirements; comprehensive, detailed, and well-documented; very low risk.

4 – Good: Meets requirements; minor weaknesses; low risk.

3 – Satisfactory: Generally meets requirements; moderate risk.

2 – Marginal: Partially meets requirements; significant weaknesses; high risk.

1 – Poor: Does not adequately meet requirements; major weaknesses; very high risk.

0 – Unacceptable: Fails to meet requirements; insufficient information; not eligible for award.

4.7. PRICE PROPOSAL

Price proposal will be evaluated for best value

A. Offeror shall provide a price for proposed labor rates in the PRICING PROPOSAL section and submit it separately from the Technical Proposal. The labor rate shall be firm for the duration of the Contract.

4.8. OFFEROR INQUIRIES

Offerors shall submit inquiries in writing through OpenGov, with each question submitted separately, to facilitate timely and accurate responses. Each submission shall include no more than one question.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/wsscwater/projects/312920/document?section=2973125

5. SPECIAL CONDITIONS

5.1. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

The following provisions are incorporated as additional terms and conditions of the Contract:

The parties are aware of the Covid – 19 pandemic and the impact it has, will, or may have on the schedule and performance of the work and have taken any such delays, disruptions, interference, or other impacts into consideration in establishing the schedule, pricing, and other terms and conditions of the Agreement. The parties agree that, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, the Covid – 19 pandemic and its effects are therefore expressly excluded from the Force Majeure clause of the General Conditions and cannot serve as a basis for a claim for additional time, compensation, or other equitable or legal adjustment or amendment to the contract. The

Force Majeure clause of the General Conditions is amended to delete any reference to “epidemics” and to any laws, regulations, ordinances, orders, or other mandates of any government, governmental agency, or court relating thereto.

6. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

6.1. INSURANCE

The Contractor shall be required to maintain insurance for the term of this Contract as specified in the "Insurance

Requirements" Section herein. The Certificate of Insurance and Endorsements shall be submitted to the Contract

Administrator within 10 days after receipt of the Notice of Award. All insurance required by this Appendix B must be maintained during the entire term of the contract, including any renewal or extension terms, until all work has been completed. Also, certain coverages must be continued following completion of the work as shown in the section B.

The Contractor shall instruct an insurance broker or agent to provide the Washington Suburban Sanitary

Commissiona certificate of insurance and endorsements, i.e. additional insured, waiver of subrogation, attesting to the issuance of insurance policies affording coverage as required and listed in B below. Please note that such certificate of insurance and endorsements along with any required bonds must be issued and then approved by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission prior to the issuance ofa Notice to Proceed by the Contract

Administrator. The following requirements apply to all work under the contract. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission reserves the right to adjust or waive any insurance or bonding requirements contained in this Appendix B and applicable to the contract.

The Contractor shall not allow any subcontractor to start work on any subcontract until all insurance required of the subcontractor has been obtained and approved by the Contractor. The Contractor shall require all subcontractors to maintain workers compensation and employers liability, business auto liability, commercial general liability and any other applicable coverage in the same manner as specified for the Contractor.

6.2. TYPES OF COVERAGE

The Contractor shall provide and keep in full force the insurance noted in the coverage section as minimum liability limits and mandatory coverage during the term of this Contract.

6.3. ADDITIONAL INSURED

The Commission, its agents and employees shall be included as additional insured(s) in the Commercial General

Liability and Auto Liability insurance policies. Coverage for the Commission its agents and employees shall apply for defense of claims and damages for injury to persons, including bodily injury, death or any form of personal or advertising injury, or property damage arising out of or resulting from the performance of the work or product, whether caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by any negligent act or omission of the

Contractor, or any subcontractor, anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them, or anyone for whose acts any of them or the Commission or its agents or employees may be liable. See below for acceptable forms.

The multiple forms combination shown below, or their equivalent, shall be provided by Contractors performing work for the Commission that would be considered your work as defined in ISO form CG 0001. Other contractors or vendors shall provide additional insured status per form CG 2010 or its equivalent. The additional insured endorsement(s) must be attached to the certificate of insurance in order to effectuate additional insured status in accordance with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission contractual requirements. These endorsement requirements do not apply so long as the contractor and broker/agent warrant that there isa blanket additional insured provision included in the insurance policies.

Special Note: The following combinations of ISO forms, or their equivalent, shall be acceptable:

• CG 2010 entitled "Additional Insured - Owners, Lessees or Contractors — Scheduled Person or

Organization" and CG 2037 entitled "Additional Insured - Owners, Lessees or Contractors — Completed

Operations"; OR

• CG 2033 entitled "Additional Insured - Owners, Lessees or Contractors - Automatic Status When

Required in Construction Agreement With You" and CG 2037 entitled "Additional Insured - Owners, Lessees or Contractors — Completed Operations".

6.4. SUBROGATION

The Workers Compensation and Business Auto policy must each provide for a waiver of subrogation in favor of the Commission, its agents and employees. The waiver of subrogation endorsement must be attached to the certificate of insurance in order to effectuate waiver of subrogation in accordance with the Washington Suburban

Sanitary Commission contractual requirements. This endorsement requirement does not apply so long as the contractor and broker/agent warrant that there isa blanket waiver of subrogation included in the insurance policy provisions.

6.5. PREMIUM PAYMENTS, DEDUCTIBLES/RETENTIONS, AND COMMISSION ACCEPTANCE

The premium to be expended for all of the above-referenced policies of insurance and bonds shall be paid by the

Contractor. Payment of any deductibles or self-insured retentions applying under any policies shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. The policies of insurance, certificates of insurance and the insurance company or insurance companies issuing such bonds or policies of insurance must be acceptable to the Commission. All companies providing such coverage, for all contracts, regardless of size, must be allowed to conduct and transact insurance business in the State of Maryland.

6.6. DESIGNATION AS TO APPLICABILITY

All certificates of insurance and applicable endorsements must be issued indicating a specific Contract number or to all work contract numbers performed by the Contractor for the Washington Suburban Sanitary

Commission.

6.7. CLAIMS MADE LIABILITY INSURANCE

If any liability insurance purchased by the Contractor has been issued on a "claims made" basis, the Contractor must comply with the following additional conditions. The limits of liability and the extensions as described in section 1 B, remain the same. The Contractor must either:

i. Agree to provide certificates of insurance evidencing the above coverages for a period of three years after final payment for the contract. Such certificates shall evidence a retroactive date, no later than the beginning of the Contractors or subcontractors' work under this contract, or

ii. Purchase an extended (minimum three years) reporting period endorsement for the policy or policies in force during the term of this contract and evidence the purchase of this extended reporting period endorsement by means of a certificate of insurance or a copy of the endorsement itself.

6.8. NOTIFICATION OF CANCELLATION OR NON-RENEWAL

A minimum of thirty days written notification must be given by an insurer of any alteration, material change or cancellation or non-renewal of any insurance required under this Contract. Such required notification must be sent via Registered or Certified Mail to the address indicated below:

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Procurement Office, 8th Floor

14501 Sweitzer Lane

Laurel, Maryland 20707-5902.

6.9. COMPLIANCE

Contractor's failure to comply with all insurance and bonding requirements set forth in this Appendix B and applicable to the contract will not relieve the Contractor from any liability under the contract. Contractor's obligations to comply with all insurance and bonding requirements set forth in Appendix B and applicable to the contract will not be construed to conflict with or limit Contractor's indemnification obligations under the contract.

6.10. ARCHITECTURAL & ENGINEERING DESIGN

("X" EQUALS MANDATORY)

Coverage Required Limits (Figures Denote Minimums)

[X]1.Worker's Compensation & Employer's

Liability

Statutory workers compensation $500,000 accident, $500,000 disease, $500,000 policy limit disease

[X]2. Commercial General Liability

Occurrence form, including but not limited to the below

A. General aggregate applies per project

B. Premises/Operations

C. Independent Contractors

D. Products/Completed Operations (to apply for two years following termination of contract)

E. Contractual Liability

F. Personal Injury Liability

G. Any XCU exclusions removed

Items B. and E. require a $1,000,000 single limit for bodily injury and property damage each occurrence with a $2,000,000 general aggregate that applies to project under contract, and a separate $2,000,000 aggregate for products/completed operations.

$1,000,000 each offence for Item F.

[ ]3. Business Auto Liability

A. All Owned, Hired & Non-owned

B. Motor Carrier Act Endorsement

$1,000,000 Bodily Injury & Property Damage liability each accident

[X]4. Umbrella Liability $1,000,000 BI, PD, & Personal Injury

[ ]5. Pollution Liability $1,000,000 each claim and aggregate

[X]6. Errors or Omissions Liability $1,000,000 each claim and aggregate

[ ]7. Employee Dishonesty Coverage $________ Limit of Insurance

[ ]8. Builder's Risk Insurable Value = ____% of the Contract Value

[ ]9. Installation Floater Insurable Value = ____% of the Contract Value

Other Insurance Required:

A&E DESIGN COVERAGE AND BOND REQUIREMENTS

(auto coverage may be required if working in the field)

7. SCOPE OF WORK

7.1. Scope of Work

A. The Consultant shall provide engineering services for the Water and Wastewater Planning Section that may include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Use the computerized hydraulic model to analyze the ability of the existing and future water system to meet level of service requirements. Develop and evaluate alternatives based on modeling results. Write reports and provide documentation of studies and results.

2. Update and calibrate the model with current as-built data and recent demand projections.

3. Calibrate, verify, and reconcile modeling results as needed.

4. Work with data from multiple sources, including GIS and SCADA.

5. Perform water quality modeling as needed.

6. Develop and perform transient modeling using the Bentley HAMMER package to evaluate potential transient events within the WSSC Water system.

7. Evaluate available modeling tools within WaterGEMS to conduct additional analysis of the water system.

8. Provide WSSC Water support and training in the application and maintenance of the WaterGEMS water model.

9. Develop water demand projections. Apply resulting system demands geographically and incrementally analyze the impacts on the water system over time. Perform sensitivity analysis on differing rates of growth and the impact of timing of required system improvements.

10. Evaluate water loss reduction initiatives, including the annual water audit, and assist with recommendations for improvements to data analysis, reporting, and innovative solutions for improvement.

11. Employ the utilization of optimization tools and subsequent analyses. Evaluate the possible incorporation of condition assessment data into performance analyses.

12. Evaluate the potential of new reclaimed water systems to serve data centers, power plants, parks and other landscaped areas, and other non-potable water users. The source of the reclaimed water could be treated effluent from WSSC Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) or reuse water from

WSSC Water Filtration Plants (WFPs).

13. Evaluate system redundancy in the water system and provide recommendations on the appropriate level of redundancy necessary.

14. Assist in the long-term planning analysis for the replacement of existing Pre-stressed Concrete

Cylinder Pipe (PCCP).

15. Develop and/or evaluate the impacts of growth or re-development identified in County Facility Plans on the water system. Work associated with Facility Plans may include, but not be limited to, planning the necessary water infrastructure to support the new growth and to determine the impact and mitigation to existing impacted infrastructure; alternatives analyses, cost estimating, and project scheduling.

16. Conduct evaluations to determine the need, sizing, and timing of new storage and pumping facilities.

17. Coordinate and/or attend meetings with WSSC Water employees, governmental and regulatory agencies, as well as Prince George’s County and Montgomery County residents. Assist WSSC

Water in preparing presentation materials for such meetings.

18. Perform other water planning activities as needed.

7.2. Roles and Responsibilities:

The following are the Contractor's key stakeholders on the project.

A. Principal

1. The project Principal is a senior-level leader who oversees the Contract for the Consultant. The

Principal acts as the liaison between senior leadership entities of the Consultant and WSSC Water.

2. The Principal shall be a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Board-Certified Environmental

Engineer (BCEE) registered in the State of Maryland.

B. Senior Technical Advisor

1. The Senior Technical Advisor provides expert guidance on complex technical matters for the

Consultant.

C. Technical Advisor

1. The Technical Advisor provides day-to-day advice and troubleshooting for specific project tasks.

D. Project Manager

1. The Project Manager is responsible for managing the Consultant team members and coordinating with the WSSC Water Project Manager. The Project Manager is also responsible for coordinating with any subconsultants on the Contract. The Project Manager manages the day-to-day work on the

Contract for the Contract, ensuring that project goals are met.

2. The Project Manager must have a minimum of five (5) years of work history in water system analysis.

E. Project Engineer

1. The Project Engineer is responsible for completing the technical analyses on the Contract. The

Project Engineer interfaces with the Project Manager to complete the technical analyses requested by

WSSC Water.

2. The Project Engineer must have a minimum of five (5) years of work history in water system analysis.

F. Engineer

1. The Engineer works on the Consultant team to complete technical analyses on the contract.

2. The Engineer must have a minimum of five (5) years of work history in water system analysis.

G. GIS Specialist

1. The GIS Specialist conducts analyses using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) necessary for the

Contract.

H. Technician

1. The Technician conducts any field work or technical tasks necessary for the contract.

I. Senior Administrative

1. The Senior Administrative staff provides high-level administrative support on the contract.

J. Word Processor / Administrative

1. The Word Processor or Administrative staff conducts the administrative tasks required by the

Consultant for the contract.

7.3. Change of Key Personnel

The Contractor shall certify their intent to use the personnel proposed for this project. If a change is necessary, new personnel shall meet these requirements and be approved at the sole discretion of WSSC Water.

Any changes to key personnel shall notify WSSC Water Project Manager for approval.

7.4. Deliverables

Deliverables will be identified at the task order level.

7.5. Task Order Procedure/Work Order/Release Process

WSSC Water reserves the right to issue Task Orders to any Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) holder whose qualifications best meet the needs of a particular assignment.

A. Selection for individual Task Orders will consider technical expertise, specialized experience, key personnel, past performance, current workload, scheduled availability, and cost reasonableness.

B. The Consultant shall submit a detailed work plan, schedule, staffing plan, and fee proposal within ten (10) business days after receipt of a draft Task Order scope.

C. Work shall be performed through individually issued Task Orders. Each task order may include the following: scope of services, deliverables, schedule, budget, staffing, performance requirements, and acceptance criteria.

7.6. Contract Term

The base term of the Contract shall be for a period of three (3) years. All prices shall remain firm for the duration of the contract. The contract may be extended for an additional one (1) two-year option, or any portion thereof, at the sole option and discretion of WSSC Water.

7.7. Requirements Contract

The Contract that will be entered into will be a Requirements Contract. WSSC Water will have no obligation to the Contractor if no service is required. The Contractor understands and agrees that WSSC Water is under no obligation to the Contractor to buy any amount because of issuing this Contract. The quantities stated herein are given as a general guide for bidding and are not guaranteed amounts, but do represent the best estimate of

WSSC Water, based on previous usage and projected needs.

8. EVALUATION FACTORS

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Key Personnel

The proponent shall provide resumes (Prime & Subconsultants) for the key personnel proposed below for this Contract. This factor evaluates all proposed Consultant’s team members and their work history in their respective areas of expertise.

Your response should answer the following questions:

• Describe the Prime

Consultant’s prior experience working with the proposed Subconsultant and key personnel, including relevant projects and the

Prime’s demonstrated ability to effectively integrate, manage, and coordinate the

Subconsultant’s work as part of the project team

• How many years of experience do the

Consultant’s team members have in the State of

Maryland?

• How many years of experience do the

Consultant’s team members have in the areas of the scope of work presented in this solicitation?

• What is the Project

Manager’s experience in hydraulic analysis and water master planning?

0-5 Points 25

(25% of Total)

• What is the Project

Manager’s experience in project management, managing sub-consultants, and staff management?

• What is the Project

Engineer’s experience in hydraulic analysis and water master planning?

• What is the Engineer’s experience in hydraulic analysis and water master planning?

2. Firm's Experience

Describe your firm's qualifications and relevant experience in water hydraulic modeling and water system master planning. Provide details for five (5) projects completed within the past five (5) years that best demonstrate your firm's capabilities. At least three (3) of the submitted projects must include experience with hydraulic modeling of water distribution networks or water system master planning. For each project, include the client, project scope, completion date, your firm's responsibilities, key outcomes, and a client reference.

0-5 Points 30

(30% of Total)

3. Technical Approach

Describe your technical approach for developing an integrated planning framework that uses hydraulic modeling, water quality analysis, transient analysis, demand forecasting, and operational data

(GIS, SCADA, and other available datasets) to identify, prioritize, and justify system improvements over a

20-year planning horizon.

Your response should explain:

• Your methodology for updating and maintaining an up-to-date hydraulic water model, given the constant growth and development in the WSSC service area.

• How you would integrate and manage multiple data sources while maintaining model quality and traceability.

• Your approach for incorporating

SCADA data and outage or system shutdown information into a hydraulic model as a move toward real-time modeling.

• Your approach to leveraging existing water loss data and water audits in coordination with the hydraulic water model to provide recommendations and innovative solutions for water loss reduction.

• How you would incorporate condition assessment…