FY27_M36_RFI_a11y.docx

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION

ONE HUNDRED CAMBRIDGE STREET SUITE 900, BOSTON, MA 02114

Request for Interest (RFI) AWWA M36 Water Audits Agency Document #: BWR-2027-AWWA-M36-WATER AUDITS September 21, 2026

Table of Contents

This information is available in alternate format.

Please contact MassDEP at 617-292-5500 TTY# MassRelay Service 1-800-439-2370 MassDEP Website: www.mass.gov/dep

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Department of Environmental Protection

Address: 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 900, Boston MA 02114 | Phone: 617-292-5500

Maura T. Healey Governor Kim Driscoll Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Tepper Secretary Bonnie Heiple Commissioner

RFI Introduction and General Description Description The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP or the Department) is soliciting interest from Water Management Act (WMA) registrants and permit holders to receive a free American Water Works Association (AWWA) M36 “Top-Down” Audit from a private consulting firm hired by MassDEP. MassDEP will hire the private consulting firm through a public procurement process after responses to this Request for Interest (RFI) are due.

A Top-Down Audit is a desktop exercise that involves the gathering of records, data, and procedures, with limited field testing. Public Water Suppliers (PWS) that meet the outlined criteria identified below in 1.4 Eligible Entities of this RFI are also eligible to receive a “Bottom-up Component Analysis”. The Bottom-up Component Analysis is a refinement of the Top-Down Audit that involves field testing and the formulation of strategies to reduce real losses of water in the withdrawal, treatment and distribution system.

Once selected, a WMA PWS will work with the consulting firm hired by MassDEP. The consulting firm will guide the Audit and provide a report to both the PWS and MassDEP following its completion of the Audit.

Based on the response to this RFI, a list of WMA PWSs approved for the completion of a “Top Down” M36 Audit, or a “Top Down” M36 Audit with a “Bottom-up Component Analysis,” will be included in a competitive procurement solicitation for the services of a private consulting firm to be released by MassDEP later this year. Since time and funding constraints may limit the number of AWWA M36 Audits that can be conducted, the final list of WMA PWSs receiving an AWWA M36 Audit will not be available until after MassDEP selects a consulting firm.

Disadvantaged Communities MassDEP is committed to advancing Disadvantaged Communities through its public investments. To that end, preference will be given to projects that provide direct benefit to Disadvantaged Communities. Information on how communities are classified as Disadvantaged Communities and which communities they are can be found at The Disadvantaged Community Loan Forgiveness Program on Mass.gov.

This Grant Opportunity will prioritize proposals that are located in, or directly benefit communities designated as a Disadvantaged Community, and that fall within one of three Affordability Tiers following a system first utilized by the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust and the State Revolving Fund. A “Disadvantaged Community” is a community that falls into one of the three tiers using an affordability calculation based on the State’s “Adjusted Per Capita Income” (Per Capita Income * Employment Rate * Population Change (2020/2010) = APCI). The State’s Adjusted Per Capita Income for the purposes of this RFR is $59,997.31, for 2026, the most recent year data is currently available.

Tier 1: Communities with APCI more than 80% but less than 100% of the State’s APCI.

Tier 2: Communities with APCI more than 60% but less than 80% of the State’s APCI.

Tier 3: Communities with APCI less than 60% of the State’s APCI.

The 2026 Disadvantaged Communities Affordability Calculations are available on Mass.gov.

Eligible applicants, including partnerships, shall identify the municipalities served by their entity or entities, as well as which municipalities within their service area(s) are designated as Tier 1, 2, or 3 Disadvantaged Communities. MassDEP will assign a composite ranking based on the ranking of all the communities located within the service areas of the applicant(s). If the composite ranking falls within the scope of the assistance tiers, the Applicant will be assigned a Tier 1, 2, or 3 ranking for scoring purposes of the RFR. A list of communities by Tier is available in Attachment B of this RFR.

Background MassDEP is using the AWWA M36 Audit as a common methodology for PWSs throughout the Commonwealth to clearly identify water loss needs and objectives. Additionally, a water audit is required when a WMA permittee is not meeting the Unaccounted-for Water (UAW) Performance Standard of 10 percent (10%) or less. Thus, the AWWA M36 Audit will help these permittees meet their WMA permit conditions.

Eligible Entities Eligible Entities are PWSs or municipalities with current WMA permits or registrations.

· “Top-Down” audits are available to PWSs or municipalities that either: (1) have not done an AWWA M36 water audit before; or (2) have done a recent AWWA M36 audit but did not obtain a data validity score over 51.

· A “Bottom-up Component Analysis” will be available to PWSs or municipalities that: (1) recently completed an AWWA M36 audit; (2) obtained a validity score of 51 or greater; and (3) have the detailed data necessary to perform the analysis within the timeframe specified in this RFI.

Please Note: The receipt of grant funds is contingent upon the grantee being able to certify that it is in some form of compliance with the Massachusetts General Laws, including G.L. c. 40A, § 3A, the MBTA Communities Act. Compliance with the MBTA Communities Act is determined by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. For more information, please visit: MBTA Communities Act Compliance Resources on Mass.gov.

ESTIMATED CALENDAR

DATA NEEDS

As part of the Response to this RFI, all applicants must affirm that, by January 15, 2027, they will gather and have readily available the following detailed system information for either calendar year 2025 or 2026, for inclusion in this AWWA M36 Audit grant program:

· production metering and error percentage;

· distribution system pressures;

· reservoir or tank storage numbers;

· water imported;

· leak detection and repair;

· customer metering and billing and potential errors;

· authorized consumption from flushing, fire-fighting and related activities;

· water conservation activities;

· water rates and production costs; and

· infrastructure rehabilitation plan.

Applicants must make a prospective written commitment in the Response to this RFI to submit the required 2025 or 2026 data listed above.

In addition, applicants who wish to have a “Bottom-Up Component Analysis” done must also affirm that they will gather and have readily available, by January 15, 2027, the following detailed system information for the calendar year 2025 or 2026, for inclusion in this AWWA M36 Audit grant program.

For all leaks and breaks (either reported or found during a leak detection survey):

· total number of failures, by main size, that were reported to and repaired;

· total length of mains for each main size group;

· average duration of locating and containing reported failure events by main(s) size;

· total number of failures by distribution system appurtenance type that were reported and repaired;

· total number of appurtenances for each system appurtenance group;

· average awareness duration for reported failure events by system appurtenance type;

· average duration of locating and containing reported failure events by system appurtenance;

· total number of failures by service connection size (<1" or ≥1") that were reported to and repaired by the PWS;

· total number of service connections for each service connection size group;

· average awareness duration for reported failure events by service connection size group; and

· average duration of locating and containing reported failure events by service connection size group.

For more information on the above-listed data need, please see the AWWA M36 Audit data manual, which can be purchased online at: https://www.awwa.org.

From data collection through the completion of the Top-Down AWWA M36 Audit, MassDEP estimates that it will take the Applicant approximately 100 hours to collect the necessary data, meet with the selected consultant to discuss the system, and review the final report findings. A Bottom-Up Component Analysis may require an additional time commitment of approximately 25 hours.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Applicant responses to this RFI will be used to evaluate and rank the Applicants and determine who is eligible for the completion of an AWWA M36 Audit by the consulting firm (to be procured by MassDEP).

Evaluation Components A MassDEP selection committee will review and evaluate applications from responding PWSs and municipalities. Applications will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:

a) The Applicant’s stated commitment to actively participate in the AWWA M36 Audit and provide documentation to MassDEP of in-kind services rendered. Applicant’s ability to provide the data necessary to perform and complete either a “Top-Down Audit” or a “Top-Down Audit” with a “Bottom-Up Component Analysis.”

b) Whether the Applicant is a PWS or municipality with high UAW rates recently reviewed and approved by MassDEP. Recent UAW rates are available at: PWS Performance Standards.

c) Whether the Applicant is a WMA permittee that has received an Interim Allocation from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation instead of Final Water Needs Forecast, because of high UAW or other water accounting concerns.

d) Whether the Applicant has recently done work to try and improve UAW rates.

e) Whether the Applicant has a WMA Permit or Registration. Priority will be given to Eligible Applicants with WMA Permits if there are not sufficient funds for all requests received.

f) In addition to permit type, preference will be given to projects located in Disadvantaged Communities if there are not sufficient funds for all requests received. Please see Attachment B for a list of Disadvantaged Communities for the purpose of this RFI.

g) Quality and responsiveness of the proposal, including completeness, organization, and conciseness.

h) MBTA Communities Act Compliance (as applicable).

Application Format Applicants must use the application provided as part of this RFI, identified as Attachment A. Responses should not exceed the three (3) pages provided in Attachment A, exclusive of any attachments requested.

HOW TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE

Responses must be submitted by email to Jen D’Urso, jen.durso@mass.gov, with the subject line, “FY27 M36 Water Opportunity”.

Responses are due no later than October 19, 2026, by 5:00 pm E.S.T.

LATE RESPONSES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

ATTACHMENT A

M36 APPLICATION FORM

Overview: MassDEP uses the AWWA M36 Audit as a common methodology for Public Water Suppliers (PWSs) throughout the Commonwealth to clearly identify water loss needs and objectives in order to work together more efficiently and establish infrastructure and management goals that minimize costly non-revenue water production, prioritize the replacement of aging or failing infrastructure, and manage infrastructure assets. In addition, a water audit is required when a WMA permittee is not meeting the Unaccounted-for Water (UAW) Performance Standard of 10 percent or less.

Section 1: Applicant Information

Address:

Chief Municipal Official:

Title:

Phone: Email:

Name of Person filling out this application:

By checking this box ☐ the Applicant confirms that they are authorized to submit this grant application on behalf of the specified Permittee listed above.

Section 2: Ability to Perform Proposed Project If awarded an M36 Water Audit Opportunity, the awardee must be able to enter into a contract with MassDEP within 15-30 days of the Grant Award.

By checking this box ☐ the Applicant confirms that its entity is able to enter into the contract and perform the project and meet all requirements of this state grant.

By checking this box ☐ the Applicant acknowledges and agrees that its entity is able to commit to providing sufficient in-kind services to allow for requested data to be:

1. provided by February 2, 2027, for a complete and accurate AWWA M36 Audit; and

2. validated in the timeframe allowed.

By checking this box ☐ the Applicant acknowledges and agrees that its entity is able to commit to work with a consulting firm to complete the AWWA M36 Audit on or before June 30, 2027.

Section 3: Required Questions

1. Project Benefit: Please list your PWS’s or municipality’s UAW % for the last 3 years. Please write a short statement identifying how the project will support lowering UAW values and how the Applicant will benefit from the completion of an AWWA M36 Audit. Please list the calendar year(s) of any other M36 Audits that have been completed for your PWS or municipality.

2. Audit Requested: Top Down: ☐ Bottom-Up: ☐ M36 Final Report Date:

Reports dated prior to 2025 will not be accepted.

If requesting a bottom-up audit, please attach a copy of your most recent AWWA M36 Water Audit Final Report to this application.

3. Available Data: Please identify available data and data gaps.

4. Please check any applicable criteria:

☐ WMA permittees that have received an Interim Allocation from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation instead of Final Water Needs Forecast, because of high UAW or other water accounting concerns.

☐ PWSs or municipalities that have recently done work to try and improve UAW rates. Please describe:

PWSs or municipalities serving a Disadvantaged Community (Please see Appendix B of this RFI)

MBTA Communities Act Compliance:

A-1

ATTACHMENT B

Disadvantaged Communities by Tier (FY27) Tier 1:

Amesbury, Ayer, Barnstable, Berkley, Billerica, Bourne, Braintree, Brewster, Dartmouth, Deerfield, East Longmeadow, Eastham, Egremont, Falmouth, Gloucester, Great Barrington, Groveland, Harwich, Hopedale, Hudson, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Leyden, Lunenburg, Mashpee, Maynard, Medford, Merrimac, North Attleborough, Paxton, Pembroke, Pepperell, Plainville, Plymouth, Quincy, Raynham, Richmond, Rochester, Rutland, Salisbury, Sandwich, Seekonk, Southampton, Stockbridge, Sturbridge, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Waltham, West Bridgewater, Westminster, Westport, Wilbraham, Winthrop, and Woburn Tier 2:

Abington, Acushnet, Agawam, Alford, Ashburnham, Ashby, Attleboro, Auburn, Becket, Belchertown, Bellingham, Blackstone, Bridgewater, Brimfield, Carver, Charlton, Cheshire, Clinton, Dracut, Dudley, East Bridgewater, East Brookfield, Easthampton, Fairhaven, Framingham, Freetown, Granby, Granville, Hadley, Halifax, Hampden, Hanson, Hatfield, Haverhill, Hinsdale, Holbrook, Holland, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Lanesborough, Lee, Leicester, Leominster, Leverett, Malden, Marlborough, Methuen, Middleborough, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, Montgomery, New Braintree, New Marlborough, North Brookfield, Northampton, Northbridge, Northfield, Norton, Oak Bluffs, Oakham, Otis, Oxford, Peabody, Pelham, Petersham, Phillipston, Revere, Rockland, Rowe, Salem, Saugus, Sheffield, Shirley, Somerset, South Hadley, Southwick, Stoughton, Swansea, Tisbury, Townsend, Tyringham, Uxbridge, West Boylston, West Brookfield, West Tisbury, Weymouth, Whitman, Williamstown, and Yarmouth Tier 3:

Adams, Amherst, Ashfield, Athol, Barre, Bernardston, Blandford, Brockton, Brookfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Chelsea, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Clarksburg, Colrain, Dalton, Erving, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Florida, Gardner, Gill, Goshen, Gosnold, Greenfield, Hancock, Hardwick, Hawley, Heath, Holyoke, Huntington, Lawrence, Lowell, Ludlow, Lynn, Middlefield, Monroe, Montague, New Ashford, New Bedford, New Salem, North Adams, Orange, Palmer, Peru, Pittsfield, Plainfield, Randolph, Royalston, Russell, Sandisfield, Savoy, Shelburne, Shutesbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Springfield, Sunderland, Taunton, Templeton, Tolland, Wales, Ware, Wareham, Warren, Warwick, Washington, Webster, Wendell, West Springfield, Westfield, Whately, Williamsburg, Winchendon, Windsor, Worcester, and Worthington

Date Source Note: FY26 is the most current year for which data was available at the time of the publication of this RFI.

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