10-Year Capital Needs and Reliability Study

Northern Wasco County People's Utility District (NWCPUD) is seeking consulting services for a comprehensive 10-Year Capital Needs and Reliability Study involving a 69 kV transmission line running from The Dalles to Tygh Valley within Wasco County, Oregon. The procurement is a Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting consultants to conduct an extensive electrical system analysis covering multiple substations including Columbia Heights, Seufert, 10th Street, 2nd Street, Discovery, Gorge Switchyard, Dufur, Tygh Valley, and Three Mile. Deliverables will include a detailed review of existing electrical infrastructure, load forecasting, system capability assessments, and prioritized recommendations for short-term and future improvements. The evaluation criteria will focus on the project team's qualifications, consultant experience in governmental electric industry projects, resource availability, and cost competitiveness. Key proposal requirements include cost proposals, unit rates, relevant experience, key personnel resumes, and client references. Proposal submissions are due by May 26, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. PST, with questions from potential bidders required by May 19, 2025, and answers to be provided by May 21, 2025. The anticipated contract execution date is May 12, 2025, with potential board approval on June 3, 2025.

The RFP requires consultants to be active and in good standing with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) and provide insurance certificates listing NWCPUD as additionally insured. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the proposal must include comprehensive insurance coverage, including professional liability insurance with a $2,000,000 per occurrence limit. The contract will be a personal services agreement effective upon signing and expiring on 12/31/2025, with the consultant required to start work within two weeks of contract execution and deliver a final completed report by a date specified in the proposal. The total maximum compensation is not explicitly stated in the provided documents, but the contract will follow a lump sum, fixed-fee approach covering professional services, travel expenses, printing, materials, and administrative costs. The study will serve approximately 9,900 residential and commercial customers across a 95-square-mile service territory, with a projected minimal system load growth of 5 MW through 2030. Submitted materials may be subject to public records disclosure in accordance with Oregon Public Records Law, and NWCPUD reserves the right to reject any or all bids.