2025 Hermosa Drainage and Sewer Assessment and Improvement Plans

The Town of Hermosa, located in Codington County, South Dakota, is seeking consulting engineering services for a comprehensive drainage and sewer assessment project through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on July 3, 2025, with proposals due by 5:00 p.m. on July 15, 2025. The project, funded by the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Program, aims to enhance community flood resilience through detailed evaluations of drainage infrastructure and sanitary sewer systems. Key project components include assessing drainage issues in the residential area south of Highway 40 and addressing sanitary sewer system challenges in the Ferguson Subdivision, particularly focusing on the lift station's inflow and infiltration problems. Proposers must submit a technical proposal not exceeding 25 pages, demonstrating expertise in hydrology, hydraulics, stormwater management, sanitary sewer system assessment, civil engineering, GIS analysis, community engagement, and hazard mitigation planning. The project is anticipated to take approximately 12 months from the notice to proceed, with a projected award date of July 22, 2025. The engineering firm selected will be responsible for performing an Inflow and Infiltration study, evaluating system alternatives, and developing conceptual designs to mitigate flood risks and improve infrastructure resilience.

The RFP explicitly encourages proposals from minority, women, disadvantaged, small businesses, and rural small businesses, indicating a commitment to diverse vendor participation. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the project's comprehensive scope and FEMA grant funding suggest significant potential project value. Most project areas are located within the FEMA 100-yr floodplain or floodway, with specific focus on the Ferguson Subdivision's sanitary sewer system and drainage infrastructure challenges. The project requires evaluating over 20 manholes, addressing non-watertight manhole lids, and developing alternatives to the current lift station, including potential gravity system options. Custer County is committed to ensuring compliance with federal grant requirements, which may impose additional administrative and technical standards on the selected vendor. The comprehensive nature of the project demands a multidisciplinary approach, with the selected engineering firm needing to provide integrated solutions for drainage assessment, sewer system improvements, and flood mitigation strategies.