25-190 Evaluation and Repair of Distribution System Valves and Hydrants Program

The Augusta Utilities Department (AUD) in Richmond County, Georgia, is seeking a professional services agreement for an Evaluation and Repair of Distribution System Valves and Hydrants Program. The procurement aims to comprehensively inventory, document, and analyze the location, operational, and physical information of water distribution system valves, with a primary objective of improving their operability through hands-on field activities. The project scope includes locating, identifying, cleaning, and assessing approximately 2,100 valves ranging from 2" to 60" in size, along with 300 hydrants, and performing related maintenance and repair tasks. The contract will be awarded for one year with the option to extend for four additional one-year terms. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Monday, June 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. via ZOOM, with proposals due on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. The evaluation process will utilize a 500-point scoring system, considering factors such as response completeness, qualifications, organizational capabilities, scope of services, financial stability, references, and cost.

The procurement has a 0% Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) goal, which means no specific M/WBE documentation is required, though bidders are expected to negotiate in good faith with minority and women-owned businesses. Proposers must submit one original and seven copies of their proposal, along with a separate sealed fee proposal, and must carry general liability insurance coverage of $1,000,000. The fee proposal includes unit pricing for various valve and hydrant assessment services, with estimated quantities for different valve sizes, hydrant assessments, valve box adjustments, and hourly crew rates. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the project suggests a significant investment in infrastructure assessment and maintenance. The ultimate goal of this procurement is to develop a criticality-based sustainable approach to ongoing and long-term asset management of the underground water distribution system infrastructure.