Brandon Urban Dispersed (BUD) Wells - 5 & 7 Water Quality Improvements

Tampa Bay Water, a regional water supply authority serving Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties and the cities of Tampa, New Port Richey, and St. Petersburg in Florida, is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to procure professional consulting services for the design, permitting, and construction administration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) treatment implementation at two water treatment plants: BUD-5 and BUD-7 wellfield locations. The Project aims to achieve EPA PFAS regulatory compliance with milestones by April 2031 and involves the installation of fixed bed ion exchange (FBIX) treatment systems. Key deliverables include comprehensive planning, design services, permitting support, and construction administration for PFAS treatment solutions that meet applicable EPA and state regulatory requirements. Respondents must demonstrate a documented reputation and significant experience exceeding 15 years in water quality improvement projects, ion exchange systems, and PFAS treatment solutions, with appropriately qualified project managers and construction managers experienced in Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery methods. Evaluation criteria include the firm's technical qualifications, relevant project experience, staff expertise, and proposed methodologies. The Pre-Proposal Conference is scheduled for May 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Tampa Bay Water's office in Clearwater, Florida, with proposals due at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 24, 2026. The Selection Committee will evaluate written submittals and conduct interviews if necessary, with contract award anticipated at the Board of Directors meeting on November 16, 2026, and the contract term continuing until all services are performed.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting response eligibility are identified in the RFP documentation. Proposers must register with E-Verify, comply with all Florida statutes regarding vendor qualifications, and certify compliance with anti-human trafficking provisions. Required insurance includes general liability coverage of $2,000,000 per occurrence with $5,000,000 aggregate, professional liability insurance of $1,000,000, and workers' compensation coverage. No incumbent vendor is identified for this procurement. Compensation will be determined through negotiation using one of three methods: raw labor rates with a multiplier, hourly rates on an all-inclusive basis, or fixed fees, subject to Tampa Bay Water Administrative Policy 650-15. While specific award values are not provided in the RFP, the Regional Water Quality Study Update indicates that Phase 1 implementation costs for the BUD-5 WTP PFAS-FBIX treatment total $5.1 million and BUD-7 WTP PFAS-FBIX treatment totals $1.9 million, suggesting the consulting services contract will be valued within a significant portion of these planning-level project estimates.