CMAR 2-Step North Gateway Water Reclamation Plant

The City of Phoenix, Arizona, Office of the City Engineer, is soliciting qualifications for a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) to provide preconstruction and complete construction services for the North Gateway Water Reclamation Plant, with Statements of Qualifications due September 18, 2026, and a mandatory pre-submittal meeting on September 2.

The project encompasses a water reclamation and potable water production facility treating up to eight million gallons per day through screening, pumping, biological nutrient removal, membrane bioreactor technology, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet advanced oxidation, granular activated carbon adsorption, storage, transmission mains, lift stations, and associated infrastructure. Construction costs are anticipated to reach or exceed $400 million. The selected CMAR will assume risk through a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract and will work as a team with the designer of record and City staff to ensure efficient design approach.

The project is partially funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and is subject to Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage requirements, Build America Buy America Act (BABA), and American Iron and Steel (AIS) requirements. Firms must hold appropriate Arizona contractor licenses and provide bonding statements from a Surety Company rated A- or better. Local and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation goals will be established during preconstruction services.

This is a two-step selection process. Qualified firms will be notified in October 2026 to proceed to the Request for Proposal phase, with selection notification expected in November 2026 and scope meeting in December 2026. The City may select up to three firms as finalists for the RFP phase; contract negotiations will proceed with the highest-scoring firm and with subsequent firms if initial negotiations are unsuccessful.

Evaluation criteria total 1,021 points: general firm information and organization (150 points), firm experience and qualifications (250 points), key personnel experience (400 points), project management approach (200 points), and reference checks (21 points). SOQ responses are limited to ten pages maximum plus up to ten additional pages for resumes, submitted electronically in PDF format through the City's Procurement Portal. The pre-submittal meeting is at Phoenix City Hall and via Microsoft Teams on September 2 at 10:00 a.m. Phoenix time. Questions due date is not specified in the source.