Design Build Main Water Treatment Plant Improvements

The City of Sanford, located in Seminole County, Florida, is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design-build services to improve the Main Water Treatment Plant, with the primary objective of removing specific water contaminants including 1,4-Dioxane and PFASs. The project is a multi-phase design and construction initiative that will implement an advanced water treatment system featuring ultraviolet light advanced oxidation process, granular activated carbon vessels, hydrogen peroxide storage, and two 0.7-million-gallon ground storage tanks. Vendors must be authorized to transact business in Florida for at least seven consecutive years, with a Certified General Contractor or professional engineer licensed in Florida for a minimum of seven years. The vendor's team is required to include at least three professional engineers licensed in Florida specializing in advanced water treatment. The RFQ was released on October 15, 2025, with a non-mandatory site visit held on October 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM. Written questions were due by November 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM, and qualification packages were due by December 11, 2025, at 2:00 PM. The evaluation and selection are scheduled for January 8, 2026, with potential interviews and presentations to follow.

The procurement follows the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act and does not appear to have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The project will be funded through a State of Florida Revolving Fund loan, with the total estimated budget for both project phases at $48.5 million, though the City had not secured all funding at the time of RFQ issuance. The award is contingent on obtaining sufficient funding, and the selected vendor will be required to establish a guaranteed maximum price and completion date during contract negotiations. Vendors must demonstrate financial capacity and bonding capability for the project. The procurement is subject to various federal requirements, including Davis-Bacon prevailing wage standards, American Iron and Steel provisions, and Build America, Buy America requirements. Potential vendors identified in the pre-bid meeting sign-in sheet include companies such as C&I (Guyton Group), EPS, Duval & Associates, Merrick, CDM Smith, Flo-Tek Inc., SAW Cross Inc., and Redwood Alachua Inc. The City reserves the right to waive formalities, reject any or all proposals, or re-advertise for services.