Design/Build Services - Sludge Thickening System at Cochran Road Treatment Plant

The City of Clemson is requesting sealed statements of qualifications from qualified firms to provide design-build services for a high-performance sludge thickening system at the Cochran Road Treatment Plant, with qualifications due July 14, 2026, and a mandatory pre-bid meeting scheduled for June 25, 2026.

The scope is professional consulting, design, and turnkey construction services to integrate a "Plug & Play" sludge thickening solution into current wastewater infrastructure. The selected consultant team must comprise at least an engineering design firm and a general contractor. The preferred system is in-vessel conditioning and thickening capable of 80% minimum volume reduction and 5–10% solids concentration, with at least 30% reduction in polymer consumption compared to standard gravity thickening. The system must process 65–155 gallons per hour at operating pressures of 15–45 PSI and include integrated odor control and remote monitoring. The selected team will execute a Pre-Construction Services contract using AIA A133-2019 and AIA A201-2017 forms, with the City retaining the option to amend the contract for construction phase services upon pre-construction completion.

Proposals are limited to 30 single-sided pages, excluding transmittal letters and required City documents. One unbound original and four bound copies are required. Evaluation allocates 30 points to Firm Qualifications and Experience, 25 to Project Team Composition and Expertise, 20 to Project Approach and Methodology, 15 to Proven Performance and References, and 10 to Proven Experience within the City of Clemson. The evaluation committee will short-list at least two firms for interviews, with an additional 15 points per evaluator for the interview phase. Proposals must include certificates of insurance (Commercial General Liability $1,000,000 per occurrence, Comprehensive Automobile Liability $1,000,000 combined single limit, South Carolina Workers' Compensation at statutory limits, and Professional Liability $1,000,000), and required affidavits including ethics, non-collusion, South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act compliance, non-discrimination, and non-resident taxpayer registration. Proposals are binding for 90 calendar days. Fee negotiations will be conducted with the highest-ranked firm; should those fail, the City may negotiate with the second-ranked firm. Questions are due July 7, 2026.