Diving Services at Seattle City Light (SCL) Locations

The City of Seattle is soliciting bids for underwater diving services at multiple Seattle City Light (SCL) hydroelectric project locations through Invitation to Bid (ITB) number CL0-6392. The contract will cover diving services at Boundary Powerhouse and Dam in Pend Oreille County, the Skagit Hydroelectric Project (Ross, Diablo, and Gorge Dams and Powerhouses) in Whatcom County, and Cedar Falls and South Fork Tolt Dams and Powerhouses in King County. Bidders must meet specific minimum qualifications, including having supervisory staff with at least 100 hours of experience diving at hydroelectric facilities in the past three years and being a registered member in good standing with the Association of Diving Contractors (ADC) International. The bid requires detailed pricing schedules for labor (including dive supervisors, divers, standby divers, and tenders) with both regular and overtime rates, as well as equipment and daily rates for vehicles, dive gear, and specialized equipment. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for November 22, 2024, at 10:00am, with sealed bids due on December 19, 2024, at 10:00am. The contract is intended to be a one-year agreement with four potential one-year extensions, and vendors must provide comprehensive documentation including references, prevailing wage information, and a vendor questionnaire.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The current contract is held by Associated Underwater Services (AUS), which has generated approximately $900,000 in spending since January 2018. Vendors must comply with extensive insurance requirements, including Commercial General Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, Business Automobile Liability, Worker's Compensation Insurance, and optional additional coverages such as Contractor's Pollution Liability. The contract also includes stringent Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) prevention protocols, requiring vendors to follow comprehensive decontamination procedures and prevent the spread of invasive species between water bodies. Insurers must maintain A.M. Best's ratings of A- VII, and vendors must provide detailed insurance documentation within 15 days of contract award. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the previous contract's spending suggests an annual contract value around $180,000 to $225,000, with potential for variation based on specific project needs and diving service requirements.