EWEB RFP #26-171-PSC Carmen-Smith Mitigation Fund Administrator

The Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is requesting proposals for a Carmen-Smith Mitigation Fund Administrator to manage aquatic habitat and water quality improvement funding in the McKenzie River Basin, with proposals due November 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM PST and a voluntary pre-proposal conference on October 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM via Microsoft Teams.

The Fund Administrator will identify, evaluate, and prioritize projects; manage fund distribution; establish relationships with financial institutions; maintain financial protocols; and prepare annual reports on expenditures and balances. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience managing funds valued at least $3 million annually related to aquatic design or construction, provide three client references for similar contracts completed within the last five years, and submit pricing as a percentage of annual EWEB contributions not to exceed 20%. The Administrator may use no greater than 20% of each annual payment for administrative and project management costs.

The Fund will be initially capitalized with approximately $1.3 million, followed by annual EWEB deposits of approximately $215,000 for at least seven years. The contract term is approximately seven years, commencing December 3, 2026. Annual price increases are capped at 3% maximum after the first 12 months.

Evaluation criteria are weighted equally at 20 points each across five categories: company experience, project approach, key staff experience, client references, and pricing proposal, totaling 100 possible points. Contractor must maintain comprehensive insurance including $1 million commercial general liability, $1 million automobile liability, and $2 million professional liability coverage. EWEB intends to announce its Intent to Award on November 12, 2026, with Board approval scheduled for December 1, 2026, and contract award on December 3, 2026. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the OregonBuys website.