FAAA, 2700, Summitville WTP HDS Study

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for architectural and engineering consulting services related to the Summitville Mine Water Treatment Facility HDS Study. The procurement seeks a qualified consultant or engineer team to conduct pilot testing of a High Density Sludge (HDS) treatment process and provide engineering alternatives for modifying the existing water treatment system at the facility located in Rio Grande County, Colorado. The primary objectives include evaluating the feasibility of the HDS system for treating acid mine drainage from the Summitville Mine, a priority Superfund site, and generating a comprehensive evaluation report with treatment modification recommendations. Deliverables encompass pilot testing results, feasibility analysis, engineering alternatives, and a detailed report to be completed within approximately six months. Minimum qualifications require a licensed professional engineer in Colorado with specific experience in treatability testing for Mining Influenced Water containing high aluminum concentrations and familiarity with high density sludge systems, while desired qualifications include ten years of water treatment design experience, knowledge of metal hydroxide precipitation and sludge dewatering, and equipment owned and operated by the firm. Qualification statements were due October 29, 2014, at 3:00 PM, with oral interviews anticipated for December 9, 2014, and a Notice of Award projected for December 10, 2014. The anticipated contract onsite pilot start date was April 1, 2015, with project completion anticipated by August 28, 2015. The evaluation process involved a two-stage approach consisting of written submittal screening and scoring, short-listing of three to five firms, and oral interviews, and all firms were required to register with the Colorado Operations Resource Engine (CORE) Vendor Self Service system and acknowledge no prior involvement in the design, construction, or construction administration of the Summitville Mine Water Treatment Facility.

The contract includes federal "fair share" goals requiring 6.1% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) utilization and 6.6% Women Business Enterprise (WBE) utilization, with a single entity meeting both MBE and WBE criteria able to satisfy combined participation goals totaling 12.7%. Firms were required to document M-WBE participation through monthly participation reports that tracked subcontracting activities with minority-owned and women-owned businesses throughout the contract period. Contractors were required to comply with all safety requirements established by the facility operator, including potential buddy system requirements and personnel restrictions for onsite access, and were permitted to make subcontracting decisions regarding geotechnical engineering or construction materials testing services at their discretion. Reference materials including a Previous HDS Pilot Study Report from November 26, 2002, existing process data, and the 2013 Operating Season Process Report from May 15, 2014, were available for review at the HMWMD Records Center in Denver by appointment. Any eventual construction or related services resulting from the pilot study recommendations were to be procured through separate future solicitations. The estimated budget for the initial agreement covering pre-design work, including pilot testing and evaluation, was $150,000, with potential future contract amendments to include design and construction administration services if CDPHE elected to implement the recommendations. The contract was to utilize the State of Colorado's standard Architect/Engineer Agreement Form SC5.1 and was funded in part by a federal grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).