Leak detection survey for water department

The Town of Manchester Water and Sewer Department in Hartford County, Connecticut is issuing Request for Proposal 25/26-43 for a comprehensive leak detection survey of its municipal water distribution system. The procurement seeks qualified contractors to locate and identify leaks in mains, services, and appurtenances throughout a system comprising approximately 280 miles of water mains, 10 storage tanks, 5 booster pumping stations, approximately 16,500 domestic service lines, approximately 1,047 fire/irrigation services, and approximately 2,500 fire hydrants serving approximately 60,000 residents. Contractors must employ proven leak detection methods with access point surveys conducted at 500-foot intervals and confirmation of potential leaks at least twice, classified by severity, with all leak locations marked, measured from hydrants, and provided with exact latitude and longitude coordinates for GIS integration. Deliverables include a completed survey within 90 days or less, weekly progress reporting, and optional post-repair re-checks as requested. Required qualifications include compliance with the Town of Manchester Living Wage Ordinance (currently mandating $17.78 per hour with health benefits or $26.07 per hour without for contracts exceeding $25,000), comprehensive insurance coverage including commercial general liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence, $2,000,000 aggregate), automobile liability ($1,000,000), workers' compensation per Connecticut law, and umbrella/excess coverage ($1,000,000). Proposals will be evaluated on a points-based system weighted as follows: pricing and overall value at 50 percent, experience and qualifications at 20 percent, technical approach and methodology at 20 percent, and project schedule and staffing at 10 percent. The question submission deadline is April 20, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., and all proposals must be submitted electronically through the Town's OpenGov procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/townofmanchester by April 23, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

The Town of Manchester Living Wage Ordinance applies to service contracts exceeding $25,000 in any one fiscal year, with exemptions available for employers with fewer than 25 eligible employees, contracts below $25,000 in annual value, or organizations qualifying as charitable foundations, charitable trusts, or nonprofit agencies exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code; bidders must submit a completed Living Wage Certification Form with their proposal indicating whether they are covered employers or qualify for an exemption. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available procurement documents. The water system infrastructure map provided indicates the comprehensive operational context for the survey, including multiple service zones with specified elevation levels, the Globe Hollow Water Treatment Plant with 12 MGD capacity, multiple pump stations with detailed operating parameters, and metered interconnections with Connecticut Water Company and MDC service areas that must be considered in survey planning and GIS integration. Contractors must provide certificates of insurance within ten business days of award and a current IRS Form W-9. The Town expressly reserves the right to negotiate with selected vendors, award based on best overall benefit rather than lowest cost alone, reject any and all proposals, and terminate contracts with 30 days' written notice. No specific budget or award value range is disclosed in the procurement documents.