Lime slaker replacement project

The City of Lompoc, California is issuing a Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/RFP No. 3095) for the Lime Slaker Replacement Project at its Water Treatment Plant located at 601 East North Avenue. This procurement seeks qualified consulting firms to provide preliminary design services and prepare proposal documents (plans, specifications, and estimates) for the upgrade of two existing lime slaker units that have reached the end of their useful life and currently serve approximately 10 million gallons per day for the City's 43,000 residents. The selected consultant is expected to provide services throughout the preliminary design, proposal, and construction phases over an initial three-year contract term with options for two additional one-year renewal periods. Key project deliverables include comprehensive design documents, equipment specifications, construction schedules, and bid documents for the replacement lime slaker equipment; the project also requires resolution of current operational deficiencies including grit settling in the mixing chamber, inadequate process mixing control, and imprecise lime feed control. The procurement is governed by the following schedule: a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting and site visit on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (available in-person or via Zoom); written inquiries due by Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.; and proposals due by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with submissions required in one original with original signatures, three hard copies, one thumb drive, and OpenGov platform upload. Proposals will be evaluated on five criteria: Project Understanding and Approach (30 points), Team Qualifications (25 points), Project Schedule (20 points), Responsiveness to RFQ (20 points), and Local Presence (5 points); the top three ranked firms will be selected for interviews, after which the highest-ranked firm will enter fee negotiations with the City. All proposers must provide labor estimates broken down by hours and task using hourly billing rates with standard billing rate sheets, maintain professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $2,000,000 per occurrence for Commercial General Liability and $1,000,000 per occurrence for Automobile Liability, comply with California Labor Code prevailing wage requirements, and hold a valid Business Tax License with the City of Lompoc.

The solicitation does not specify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting eligible organization types, though all vendors working within City of Lompoc's city limits are required to maintain a current Business Tax License and comply with insurance requirements including workers' compensation and automobile liability coverage. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the procurement documents. The project must integrate with the existing water treatment plant infrastructure, including connection to the current 460-volt, 3-phase power supply system and coordination with the plant's operational process flow; the pre-design report evaluated three technology options—Chemco Detention Slaker (budget quote $1,075,252), Chemco Batch Slaker (budget quote $1,305,691), and RDP Batch Slaker (budget quote $1,520,000)—with the report recommending the Chemco detention slaker based on technical suitability and cost-effectiveness. The project is funded by the Water Lime Slaker Account and subject to state and federal regulations; total compensation shall not exceed a dollar amount to be determined in Exhibit B of the final Professional Services Agreement, with payment processed within 45 days of invoice presentation. Proposals must remain valid for 90 calendar days after the bid opening date, and all communication regarding the solicitation must be directed exclusively to Theresa Hernandez, Senior Buyer at the City of Lompoc Purchasing Division, 100 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc, California 93436.