North Florida Recharge Project Treatment Wetland and Recharge Facility Investigation, Selection and

The St. Johns River Water Management District, in collaboration with multiple regional water and utility authorities, is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ 41325) to select an engineering consulting firm for the North Florida Recharge Project. The procurement seeks professional services to conduct a comprehensive treatment wetland and recharge facility site investigation, with the primary objective of developing a regional water supply project addressing minimum flows and levels for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and priority springs. The selected firm will be responsible for investigating potential sites for a 40 million gallons per day reclaimed water treatment and recharge system, including transmission infrastructure, treatment wetlands, and recharge facilities. Evaluation criteria will focus on professional qualifications, project approach, key personnel experience, location, and previous work with the district. The RFQ response is due by 2:00 p.m. on July 28, 2025, with a non-mandatory pre-submittal conference scheduled for June 26, 2025. Respondents must demonstrate expertise in hydrogeology, groundwater modeling, regulatory permitting, water treatment, and minimum flows and levels compliance.

The contract will be awarded through a qualifications-based selection process, with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types mentioned in the documentation. The total estimated budget for the project is $2,170,000, with funding anticipated from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Alternative Water Supply Program. The contract is set to expire on June 30, 2028, and will be executed in Polk County, Florida. The district reserves the right to reject any or all submissions and may negotiate with the highest-ranked respondents. While no incumbent vendors are explicitly identified, the project involves collaborative efforts between the St. Johns River Water Management District, Suwannee River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, JEA, Clay County Utility Authority, Gainesville Regional Utilities, and St. Johns County Utilities Department. The project will require extensive technical analysis, including multiple workshops and technical memoranda to assess and recommend treatment wetland and recharge facility sites.