Operation of UNH Water Treatment Plant

The University System of New Hampshire (USNH) is issuing a Request for Proposal for qualified contract operators to staff, manage, and operate the UNH Water Treatment Plant located in Durham, New Hampshire. The WTP is a conventional surface water treatment facility with a design capacity of 1.8 million gallons per day, serving the UNH-Durham campus and the Town of Durham. The scope of work encompasses operation of treatment processes including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, granular media filtration, and disinfection; management of raw water pumping stations for the Lamprey and Oyster Rivers and Spruce Hole Well; operation of three residual lagoons; regulatory compliance and sampling; and provision of qualified, licensed personnel with a Primary Operator-in-Responsible-Charge holding a minimum New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Grade 3 Water Treatment license and Grade 3 Water Distribution license. Key deliverables include comprehensive staffing, regulatory compliance oversight, chemical procurement and dosing, metering calibration programs, annual repair allowances, sludge removal and disposal services, and contract management. The contract term is five years with options for two additional five-year extensions by mutual consent. The RFP was released on March 31, 2026, with a mandatory on-site general walkthrough scheduled for April 6, 2026, at 9:00 AM EST at 28 Waterworks Road, Durham, NH; the deadline for firm questions is April 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST with responses provided on April 10, 2026; proposals are due April 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM EDT; and interviews and oral presentations are scheduled for April 27 through May 1, 2026. The evaluation committee will assess proposals based on key personnel qualifications (13.3%), relevant firm experience including three client references (13.3%), technical approach and operations plan (13.3%), and cost (60%).

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular organization types, disadvantaged enterprises, or minority-owned businesses. The incumbent operator is Woodard and Curran, with Michael Sullivan listed as the primary operator contact and April Talon representing the Town of Durham Public Works Department as the owner's representative. The selected contractor must integrate with existing infrastructure including the newly constructed water treatment facility with pretreatment, clarification, filtration, and disinfection processes; raw water intake systems from the Lamprey River, Oyster River, Spruce Hole Well, and Lee Well; storage capacity of 3.6 million gallons; and SCADA control systems for automated facility operation. Chemical procurement requirements are specified in detailed quantities including polyaluminum chloride (20,280 gallons annually), sodium hydroxide (20,040 gallons), potassium permanganate (5,580 pounds), sodium hypochlorite (5,580 gallons), and liquid polyphosphate (2,920 gallons). The contract also includes optional add-alternate services for laboratory pure water systems and Lee Well operations. While the RFP does not specify explicit budget ranges or award values, pricing shall be submitted on an annual basis for all operational categories including staffing costs, chemical purchases, contract management fees, facility maintenance, repair allowances, and sludge removal and disposal services, with USNH payment conducted through its PaymentWorks supplier portal. All proposals must remain valid for 180 calendar days following the submission deadline, and the awarded firm must provide a Certificate of Insurance within ten business days and comply with the USNH Master Services Agreement terms and conditions.