PA DEP Certified Drinking Water Operator

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is seeking a PA DEP Certified Drinking Water Operator to manage the water supply system at the Warfordsburg Rest Area & Welcome Center in Fulton County, located at 1001 Quarry Road. The procurement requires a contractor to operate and maintain water treatment facilities, including pumping systems, storage tanks, softener, reverse osmosis equipment, and chemical systems that process approximately 870 gallons per day. Key qualifications include holding a minimum Class D water treatment plant operator certification with specific subclasses (6, 8, 9, and 12), maintaining 24-hour emergency response capability within two hours of authorization, and retaining a PADEP-certified commercial drinking water laboratory for required sampling and testing. Vendors must comply with Pennsylvania's Safe Drinking Water Act and Title 25 PA Code Chapter 109 regulations. The contract has a one-year initial term starting October 1, 2025, with an optional one-year renewal at the Department's discretion. Questions must be submitted by August 13, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with a public bid opening scheduled virtually via Microsoft Teams on August 20, 2025, at 1:00 PM.

This procurement is exclusively designated for DGS-certified small businesses under the Small Business Procurement Initiative (SBPI) per Executive Order 2011-09, meaning only certified small businesses are eligible to bid and receive the award. The contract includes three pay items: monthly operation and maintenance services, hourly additional labor costs, and a material/equipment contingency for major repairs. Billing will be at contractor cost plus 15% for parts and materials, with specialized subcontractors invoiced at cost plus 5%. Contractors must submit monthly invoices by the 5th of each month and maintain comprehensive record-keeping, including equipment maintenance logs, chemical usage logs, and water quality complaint logs. The water system, authorized by Public Water Supply Permit No. 2924505, includes a well pump, pressure tanks, ion exchange softening, TDS removal through cartridge filters and reverse osmosis, acid neutralization, and disinfection systems. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the contract's detailed requirements suggest a comprehensive and potentially significant operational commitment for the selected vendor.