Professional Engineering Consulting Services for Water Quality Assessment and System Optimizations

Goochland County, Virginia is requesting proposals for professional engineering consulting services to conduct a water quality assessment and system optimization evaluation of the Eastern Goochland Central Water System, with proposals due September 14, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. and questions due August 28, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. The County does not impose set-aside or preference restrictions; however, it encourages participation of minority-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and women-owned businesses as subcontractors.

The scope requires an independent technical evaluation of aesthetic water quality concerns—odor and black residue on plumbing fixtures—reported in Parkside Village, Mosaic, Kinloch, and Reader's Branch subdivisions. The consultant must review existing investigation findings, operational practices, treatment strategies, and distribution system characteristics to identify optimization opportunities and avoid unnecessary duplication of prior work unless additional validation is technically justified. Deliverables include an Existing Conditions Assessment, Water Quality Investigation Plan, Water Quality Investigation and Data Analysis, Alternatives Evaluation, and Final Report with presentations. The County will provide substantial background materials including customer survey results, laboratory reports, operational records, sampling data, GIS mapping, hydraulic modeling results, and complaint records.

Minimum qualifications require the offeror to be a professional engineering or technical consulting firm with documented experience evaluating drinking water distribution systems; successful completion of at least two water quality investigation projects for public water systems within the past five years; and at least one project demonstrating familiarity with Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water regulations. The consultant must maintain professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per claim and $2 million aggregate, comprehensive general liability of $1 million per occurrence, and comprehensive automobile liability of $1 million per occurrence, and must be licensed to do business in Virginia.

Evaluation criteria are strength of overall proposal (20 points), ability and methodology (30 points), experience and references (25 points), staffing qualifications (20 points), and other relevant information (5 points). The County will conduct competitive negotiations with two or more qualified offerors. Contract award is anticipated October 7, 2026. Pricing terms are not requested during the initial proposal phase under Virginia Code Section 11-28.