Professional engineering services for hydro-pneumatic tank assessment & rehabilitation program

The City of Tucson, Arizona is conducting a competitive one-step Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select one qualified engineering consulting firm to provide professional engineering services for the Tucson Water Hydro-Pneumatic Tank Assessment & Rehabilitation Program. The procurement involves professional services for approximately 400 potable and reclaimed hydro-pneumatic tanks that serve as critical assets within the City's water delivery system. The selected consultant will provide comprehensive services across four primary tasks: continuation of data collection and condition assessments (approximately 75-100 tanks annually), development of prioritized rehabilitation recommendations, implementation of assessment and rehabilitation projects, and supplemental engineering services as needed. Required deliverables include condition assessment reports, structural and coatings evaluations, rehabilitation design documents, construction documents, cost estimating, construction support documentation, an interactive dashboard of the hydro-tank inventory, and importable templates for Tucson Water's Enterprise Asset Management system. The consultant must demonstrate expertise in multiple disciplines including civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, structural engineering, coating and corrosion inspection and testing, water quality, and public relations, with documented evidence of at least three comparable hydro-pneumatic tank rehabilitation projects in each category. The evaluation process employs five weighted criteria: firm experience on similar projects and past performance (35 points), experience and qualifications of the firm and team (30 points), experience of key personnel (20 points), understanding of the program and methodology of approach (15 points), and contract work and subcontractor selection plan (5 points). The pre-submittal conference is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams, with the submission deadline of Monday, April 27, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Arizona local time through the City's online bidding system at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/tucson-az. The contract will commence in calendar year 2026 upon receipt of written notice to proceed, with an initial term of one year and options to renew for two additional two-year periods.

The City of Tucson has established Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation goals for this procurement, requiring bidders to submit a completed Subcontractors List and Proposed SBE Plan at bid opening, identifying all SBE subcontractors and all first-tier subcontractors with contract values at or above $5,000. Bidders failing to meet established SBE goals must submit an Affidavit of Good Faith Efforts with comprehensive supporting documentation demonstrating outreach to certified SBE firms, with the Procurement Director retaining sole discretion to approve or deny good faith effort waivers. SBE subcontractors must perform a commercially useful function by managing, performing, and supervising a distinct element of work, and participation may be achieved through prime contractor participation, subcontractor participation, supplier participation, or joint ventures. The selected consultant must maintain comprehensive professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, along with commercial general liability, commercial automobile liability, and workers' compensation coverage. Compensation will be based on a negotiated fee schedule with an estimated annual budget of approximately $1,000,000, with individual projects not to exceed $500,000 though typical projects are expected to be under $250,000 to $300,000. Direct expenses will be reimbursed at cost with no markup subject to pre-approval, and the contract will be funded through Tucson Water's Capital Improvement and Operational Reliability Budgets.