URI Engineering Consultant for Utility Modeling

The University of Rhode Island is soliciting proposals for engineering consulting services to develop complete computer utility models for evaluating new loads and infrastructure improvements, with proposals due October 30, 2026 at 1:30 PM EDT. This is a qualifications-based selection (QBS) procurement on a Qualified List of Vendors (QLV) basis. A minimum 10% Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) participation of the contract value is required, with certified firms identified through the Rhode Island Department of Administration MBE Compliance Office.

The scope includes project management with bi-weekly virtual meetings, building utility models across water, sewer, stormwater, steam, natural gas, and electric systems at the Kingston, Narragansett Bay, and W. Alton Jones campuses using existing GIS data and infrastructure records, model calibrations, quarterly updates, and model simulations. Vendors must be Rhode Island registered professional engineers with minimum 10 years of experience in computerized utility model assessment and development. Technical proposals are limited to 10 pages and evaluated on a 100-point scale: staff qualifications (25 points), vendor capability and capacity with five relevant client references (25 points), work plan (15 points), methodology (15 points), and interview (20 points). The highest-scoring proposal must achieve a minimum of 80 points before cost negotiations commence. Vendors must carry professional liability insurance of $2 million per occurrence and $2 million annual aggregate, general liability of $1 million, workers' compensation of $100,000, and automobile liability of $1 million.

The initial contract period begins approximately December 1, 2026 for three years, with options for two additional 12-month renewal periods contingent on vendor performance and fund availability. A 0.33% contract administrative fee will be withheld from all invoices. The pre-bid meeting via Microsoft Teams is October 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM EDT; email katherine.missell@purchasing.ri.gov for the meeting invite. Vendor questions are due October 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT. Proposals must be submitted electronically through Ocean State Procures at www.ridop.ri.gov; late submissions will not be accepted. Addendum 1 revised the pre-bid date, extended the question deadline, and extended the proposal deadline.