RFP Item #26-151 Water Meter Testing Equipment

Augusta Utilities Department in Augusta, Georgia is procuring a computerized, automated, gravimetric water meter test bench system through Request for Proposals (RFP) Item #26-151. The equipment must be capable of testing 5/8 x 3/4, 1, 1.5, and 2 inch water meters and must be fully upgradable to include a closed-loop recirculation system with filtration, chlorination, and variable flow rate capabilities, all in compliance with AWWA C715 specifications and achieving metering accuracy of +/- 0.1% with 0.25% repeatability. The procurement includes a one-time equipment purchase with comprehensive turnkey installation by factory-certified technicians, complete 12-month warranty coverage, and five years of annual software licenses and maintenance services covering calibration, certification, and training. Required qualifications include demonstrated experience with water meter testing equipment, financial stability, manufacturer support capabilities within the Southeast region, and Georgia E-Verify enrollment for all contracts exceeding $2,499. Evaluation criteria are weighted across multiple categories: qualifications and experience (20 points), organization and approach (10 points), scope of services (25 points), financial stability (5 points), schedule of work (5 points), references (10 points), with optional team presentation (10 points) and Q&A response (5 points) totaling a maximum 500 points, with cost proposal representing 10 points. A mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., available both in-person at 452 Walker Street and via Teams, with an optional site visit following the conference. Proposals must be submitted by Monday, March 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., with anticipated award on May 15, 2026 following Augusta Commission approval on May 5, 2026.

The M/WBE participation goal has been waived at 0%; however, all bidders must demonstrate good faith negotiation efforts with minority and women-owned businesses. No incumbent vendors or current contractor information is specified in the procurement documentation. All proposers must submit comprehensive documentation including business licenses, conflict of interest statements, financial stability information, and notarized affidavits as detailed in Exhibit A. The cost proposal must separately itemize initial hardware costs, shipping, freight, installation, personnel training, and detailed five-year pricing for annual software licenses and maintenance services. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available documentation, though pricing will be a significant evaluation component at 10 points within the total scoring framework.