RFP NIWTP Biosolids Sludge Dryer Alternative Building D/B

The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission is soliciting design-build proposals for construction of a sludge dryer building at the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rio Rico, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, with sealed bids due August 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM Mountain Time. A mandatory site visit was held July 24, 2026 at 9:00 AM; written questions from the site visit were due July 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time.

The scope is design and construction of a fully operational sludge dryer building to house polymer/dosing pumps, liquid sludge buffer tanks, liquid sludge pumps, liquid sludge dewatering equipment, wet sludge cake drying equipment, and all necessary IT/SCADA instrumentation and ancillary components. The contractor must commence work within 10 calendar days of notice to proceed and complete all work within 365 calendar days. Work shall be performed during facility operating hours of 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays.

The estimated contract value is between $1 million and $5 million, firm fixed-price, subject to Davis-Bacon Act wage determinations (WD # AZ20260028, dated May 18, 2026). The NAICS code is 236220, with a small business size standard of $45 million. Small business subcontracting plan goals require at least 23 percent of contract dollars for small businesses: 5 percent for women-owned small businesses, 5 percent for socially disadvantaged small businesses, 3 percent for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and 3 percent for HUBZone small businesses.

Performance and payment bonds are required within 10 calendar days of award. The contractor must obtain general liability insurance ($500,000 per occurrence, $1 million aggregate), automobile liability insurance ($250,000 per person, $500,000 per accident), workers' compensation insurance, and builder's risk insurance at 100 percent of contract value, with the United States of America through the USIBWC named as additional insured. Liquidated damages are assessed at $465.61 per calendar day for construction delays and $81.76 per calendar day for closeout delays. Invoices must be submitted electronically through the Invoice Processing Platform at www.ipp.gov.