RFP Replacement of Circulating Water Expansion Joints

Energy Northwest is soliciting proposals under RFP No. 717466 for replacement of three 90-inch circulating water expansion joints at Columbia Generating Station during Refuel Outage 28, with a mandatory site visit on November 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., questions due December 8, 2026, and proposals due December 17, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Bidders must attend the mandatory site visit. Eligibility requires an active Washington State contractor license, Industrial Insurance coverage, and Washington Unified Business Identifier and Employment Security Department numbers, along with compliance with Washington State prevailing wage requirements effective September 1, 2026. Public works projects exceeding $1.5 million require apprentice utilization of at least 15 percent of labor hours.

The scope covers removing and installing three expansion joints, each located between circulating water pumps and main circulating water valves. All work is performed underwater in the circulating water basin. Contractor divers remove existing bolting, which totals 136 studs per joint and is torqued to no greater than 250 lbs. using a HYTORC torque/tensioning system. Energy Northwest will supply replacement nuts and bolts. Contractors rig and lift each joint onto flatbed trucks under the direction of Energy Northwest rigging personnel, and they provide an underwater video camera system. A contingency capability must monitor the inlet side of valve CW-V-1B for up to eight hours. Bidders must also comply with Inflation Reduction Act prevailing wage requirements, complete OSHA statistical reports, provide equivalent experience references, and submit means and methods, project schedules, proposed subcontractors, and site-specific safety and health plans. Personnel must obtain Unescorted Access (green badge) certification to Columbia's Protected Area, which may require up to 40 hours for background investigations, drug screening, psychological evaluations, and training.

Proposals must be firm fixed-price. The contract runs from signing through April 29, 2027, with work anticipated during the outage beginning in April 2027. Place of performance is Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Washington. A performance and payment bond equal to 100 percent of the total contract price is required, and five percent retainage is held until work completion and state agency approvals.

Evaluation weights are general qualifications at 10 percent, commercial qualifications at 10 percent, technical qualifications at 45 percent, and price at 35 percent. Mandatory and commercial qualifications receive pass/rejection review, and technical qualifications receive a raw score on a 0-5 scale.