RFQ for Professional Engineering Services - Lake Ament Dam Alteration in Terlingua, Texas for The Texas State University System

The Texas State University System is soliciting a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional engineering services to perform an alteration of the Lake Ament Dam located north of Terlingua, Texas. The project involves modifying an existing 56-foot-high rock masonry dam, constructed in the 1910s, to reduce its height to 22.5 feet with a concrete cap secured by dowels to address structural deficiencies and improve water management. The selected engineering firm must demonstrate extensive expertise in Texas Dam Safety regulations, with specific competencies in hydrology, hydraulics, structural, and geotechnical engineering. Qualifications submissions are due on January 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. CST, with a non-mandatory pre-submittal conference already held on December 3, 2024. The project timeline includes design beginning February 24, 2025, completion of construction documents by October 3, 2025, and a Notice to Proceed for construction by December 8, 2025. The evaluation will be qualifications-based, with the Owner potentially interviewing up to five top-ranked respondents, focusing on the firm's capabilities, past performance, and problem-solving abilities.

The procurement includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan requirement, mandating that the selected firm make a good faith effort to allocate 20% of engineering services to qualified HUB consultants. The project has a total Construction Cost Limitation of $900,000, which covers only construction and demolition expenses, excluding engineering fees. The dam is currently classified as an "Intermediate" size with a "High" hazard classification by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), with documented structural issues including cracks in both upstream and downstream faces. An Alternative Study Report, including hydrology and hydraulics modeling, stability analysis, and environmental and permitting evaluations, will be provided to the successful respondent upon contract award. An archeological study of the dam and existing roads has been completed, recommending full regulatory clearance for the proposed project. The selected engineering firm must maintain Professional Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1 million per claim and $2 million aggregate, and will be responsible for comprehensive engineering services from preliminary design through project closeout.