SCWRF Treatment Technology & Flow Management Improvements

Collier County Board of County Commissioners, on behalf of the Public Utilities Department and Engineering and Project Management Division, has issued a Request for Professional Services (RPS) solicitation 26-8635 for comprehensive design and construction administration services for the South County Water Reclamation Facility (SCWRF) Treatment Technology & Flow Management Improvements project located in Naples, Florida. The selected firm will serve as Engineer of Record and provide preliminary design, geotechnical surveys, surveying, subsurface utility engineering, hydraulic and wastewater treatment process modeling, final design, permitting, bidding packages, opinion of probable costs, public involvement services, construction administration, and one-year construction warranty services. The project scope encompasses comprehensive plant capacity expansion from 16 million gallons per day (MGD) to 21.1 MGD average flow and 56 MGD peak flow, incorporating membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology and improvements including preliminary treatment facilities, coarse screening, grit removal, fine screening, secondary treatment enhancements, activated sludge processes, tertiary filtration, disinfection systems, flow equalization and pumping systems, electrical and odor control systems, effluent and reject water storage and pumping, deep injection well pumping, sludge storage, pumping, and dewatering, plus a material storage building. The design must be completed within one year of the Notice to Proceed, with construction targeted for completion by 2031. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Collier County Procurement Services Division Online Bidding System (https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/collier-county-fl) by March 9, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. EST, with a pre-proposal conference scheduled for February 19, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. The RPS evaluation will utilize the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act methodology, scoring submissions on six criteria: Ability of Professional Personnel (20 points), Certified Woman and/or Minority Business Enterprise status (5 points), Past Performance (25 points), Project Approach and Willingness to Meet Time and Budget Requirements (20 points), Location (10 points), and Recent, Current, and Projected Workloads (20 points), totaling 100 points. Proposers must possess required business tax receipts, professional licenses, E-Verify enrollment certification, Florida Certificate of Authority to Conduct Business, appropriate insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability at $1,000,000 single limit per occurrence with $2,000,000 aggregate, Worker's Compensation coverage per Florida Statutes Chapter 440, Employer's Liability coverage of $500,000 per occurrence, and Automobile Liability coverage, along with bonds at 100 percent of contract value for projects exceeding $200,000 underwritten by a surety rated "A-" or better by A.M. Best Company.

This procurement does not designate specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises; however, Certified Woman and/or Minority Business Enterprise (WMBE) status is evaluated as a scoring criterion worth 5 points in the selection process. All proposers must comply with mandatory E-Verify program enrollment requirements at the time of proposal submission, with acceptable proof consisting of either a completed E-Verify Company Profile page or a fully executed E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding, and failure to provide such evidence will render the submission non-responsive. Proposers must also complete and submit all required forms, including Vendor Declaration Statement (Form 1), Conflict of Interest Certification (Form 2), Immigration Certification (Form 3), Reference Questionnaire (Form 4), and Grant Provisions and Assurances (Form 5), along with proof of business status from the Florida Division of Corporations, W-9 Form, copies of all requested licenses and certifications, and proof of insurance capability. The contract will be governed by the Professional Services Agreement template (2025 Version 2) and Collier County Purchase Order Terms and Conditions, with compensation structured according to the selected methodology (lump sum, time and materials, or grant-funded arrangements) as detailed in Schedule B, and all prices shall remain firm for the contract term with no surcharges accepted. No incumbent vendor or current contractor is identified in the solicitation; however, the selected firm will coordinate with Public Utilities Department staff, Engineering and Project Management Division staff, the Collier County Water-Sewer District, neighboring communities, and local electrical utilities. The preliminary cost estimate referenced in the technical memorandum for capacity expansion improvements totals approximately $30.0 million, although the specific budget for design and construction administration services is not explicitly stated in the available documentation. Permitting fees will be paid by the Public Utilities Department for county permits and by the Engineer of Record team (with reimbursement by PUD) for state and federal permits from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), and United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE).