Services to survey stakeholders with brackish groundwater exploratory projects

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the award of a contract to perform a survey of stakeholders interested in data collaboration with the TWDB on an exploratory brackish groundwater project. The key project components include collaborating with the TWDB to create survey questions, surveying eligible stakeholders, scoring and ranking stakeholders based on predetermined weighted criteria, and providing a summary report. TWDB seeks contractors with expertise in areas such as brackish groundwater resource development, regional water planning, and joint planning. The response deadline is April 26, 2024, and the contract term is expected to start upon execution and end on August 31, 2024, with potential extensions up to August 31, 2026. The maximum total project cost will not exceed $400,000, with up to $150,000 allocated for the stakeholder survey and $250,000 for field data collection and aquifer test analyses.

Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) are strongly encouraged to respond, and a HUB Subcontracting Plan is required even if the respondent does not plan to subcontract. The TWDB will provide funding assistance for collecting geophysical data, conducting aquifer tests, and/or water quality sampling. Proposals will be evaluated based on technical approach, qualifications and experience, project organization and management, and reports/deliverables. The TWDB does not automatically disqualify respondents without prior experience working with the agency or its Brackish Water Program.