South Hillsborough Wellfield Professional Engineering Services for Design and Construction Administration

Tampa Bay Water, a regional water supply authority serving Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties in Florida, is procuring professional engineering services through a Request for Proposals (RFP #2026004) for the design and construction administration of the South Hillsborough Wellfield project. The scope encompasses comprehensive engineering services for a new 6 to 12 million gallons per day groundwater wellfield in southern Hillsborough County, including eight production wells in the Upper Floridan Aquifer, approximately four miles of 16 to 24-inch collector main pipeline, a groundwater treatment facility with ozone treatment, finished water storage tank, and point of connection metering facilities. Selected respondents must demonstrate at least 15 years of relevant experience in similar groundwater, treatment, and collaborative delivery projects, with key team members having worked together on comparable projects and maintaining offices within Tampa Bay Water's service area. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale based on Team Qualification and Relevant Project Experience (30 points), Project Manager Experience (20 points), Construction Manager Experience (20 points), Recommended Project Approach (25 points), and Minority Business Enterprise Certification status (5 points). The mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EDT on March 9, 2026, at Tampa Bay Water's office in Clearwater, Florida, with failure to attend resulting in disqualification; written inquiries are due by 5:00 p.m. EDT on March 13, 2026; proposals are due electronically by 4:00 p.m. EDT on April 8, 2026; potential interviews are scheduled for May 19, 2026; and the Board of Directors contract award meeting is anticipated for 9:30 a.m. EDT on August 17, 2026.

The project will be delivered using a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method, potentially with joint partnership involving Hillsborough County. All proposals must include evidence of current Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification from recognized agencies such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), or the Florida Office of Supplier Diversity; however, no specific set-asides or restrictions limiting response eligibility based on disadvantaged enterprise status are indicated. The selected consultant must accept Tampa Bay Water's sample contract terms as presented or provide written comments requesting modifications for consideration, maintain comprehensive professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence on a claims-made basis, and utilize Tampa Bay Water's project management information system software, Masterworks, throughout the contract term. Compensation will be determined during contract negotiations under one of three methods specified in Tampa Bay Water's Administrative Policy 650-15: Raw Labor Rate with Multiplier, Hourly Rate-All Inclusive, or Fixed Fee, with all project costs remaining open for negotiation with the top-ranked proposer until a fair, competitive, and reasonable agreement is reached. No specific award values or budget ranges are published in the procurement documents.