SWWTP Energy Study and Biogas Beneficial Use

The City of Dallas Water Utilities Department is issuing a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for engineering services to conduct an energy study and biogas beneficial use project at the Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant (SWWTP). This procurement seeks qualified engineering firms to evaluate SWWTP's current and projected power demand through 2045, assess the capacity and reliability of existing power suppliers, evaluate the existing Combined Heat and Power (CHP) agreement with Ameresco and its renewal options, and identify alternative power supply strategies based on capacity, reliability, sustainability, and financial performance. The scope of work also encompasses examination of biogas production and beneficial use opportunities, including evaluation of applicable technologies, policy and market considerations, and financial implications. Deliverables include a comprehensive study report with technical memoranda on CHP agreement options, facility power supply strategy, biogas production and beneficial use strategy, and regulatory analysis, along with monthly progress reports, invoices, and decision logs. All engineering services must be completed within one year of contract execution. Respondents must be registered to do business in Texas, and evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: specific expertise in project-relevant areas (15 percent), capabilities and resources including staffing and past performance (20 percent), approach to the project (35 percent), current contracts and conflicts of interest (7 percent), litigation history (3 percent), and participation in the DRIVE Program (20 percent). Statements of Qualification (SOQ) responses are due by May 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., via the Bonfire procurement system. Pre-submittal conferences are scheduled for May 4 and May 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at SWWTP Administration Building, with site visits to follow. The project manager is Haibo Cao, Ph.D., P.E., reachable at 214-671-0379 or haibo.cao@dallas.gov. SOQ responses must not exceed 40 pages and must include completed signature pages, sealed responses, Small Business Enterprise (SBE) affidavits, pre-bid forms, SBE utilization plans, engagement scores and past commitment forms, SBE good faith effort documentation, prime self-performance declarations, SBE subcontractor intent forms, and conflict of interest questionnaires.

This procurement is subject to the City of Dallas Developing Regional and Inclusive Vendor Enterprises (DRIVE) Policy, which establishes aspirational SBE participation benchmarks of 34 percent for architectural and engineering services contracts. Contract-specific SBE participation goals are determined using an SBE Goal Calculator, and respondents not meeting the goal must document good faith efforts to reach at least seven business days of outreach to certified SBEs prior to proposal submission. Eligible SBEs must meet Small Business Administration size standards, maintain a principal office in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, be independently owned and operated, and perform a Commercially Useful Function. The City has provided a pre-qualified SBE vendor list containing over 500 small business enterprises across multiple service categories including engineering services, energy consulting, and environmental consulting. The current CHP contract with Ameresco expires in 2031 and requires one year advance notice for termination, representing the incumbent infrastructure that the consultant must evaluate and coordinate with during the study. Respondents must maintain specified insurance coverage, including workers' compensation with employers liability limits of $500,000 per occurrence, business automobile liability of $500,000 per occurrence, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and professional liability insurance of $1,000,000 per claim and $1,000,000 annual aggregate. The contract structure is a lump sum not-to-exceed arrangement with progress payments submitted monthly based on percentage of completion, not to exceed 95 percent of the total contract amount, with final payment due within thirty days of completion and acceptance. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents.