Truckee River Operating Agreement Hydrologic Engineering Services

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR), Division of Regional Assistance, North Central Regional Office, is soliciting a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified firms to provide hydrologic engineering services in support of the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA). The services encompass analyzing hydrologic models, supporting DWR staff in developing California Guidelines for TROA operations, and working with RiverWare operations, water accounting, and planning models. Key deliverables and objectives include assisting in the development of operational guidelines and providing technical analysis of complex hydrologic systems to support water management decisions. The SOQ submission is limited to 50 pages double-sided, excluding covers, resumes, and certification documents, and must be received by 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026. A mandatory virtual pre-SOQ conference is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., which all prospective firms must attend. General RFQ questions must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and negotiation follow-up questions by 5:00 p.m. on February 18, 2026. Interviews with the most qualified firms are estimated for March 10-17, 2026, with contract award anticipated by May 11, 2026. The estimated contract term is three years, from May 11, 2026, through May 10, 2029, with options for up to two one-year amendments.

The procurement includes set-aside designations encouraging participation from Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVBE) and California-certified small businesses to help meet the state's 25 percent small business participation goal. Selected firms will be subject to cost-based negotiations using true and actual costs with a fixed profit rate established by DWR, including published escalation rates and subcontractor markups; financial documentation, payroll records, fringe benefit documentation, overhead costs, and compensation policies must be submitted within five business days of selection. All materials submitted become state property and will not be returned, except brochures from non-selected firms. The contract includes standard state terms and conditions that are non-negotiable. The estimated contract value ranges from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000. Firms must disclose any use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in their solutions or deliverables using form DWR 9834, with failure to disclose potentially resulting in disqualification.