Wastewater Treatment Plant Masterplan Upgrades

The City of Lakeland, Florida is soliciting qualifications from Design-Build firms through a Progressive Design-Build RFQ for upgrades to its Glendale and Northside Wastewater Reclamation Facilities, with responses due December 15, 2026. Selection follows Florida Statute 287.055, the Consultants' Competitive Negotiations Act (CCNA), and proposals must exclude rates.

The selected firm will evaluate existing processes, design repairs and upgrades, evaluate new treatment technologies, complete permitting through local, state, and federal agencies, and provide construction management. Project goals include a new solar drying facility or equivalent alternative that achieves consistent Class AA biosolids, with composting excluded; replacement of the intermediate pump station at the Glendale site; replacement or upgrades of equipment and systems as needed; and opportunities to increase plant capacity. The City is currently interested in solar drying based on site visits to other plants but will consider other facilities. The project spans approximately 180.4 acres across two plants with a proposed design-build budget of approximately $174 million. Anticipated milestones are Master Planning starting March 1, 2027, Engineering Design starting October 1, 2027, design completion by October 1, 2028, and construction completion by October 1, 2031. Delivery follows the DBIA Progressive Design-Build Agreement for Water and Wastewater Projects #545.

Respondents must limit responses to 15 pages or less, plus the DBIA Standard Form of Request for Qualifications, and provide at least three references for similar jobs completed within the last five years. Written proposals are scored on six technical criteria totaling 100 points: experience with similar wastewater treatment plant projects (30 points), successful delivery of comparable Progressive Design-Build projects (25 points), professional qualifications and availability of key personnel (15 points), understanding of the City's project and proposed approach (15 points), demonstrated ability to manage within schedule and budget (10 points), and team capacity and resource availability (5 points). A selection committee of at least three City employees will rank a shortlist of at least three firms. At the committee's discretion, shortlisted firms may be required to give oral presentations, scored on separate criteria.

Required compliance forms include a notarized Human Trafficking Affidavit under Section 787.06(14), Florida Statutes, and a notarized indemnification and hold harmless agreement with waiver of subrogation. The indemnification agreement applies either to a timeframe of up to five years or to specific bid, purchase order, or contract numbers, at the consultant's election.