Water System Master Plan

The City of Palo Alto Utilities Department (CPAU) is requesting proposals from engineering firms to develop a comprehensive Water System Master Plan under RFP #RFP198186, with proposals due August 7, 2026, at 3:00 PM and mandatory attendance at a pre-proposal conference on July 8, 2026, at 10:30 AM. The project evaluates CPAU's potable water system infrastructure across a 20-year planning horizon, identifies system deficiencies, and recommends capital improvement programs with five-, ten-, and twenty-year projections.

The scope encompasses engineering assessment and capital improvement planning for water distribution, storage facilities, water supply infrastructure, distribution piping networks, and potable water facility sites. Deliverables include hydraulic modeling, system operation analysis, and risk and resiliency planning. CPAU operates a system serving approximately nine million gallons per day average demand with nine pressure zones, seven reservoirs, eight active wells, and interconnections with the SFPUC Bay Division and neighboring agencies (Mountain View, Stanford, Purissima Hills, and East Palo Alto). Water mains range from 12 to 36 inches in diameter.

The contract structure is Fixed Fee with a maximum not-to-exceed amount proposed by the selected firm and progress payments based on percentage of project completion. All direct costs, overhead, transportation, communications, subsistence, materials, and subcontracted work are included. Contractors must maintain Professional Liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000 per person, and Workers' Compensation at statutory limits, with the City named as additional insured on all policies except Workers' Compensation and Professional Liability.

Evaluation criteria are proposal quality (10%), proposed solution (25%), firm experience (20%), cost (5%), financial stability (5%), timely performance (10%), prior government performance record (10%), ability to provide ongoing services (10%), and compliance with applicable laws and regulations (5%). Proposers must demonstrate financial stability through audited or reviewed financial statements, letters of good standing, or Dun & Bradstreet reports dated within the last 12 months. Questions are due July 24, 2026, at 1:00 PM. Proposals must be submitted through OpenGov, the City's electronic procurement system.