Water Treatment Plant Planning & Design

The City of Gunnison, Colorado, located in Grand County, is seeking a qualified design-build team for a Progressive Design-Build (PDB) Water Treatment Plant project through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) released on July 21, 2025. The procurement aims to develop a new water treatment facility with a target capacity of 4 MGD firm and 5 MGD total, with potential future expansion to 6 MGD. Respondents must demonstrate extensive experience in membrane technology treatment, water source transitions, and complex facility construction in challenging environments, submitting a minimum of three and up to seven reference projects. The RFQ requires detailed submissions including team structure, key personnel resumes, and prequalification documentation, with an evaluation process that includes a pass/fail qualification checklist and weighted scoring across categories such as team structure, key personnel experience, project experience, and project approach. Proposals are due on August 28, 2025, by 2:00 PM Mountain Time, with the city anticipating short-listing up to three respondents and issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) in September 2025, and a potential Phase 1 Notice to Proceed in January 2026.

The project is anticipated to be funded through a combination of federal, state, and local funds, including grants from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the U.S. Department of the Interior, with an estimated total project cost of approximately $40 million and approximately $3.6 million already secured for the design phase. Financial requirements for respondents include submitting reviewed or audited financial statements, demonstrating current bonding capacity, and providing insurance confirmations. The contract will be implemented as either a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) or Lump Sum (LS) contract, with the Design-Builder expected to construct the facility as designed, within the agreed-upon price and schedule, and complete commissioning and startup. While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements are explicitly mentioned, the procurement emphasizes collaboration and flexibility, with the City committed to working closely with the selected Design-Builder to achieve project goals that include providing a reliable and efficient water delivery system, protecting water resources, minimizing environmental impacts, and ensuring sustainability.