Willow creek rehab final design

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) is seeking engineering firms to provide comprehensive design and construction management services for the Willow Creek Dam rehabilitation project through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The procurement focuses on final design and construction documents for a dam originally built in 1938, with key technical objectives including replacing the spillway with a new concrete structure and buttressing the steep embankment to extend the dam's useful life by 75 years. Qualified engineering firms must submit Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) via the Montana Acquisition and Contracting System (eMACS) by April 14, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. local time. Evaluation criteria will encompass team qualifications, experience with similar dam rehabilitation projects, design approach, team organization, schedule capability, and personnel qualifications. The selected firm must include a professional engineer licensed in Montana with specific expertise in earthen dam and concrete spillway design, rehabilitation, and construction. The design must be completed by December 31, 2026, with anticipated construction scheduled during the winter of 2027-2028.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the documentation. The project is located in the vicinity of Harrison, Montana, and will not expand current reservoir storage capacity. The total estimated rehabilitation cost is approximately $25 million, with a Class 4 cost estimate range of -30% to +50%. The project involves critical infrastructure improvements to a high-hazard dam with a maximum reservoir storage capacity of 26,600 acre-feet. Existing project information available to potential contractors includes original construction drawings, well logs, annual inspection reports, piezometer and drain data, site survey, and CAD drawings. The Willow Creek Water Users Association (WUA) will have ongoing responsibilities for certain maintenance tasks. Pricing will be determined during contract negotiations, and firms are instructed not to enter prices in the items tab during the initial qualification phase.