WRWWTF Electrical Building Progressive Design-Build

Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department is soliciting progressive design-build proposals for the Western Region Wastewater Treatment Facility Phase 2 Electrical Building & Resiliency Improvements (Project 26-014R, Package GL04) in Belle Glade, Florida, with proposals due November 12, 2026. The project is grant-funded, which eliminates all affirmative procurement initiatives and small business enterprise percentage requirements.

The scope encompasses design and construction of two new electrical buildings — a Main Electrical Building (approximately 885–1,654 square feet depending on concept selection) and a Deep Injection Well Electrical Building (approximately 470–550 square feet) — to replace aging electrical infrastructure unchanged since 1996. Deliverables include arc-resistant switchgear (3000 amps, Main-Tie-Main configuration), new pad-mounted transformers, a 1500 kW generator in sound-attenuated outdoor enclosure, Motor Control Centers (1200-amp rated), 480-volt power panels with step-down transformers, LED lighting, fire alarm and access control systems, HVAC, grounding and lightning protection, underground ductbank and conduits with new manholes, and Controllogix PLC panel; plus new switchboards and 18-pulse drive VFDs for the DIW Electrical Building and soft starters for oxidation ditch aerators. Both buildings are designed with finished floor elevations at 19.0 feet NAVD88 for flood protection, 2-hour fire-rated electrical rooms, and independent exterior access. Demolition of existing main generator, switchboards, motor control centers, and associated equipment is included.

Design-Build Entity must maintain active Florida General Contractor licensure; demonstrate substantially completed experience on at least one main electrical building project in an industrial or municipal facility with minimum contract value of $7,000,000 completed within the last ten years on schedule and on budget; document experience with Construction Manager at Risk or Progressive Design-Build methodology; provide current Experience Modification Rate (EMR) not exceeding 1.0, five-year average OSHA Total Recordable Incident Rates below 3.4, DART rates below 2.1, and Days Away from Work Case rates below 1.0; and evidence bonding capacity for a minimum of $20,000,000. Key design staff (Design Manager, Lead Electrical Engineer, Lead Instrumentation and Controls Engineer, Lead Architect, Lead Structural Engineer) and eight key construction staff positions must be identified with relevant project experience. Prior wastewater/water/reclaim treatment plant experience is preferred.

The project operates under a phased progressive design-build delivery model: Phase 1 (design, pricing, deliverables) is compensated on time-plus-expenses not-to-exceed basis per Attachment B; Phase 2 (final design, procurement, construction, start-up, testing, commissioning, warranty) is compensated under Guaranteed Maximum Price with separate Design-Builder and Owner contingencies. The County retains an "off-ramp" option to directly contract with design subconsultants if Phase 2 pricing negotiations reach impasse. A Public Construction Bond (100% of construction value) is required prior to Phase 1 commencement and a Form of Guarantee prior to Phase 2. All prospective bidders must complete Plan Holder Registration through the Vendor Self-Service page and submit to bids@pbcwater.com to access proposal documents via Cloud Drive. Questions must follow advertisement requirements. Project Manager Daisy Zheng, P.E., can be reached at dzheng@pbcwater.com. Prospective bidders who submitted under the original RFP may resubmit identical proposals with updated project numbers and re-signed documentation; all bidders must resubmit plan holder requests as the revised RFP is considered a new solicitation.