CITY OF LAREDO Request for Qualification March 21, 2016 Project: Comprehensive Water Distribution and Meter Management Audit The City of Laredo is requesting qualifications and a statement of interest from qualified firms for a Comprehensive Water Distribution and Meter Management Audit project until 4:00 PM, on Friday, April 15, 2016. The purpose is to identify and offer solutions that permit The City of Laredo to reduce all Non Revenue Water (NRW). The Audit report will act as a guide for the city in determining what steps need to be taken to reduce the amount of revenue that goes unbilled and to identify proper monitoring and procedures that best serve to reduce its water loss ratio. The City will not consider proposals from firms or individuals having arrangements with meter manufacturing or supply companies. The services and performance conditions are described in the Scope of Work. BACK GROUND: The City of Laredo incorporates automatic water meters for most of its service area with a population of 276,000. The City of Laredo uses surface water from the Rio Grande River as its source of raw water. The two plants in the City of Laredo are Jefferson Water Treatment Plant 65 MGD and El Pico Water Treatment Plant 20 MGD. The average daily consumption during 2015 was approximately 32.8 million gallons per day and peak demand for 2015 was 46.2 million gallons per day. Service connections to the water system as of December 31, 2015 were 75,147. The City of Laredo s last comprehensive water audit was completed in 2006. Since then the City has made many changes including its new El Pico WTP and conversion of its manual read meters to AMR and AMI style meters. SCOPE OF SERVICES: Scope of the services will be related but not limited to the followings;
1. Identify areas for recovery of real and apparent water revenue losses and corrective measures. 2. Comprehensive evaluation of existing customer meters by sizes, types and consumption levels. 3. Detailed analysis of automated meter reading system and its impact on revenues and usage history. 4. Comprehensive analysis of the differences between the City's current meter selection implementation, rate structure, customer service and billing procedures against industry standards with recommendations to reconcile and improve the differences. 5. Determination of levels of apparent and real losses in the system to include leak potential and recommendations for field survey, line break analysis and district measurements including recommendation with priorities for a leak detection and repair/replacement. 6. Identification of causes of water loss and water accountability issues with recommendations for their cost-effective remediation. 7. Propose solutions based on stakeholder input, best practices and consultant experience, with a summary of the advantage and disadvantage of each. 8. Train staff in meter testing protocol, including field demonstrations of large meters. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS: As a minimum, all respondents should specifically include the following information in their submittals: 1. American Water Works Association (AWWA) training specific to Water Loss and Meter Application Sizing. 2. Demonstrated ten (10) years experience in conducting Water Audits with successful completion with a minimum of five (5) cities similar to Laredo. 3. National (AWWA) and Local (TWUA) recognition via papers, presentations and training programs on Unaccounted for Drinking Water. 4. A minimum of ten (10) years experience with water distribution systems, pressure planes, and flushing requirements as it applies to AMR meter technology. 5. A minimum of ten (10) years experience in billing operations and customer service interface throughout the utilities revenue process. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Provide Seven (7) copies (including one unbound copy suitable for photocopying) of submittals and must contain the following information: 1. One page letter of interest that includes a synopsis and qualifications of the prime firm and sub-consultants, the project manager and primary contact, and the project principle representing the contractual authority of the firm. 2. Profile of firm and relevant experience working on similar projects within the last ten (10) years. Describe the firm s or team members experience with local governments or other public agencies in the development of similar projects. 3. Resumes of the project manager, principal and staff identified as having a major role in the project.
4. A description of the proposed approach to the development of the Audit. Describe how the consultant proposes to meet the project objectives. 5. A proposed scope of work with project time-line for completion of the project, with milestone identified. 6. Project descriptions for five (5) recent projects of a similar scope performed by the project manager, principal or team members within the last ten (10) years. Provide the name of the client (include contact information), description of services provided, key personnel involved, year the project was completed, and estimated planning or design cost. 7. Disclose any material agreements, relationships, or employment your firm or team members has with any other planning or design firm, government agency or other person or entity that may create a conflict of interest or the appearance thereof. SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA Process The City will assemble a review committee to evaluate all responses to this Request for Proposals. From this review, the committee may select a firm solely on the basis of submittals, or may additionally identify a short list for possible interviews. The committee may contact any or all respondents to clarify submitted information. Upon selection of a firm or individual(s) based on its evaluation of the respondent s submission, the City will negotiate a scope of services and other terms and conditions of an agreement with the selected firm. City intends to evaluate the submissions received and to select the firm within thirty (30) days. Selection Criteria The City will select the firm or individuals that most successfully meet the criteria listed below. The selection criteria and weighting is shown below: 1. Demonstrated previous experience of the firm or individuals with Water Distribution and Meter Management Audits. (25 points). 2. Qualifications of the team to provide the full range of project management skills needed and to adequately respond to scope requirements. (25 points) 3. Project approach and understanding of the scope with timelines and evidence of the Team s ability to generate creative solutions. (25 points) 4. Project descriptions for five (5) recent projects of a similar scope performed by the project manager, principal or team members within the last ten (10) years. RFP OFFICIAL CONTACT Upon release of this RFQ, all communications concerning the overall RFQ should be directed to the RFQ Coordinator listed below. Unauthorized contact regarding this RFQ with any other City employees may result in disqualification. Any oral communications will be considered unofficial and non-binding on the City. All written questions will be answers during the preproposal day. Consultant should rely only on written statements issued by the RFP Coordinator.
Name: RFQ Coordinator Michael Rodgers, Assistant Utility Director, City of Laredo E-mail:mrodgers@ci.laredo.tx.us Important Considerations The City reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any or all submittals when, in its opinion, it is determined to be in the public interest to do so. This Request for Proposals does not obligate the City to pay any costs incurred by any respondent in the submission of a proposal or in making necessary studies or design for the preparation thereof, or for procuring or contracting for the services to be furnished under this request for proposals. The City will give preference to Laredo firms when other considerations are equal. Firms submitting interest statements should be ready to negotiate a professional services fee within thirty (30) days after notifications of recommendation for award. Questions concerning the RFP should be directed to Mr. Michael Rodgers, Assistant Utility Director at 956-721-2000. Interested consultant firms should submit the proposals consisting of the minimum number of typewritten pages sufficient to provide necessary information to: Riazul Mia, P.E., Director 5816 Daugherty Ave. Laredo, Texas 78044.
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Project: Comprehensive Water Distribution and Meter Management Audit. The City of Laredo is requesting qualifications and a statement of interest from qualified firms for a Comprehensive Water Distribution and Meter Management Audit project until 4:00 PM, on Friday, April 15, 2016. The purpose is to identify and offer solutions that permit The City of Laredo to reduce all Non Revenue Water (NRW). The Audit report will act as a guide for the city in determining what steps need to be taken to reduce the amount of revenue that goes unbilled and to identify proper monitoring and procedures that best serve to reduce its water loss ratio. The City will not consider proposals from firms or individuals having arrangements with meter manufacturing or supply companies. The services and performance conditions are described in the Scope of Work. Interested consultant firms should submit Seven (7) copies (including one unbound copy suitable for photocopying) of submittals and must contain the requested information consisting of the minimum number of typewritten pages sufficient to provide necessary information to: Riazul Mia, P.E., Director 5816 Daugherty Ave. Laredo, Texas 78044