Council Considers RFP for New Water Plant

On Monday October 25, 2010 the Centralia City Council will consider approval of the solicitation of proposals for Design Engineering Services for the Water Treatment Plant Replacement Project. The existing Water Treatment Plant has exceeded its useful life and needs to be replaced to meet current and future water treatment needs. The City has worked with Strand Associates since a contract was approved at the March 31, 2008 Council meeting. Three Task Orders have been issued to Strand to date. Efforts to submit information to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in order to obtain a low-interest loan have come to a standstill. Staff recommends to the City Council termination of the contract at the October 12, 2010 Council meeting. The information secured by the City through these task orders will be beneficial to selecting the final site of the new Water Treatment Plant, however City staff feels that the design of the new WTP and securing funding for that Plant should be handled by an engineering firm that has a stronger technical background in treating surface water and which is dedicated to helping the City secure financing for this project. Staff has created a Request for Proposal for the design of the Water Treatment Plant. The Request for Proposal is geared toward fulfilling the requirements of the IEPA project planning checklist, site selection and acquisition and preparations for final design. If approved, staff will advertise the RFP to various engineering firms with experience designing surface water treatment plants, experience working with IEPA funded projects and who are creative to methods of treating and providing water for the City of Centralia. The RFP’s are due in the City Clerk’s Office on December 1, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. and will be reviewed by staff with a recommendation to the City Council for acceptance of the successful proposal at the December 13, 2010 Council meeting.