Dam Safety Engineering Services ¿ Southern California

The Department of Water Resources (DWR), Division of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and Dam Safety Services Branch invites qualified firms to submit a Statement of Qualification (SOQ). The services to be provided will be engineering and related services on an as-needed and as-directed basis, during peak workload periods, to support O&M in the review, inspection, evaluation, analysis, and oversight of structures associated with the State Water Project (SWP).

These services will address specific engineering issues related to the safety, performance, and maintenance of structures owned, operated, or maintained by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), this includes facilities located within the boundaries of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Project Nos. 2426 and 2100. The specific work and deliverables are identified in Exhibit A, Description of Services.

The services to be provided may require that work be done independently or partnered with other DWR employees but always at the direction of the DWR.

Dam Performance Surveillance and Monitoring

• Develop or make revisions to the Dam Safety Surveillance Monitoring Plans (DSSMP) and Dam Safety Surveillance Monitoring Reports (DSSMR) for SWP dams.
• Develop or update of the Supporting Technical Information Document (STID) for SWP dams.
• Review of instrumentation data and assess performance.
• Perform inspections of dams and appurtenances, including hydropower plants, pumping plants, penstocks, conduits, discharge lines, tunnels, access shafts, spillways, inlet and outlet structures, instrumentation, embankments, liners, check structures, buoy lines, tainter gates, slide gates, valves, and drain lines ranging from 2 inches to 3 feet diameter.
• Conduct rope access and technical climbing inspections and provide related services on or around SWP structures and appurtenances.
• Perform underwater dive and ROV inspections of underwater structures.
• Perform surveys using conventional methods and emerging technologies such as drones.

Risk Informed Decision Making

• Facilitate and present at Potential Failure Mode Analysis and risk workshops.
• Perform engineering risk assessments, support risk management activities, and apply risk-informed decision-making processes.
• Provide dam safety experts to serve on the FERC Part 12D Independent Consultant Team (IC Team), fulfilling CFR Title 18, Part 12D requirements.

Analysis and Evaluations

• Perform foundation evaluations.
• Conduct static and dynamic analyses.
• Conduct seepage analyses.
• Perform embankment stability assessments.
• Conduct hydraulic and hydrologic analyses.
• Perform dam breach analyses.

Geotechnical and Geologic Studies

• Conduct seismic stability.
• Evaluate liquefaction potential and other ground failure mechanisms.

Program Development and Support

• Audit and assess the maturity of the DWR SWP Dam Safety Program.
• Develop Public Safety Plans for SWP facilities.
• Develop Rapid Response and Recovery Plans for SWP facilities.
• Develop maintenance and operations manuals and plans for SWP infrastructure.

Engineering Design and Review

• Conduct peer reviews of engineering and geologic reports, analyses, plans, and specifications prepared by DWR or consultants, and provide recommendations or comments.
• Provide Geographic Information System (GIS) services and support.

Training

- Transfer technical knowledge and processes developed during the course of this contract to DWR staff.

One text readable pdf copy of the SOQ must be emailed to Kristine Tualla at Kristine.Tualla@water.ca.gov. Alternative options of SOQ submission is to mail, overnight, or hand deliver (hand deliver by appointment only) the text readable pdf copy of the SOQ on a USB Flash Drive.

The SOQ must be received by **2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2026**. Please limit your SOQ to a maximum of 200 pages excluding cover letters, resumes, and licenses.

**Mandatory** attendance of the pre-SOQ conference is required. No SOQ will be accepted unless Firm attends the mandatory Pre-SOQ Conference meeting.

Each Firm's SOQ will be evaluated and scored in accordance with the selection criteria. Separate interviews will then be held with at least three of the firms deemed to be the most highly qualified to provide the needed services or with all firms if less than three apply.

The estimated length term for this agreement is March 02, 2027 through March 1, 2030 (three years) with the option of up to two one-year amendments.

A SOQ will be rejected if the certification sheet is unsigned or omitted.