FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR GRIZZLY GULCH RESERVOIR

Clear Creek County is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit qualified consultants to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the feasibility of permitting, constructing, and utilizing Clear Creek County’s conditionally decreed water storage rights for Grizzly Gulch Reservoir.

This project is funded through the Colorado’s Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Water Plan Grant Program and must comply with all applicable grant requirements and County procurement policies. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of developing Grizzly Gulch Reservoir and to identify and engage viable partnerships for the financing, construction, and ultimate operation and maintenance of the proposed reservoir.

Clear Creek County owns a decreed, conditional, 400-acre-foot storage right for Grizzly Gulch Reservoir (“Reservoir”). This Feasibility Study is the next step in the development of that Reservoir.

**Phase 1: Project Management** – (approx. cost estimate $17,000).

Project initiation shall include a kickoff meeting with consultant, CWCB staff, and County staff. The group will discuss the various components of the Feasibility Study including the cost estimates, and develop a project schedule.

The consultant will follow the project schedule outline and will hold regular check-in meetings with the County staff, as agreed upon. The consultant will document all meetings, outline and report progress on the project schedule, and calendar and track the action items for the group.

Phase 2: Draft Feasibility Study

The Feasibility Study shall include the following:

1. Water Rights Evaluation: Evaluate the decreed Grizzly Gulch Reservoir Water Right and, to the extent necessary, the County’s associated augmentation plan water right and other nearby water rights (approx. cost estimate $6,000).
2. Water Supply Availability: Evaluate the physical and legal water supply available to the Grizzly Gulch Water Right through targeted modeling efforts (approx. cost estimate $6,000).
3. Geotechnical Evaluation: Conduct initial geotechnical testing as needed to accurately assess the suitability of the decreed site, and geotechnical challenges and/or benefits of the site, and potential construction implications (approx. cost estimate $20,000, including overseeing a geotechnical subcontractor).
4. Environmental Impact Analysis: Evaluate what level of Environmental Impact Analysis would be required, which agencies would be involved, the estimated timeline to complete the analysis, and any unique challenges that would be anticipated (approx. cost estimate $10,000).
5. Landowner Impact Analysis: Identify the directly and indirectly (but proximate) impacted landowners and any legal requirements, including early identification of potential permitting requirements, coordination needs, and associated timelines [...] (approx. cost estimate $1,250).
6. Economic Assessment: Evaluate the key economic considerations to design, permit, construct, and operate and maintain Grizzly Gulch Reservoir [...] (approx. cost estimate $2,750).
7. Cost-Benefit Analysis: Evaluate the costs and benefits of developing the Reservoir, including not only economic factors but also environmental, watershed and riparian, fish and wildlife, State water supply planning, fire protection, and climate change mitigation and adaptation considerations (approx. cost estimate $6,000).

The draft Feasibility Study shall be provided in editable Word format to County staff by **April 30, 2027**, and a meeting shall be scheduled for consultant to discuss the draft report.

**Phase 3: Final Report** - (approx. cost estimate $16,000)

The final “Feasibility Study for Grizzly Gulch Reservoir” shall include key findings, potential challenges, recommendations, and next steps to help guide the County's future decisions. The consultant will incorporate agreed upon changes and will deliver a final draft to County staff for review prior to the release of the final report.

Deliverable

The Final Feasibility Study shall be delivered in a pre-approved format on or before **June 30, 2027**.

**Submission method:** Responses shall be submitted in an email attachment package clearly identified in the subject line as follows: RFP Clear Creek County Feasibility Study for Grizzly Gulch Reservoir. Please deliver your responses to lleben@clearcreekcounty.us.

The deadline for submitting a proposal is **4:00 p.m. MST, Tuesday, December 1, 2026**. Responses received after the deadline will NOT be considered.

**Maximum Contract Amount: $85,000**. Proposals should be scoped to reflect the tasks with cost estimates identified in this RFP. Flexibility is allowed to adjust the allocations within the overall $85,000 budget.

Evaluation Criteria

• Qualifications and ability to perform the services requested (50 Points)
• Execution of the scope of work (50 Points)

Professional Liability (Errors and Omissions Liability) Insurance minimum limits of $1 million per loss/aggregate. Any revisions to the schedule will be posted on the Clear Creek County website “Bid Postings” link.