Facility Planning Support for MSD

The City of Cincinnati, through its Department of Sewers (hereinafter "City"), as the sole management agency for the operation and maintenance of the sewer system on behalf of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (hereinafter "MSDGC") is issuing this Request for Qualifications (hereinafter "RFQ"), pursuant to the provisions of applicable Ohio law and MSDGC policy, from parties (hereinafter "Offeror"). Offeror shall provide the City with assistance for the purpose of completing the activities associated with the Scope of Services, below.

MSDGC's Planning Group is processing and prioritizing multiple facilities projects. These include a wide range of projects from facility plans to specific process modifications. These projects are required to keep the plants in compliance with current regulations. The consultant will provide professional engineering, technical, and strategic planning services to support MSD's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for wastewater treatment facilities and associated infrastructure.

A general outline of work required is provided in this RFQ. Services may include but are not limited to the following:

• Evaluation of existing wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations, and related infrastructure.
• Identification and prioritization of rehabilitation, replacement, expansion, and process optimization projects.
• Conducting both high-level and detailed condition assessments of wastewater treatment plant assets and supporting infrastructure, including process equipment, structures, piping, electrical systems, HVAC, instrumentation and controls, pumping facilities, and ancillary assets.
• Review and analysis of historical operating data, including influent and effluent flows, pollutant loadings, permit compliance records, laboratory analyses, and process performance trends.
• Evaluation of treatment plant processes, including raw sewage pumping, preliminary treatment, primary treatment, biological treatment, secondary clarification, tertiary treatment, nutrient removal systems, disinfection, solids handling, residuals management, and other ancillary processes.
• Assessment of hydraulic and organic loading capacities relative to current and projected demands.
• Review of process reliability, redundancy, resiliency, and operational flexibility.
• Evaluation of energy consumption, chemical usage, and overall process efficiency.
• Identification of process bottlenecks, underperforming equipment, and operational risks affecting treatment performance.
• Assessment of compliance with current and anticipated regulatory requirements, permit limitations, and nutrient management objectives.
• Evaluation of instrumentation, controls, automation systems, and process monitoring capabilities.
• Identification of opportunities for process optimization, rehabilitation, expansion, advanced treatment implementation, and energy recovery initiatives.
• Stakeholder engagement, workshops, and presentations to utility staff, management, governing boards, and the public.
• Preparation of planning level cost estimates and project schedules.
• Development of technical memorandum, condition assessment reports, Business Case Evaluation documentation

This scope is not intended to be all-inclusive, as a detailed scope of work will be developed during negotiations with the selected firm.

Note: All finished products and documents shall be the sole property of MSDGC.

An electronic Statement of Qualifications must be submitted through the City's Bonfire portal at https://cincinnati-oh.bonfirehub.com/. Responses submitted by hard copy, mail, or e-mail will not be accepted.

The anticipated term of the contract resulting from this RFQ is five years with two (2) optional two-year extensions.

This project shall have a 13% SBE inclusion goal.

Evaluation criteria

| Evaluation Criteria | Max. Weight |
| --- | --- |
| Overall Qualifications of the Firm | 10% |
| Qualifications of Key Personnel | 20% |
| Experience with Facilities Planning | 30% |
| Similar Projects | 20% |
| Small Business Enterprise Utilization | 20% |
| Total | 100% |

The Offeror determined to be the most qualified will be offered the opportunity to enter into a Master Agreement (MA) with the City.