Roseburg commission backs Consor North America for five-year water transmission-main engineering contract

The Roseburg Public Works Commission voted unanimously Feb. 24, 2025, to recommend the City Council award a five-year master engineering contract to Consor North America for engineering services on the city’s 24-inch water transmission main replacement program.

The recommendation responds to a qualified-based selection process staff conducted to identify a firm to handle design, bidding and construction management for the multi-phase effort to replace the aging transmission main that runs along Northeast Stevens Street between the treatment plant in Winchester and the reservoir complex on Northeast Bellevue Court. The older transmission main was originally installed in 1934.

Staff said four statements of qualification were received and scored by a three-person public-works review committee. Consor North America received the top score with 95 points; RH2 Engineering Inc. scored 86; Keller and Associates Inc. 75; and ZCS 68. Staff recommended entering a master engineering contract with the highest-ranked proposer. Contract work would be authorized by individual task orders over a five-year term; the contract includes provisions to extend twice for two years each, to a nine-year maximum.

Commissioners were told the adopted fiscal year 2024–25 water fund budget includes $350,000 for design of Phase 4. Staff said fees for individual task orders will be negotiated as work is authorized and that any task order over $100,000 will be presented to the commission and City Council for approval. If the commission’s recommendation is forwarded, staff will present the award to the City Council at its Feb. 24, 2025 meeting.

Commission discussion covered project phasing, cost and water-loss issues. Staff described the transmission-main replacement as “extensive engineering” and said the project costs about $1,000 per linear foot; Phases 4 and 5 together cover roughly 6,600 feet with a construction estimate approaching $7 million. Staff said roughly 10% of construction cost is typical for combined design and construction management; for Phases 4 and 5 that equates to about $650,000 in engineering fees, which informed the city’s decision to budget $350,000 in FY25 to start design.

Commissioners also asked whether the work replaces pipe or rehabilitates it; staff said the project involves replacement and upsizing — the current 20-inch line is being replaced by a 24-inch main and the old pipe will be abandoned. Staff described observed leaks along Northeast Stevens Street that have diminished in areas where pipe has already been replaced and said the city previously reduced apparent water loss from about 25% to under 18% by pursuing visible leaks, though staff noted apparent losses have crept back up and meter replacements are being evaluated.

The commission moved and seconded a recommendation to award the master engineering contract to Consor North America; the vote was unanimous.

The city’s next step is for staff to present the proposed contract award to the City Council for authorization and to negotiate individual task orders if the council approves the award.