Middleborough says East Grove treatment-plant design is complete; bids due in April

MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. — The Water and Sewer Commissioners heard an update Jan. 29 that the East Grove Water Treatment Plant design is complete, prequalification of subcontractors is underway and bid openings are scheduled for early April, with contract execution planned before the end of the town fiscal year.

The update matters because the plant will replace aging iron-and-manganese filters, add granular activated carbon to remove PFAS, and is large enough that construction timing and funding decisions will come to town meeting. Brian (chair of the Water and Sewer Commissioners) told the board the 90 percent design estimate remains within budget but that the town will post a placeholder warrant article so Town Meeting can address any shortfall after formal bids arrive.

Leah, the project engineer for the East Grove Treatment Plant with Weston & Sampson, told the board the design is finished and staff are beginning the contractor prequalification and bidding sequence. “The design for the East Grove plant is complete. … That bid opening is April 2nd, and then the GC bid opening is April 23rd,” Leah said. The prequalification process includes multiple filed-sub categories; the team reported about 67 filed-sub bidders overall and about 10 general contractors had requested prequalification materials.

Town staff said the plant will include biological treatment for iron and manganese — the same approach used at East Main — with granular activated carbon on the back end for PFAS removal. The project team emphasized the storage/garage element will be included in the East Grove contract to preserve access to State Revolving Fund (SRF) principal forgiveness; the town expects at least 11 percent in principal forgiveness tied to SRF requirements and staff said excluding the garage now could forfeit that benefit.

Schedule and procurement details provided to the commissioners: prequalification and filed-sub processes are underway with a February deadline for prequalification; filed-sub bid documents will be published and opened the week of April 2, followed by general-contractor bids on April 23. Contract execution is expected before the end of the fiscal year in June; staff estimated construction mobilization 6–8 weeks after contract award and an 18– to 24-month construction window, with plant startup likely in late 2026 and official completion into 2027.

Staff also described the prequalification rules used for SRF-funded projects — including WBE/MBE goals of roughly 23–24 percent that SRF requires — and the requirement that bidders carry A-rated bonding. Leah said the garage as part of the East Grove site provides economy of scale and allows smaller, more minimal upgrades at other plants.

Next steps: staff will complete the prequalification vetting, open filed-sub and GC bids in April, and present final bid results and a placeholder warrant article to the Select Board/Town Meeting if the low bids indicate a need for additional appropriations. Town staff asked commissioners to be available near the end of June for contract execution if bids require action before the July fiscal date.

Charges, specific bid prices and any final contract awards were not reported at the meeting; staff said those numbers will be available once formal bids are opened and evaluated.