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Committee approves $57 million in engineering contract increases for ocean‑outfall compliance program
Summary
The committee approved amendments adding $47 million and four years to the Jacobs Engineering agreement and two $5 million increases to contracts with CDM Smith and Brown & Caldwell to advance Miami‑Dade’s ocean outfall compliance and large‑scale reuse program.
The Infrastructure and Technology Committee approved a resolution to amend three professional services agreements for Miami‑Dade County’s Water and Sewer Department to advance the county’s ocean outfall compliance program and expanded reuse work.
The resolution authorizes contract amendments for: Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. (adding $47,000,000 to the award and extending the contract term by four years), CDM Smith (adding $5,000,000), and Brown & Caldwell (adding $5,000,000). The committee authorized the county mayor to execute the amendments and exercise provisions contained in the contracts.
Roy Coley, the county’s Chief Utilities and Regulatory Services Officer, presented a program status update to the committee, noting the ocean outfall program is roughly 34% complete. Coley said Miami‑Dade has achieved compliance on phosphorus reductions and is at about 80% on nitrogen reductions; the reuse requirement in state law calls for reuse of roughly 100 million gallons per day (60% of the county’s base flow at the time the law passed). “We intend for all of that to be fully under construction in 2026,” Coley said.
Coley summarized the program’s history: Florida’s ocean outfall legislation passed in 2008; Miami‑Dade submitted a compliance plan to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in 2013 and contracted Jacobs in 2014 for program management. In 2019 the county revised its compliance plan and changed course on construction of a proposed new West District wastewater treatment plant, switching to other reuse and conveyance strategies.
Coley outlined how the county is pursuing large‑scale reuse, including industrial reuse and projects that would capture treated effluent for applications such as cooling and energy recovery; he said many reuse projects are scheduled to be under construction by 2026. The administration and committee noted the program has gained urgency in state funding discussions, with legislators asking whether Miami‑Dade is in compliance before supporting county infrastructure funding.
Committee members praised recent program acceleration and supported continuing with engineering partners who have program history. The resolution passed without recorded opposition.
Outcome: Resolution to amend professional services agreements approved; mayor authorized to execute amendments. The contract increases fund continued design, program management and oversight work to implement ocean outfall compliance, nutrient reductions and expanded reuse.
What to watch next: The county expects major construction starts by the end of 2025 and construction activity in 2026; staff and contractors will report project‑level schedules and budget details as designs progress.
