Board advances feasibility study, RFQ/RFP steps for BDD rebuild and PLC upgrade
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Summary
Facilities staff told the board the MR&R PLC control upgrade RFP is out and a 15% feasibility study (stepping toward 30% design) is underway with city/county and consultants; the RFQ will include vetted alternatives and an off-ramp to extend a top-qualified firm to full design.
Facilities Manager Bridal told the board that the MR&R PLC control-systems upgrade is proceeding on schedule with an RFP issued and proposals expected in coming months. Bridal said a comprehensive feasibility study is underway with city, county and consultants including AECOM and Whitewater Engineering to vet alternatives and move toward 30% design.
Board members asked whether the feasibility study is essentially an alternatives analysis and whether study outputs would be available to RFQ respondents. Bridal said the study is a ~15% feasibility-level analysis to clarify how components fit together; vetted ideas from that study will be presented and made available to RFQ respondents. Bridal added that the RFQ will generate top qualifiers and that the contract can include an "off-ramp" at 30% with an option to take the top firm to 100% design if the board chooses.
Members pressed for clarity on performance criteria (for example, how much sediment the project should remove), cost ranges and a critical-path timeline. Bridal said staff are preparing a timeline and could bring a March update showing major milestones and the steps that will return to the board before authorizing an RFQ or RFP.
Facilities staff and board members also discussed workforce needs: the board was told a chemist offer was made and that an administrative manager recruitment produced more candidates than expected. Bridal encouraged interested community members to attend an upcoming rapid-hire event.
Why it matters: the feasibility analysis and procurement steps will determine the scope, cost and schedule of long-term fixes to BDD operations and infrastructure, including sediment management and control-system modernization.
What’s next: staff will present a project timeline and vetted alternatives at a future meeting, and the board will consider RFQ/RFP approvals once those materials are available.