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SFPUC awards DB141 progressive design‑build preconstruction contract for Southeast plant nutrient‑reduction project
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Summary
The commission authorized a $192.7 million initial preconstruction award to a Jacobs‑PCL joint venture for DB141, a regulatory‑driven nutrient reduction project at the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant; staff said the anticipated contract budget is $1 billion and a protest by Sundt was denied.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission voted to award a progressive design‑build contract (DB141) for nutrient reduction at the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant to a Jacobs‑PCL San Francisco joint venture, authorizing an initial preconstruction services award of $192,700,000.
Jignesh Desai, principal project manager for the Bayside Treatment Region, told commissioners the project is driven by a region‑wide nutrient watershed permit issued after harmful algal blooms and fish kills in 2022–2023; the project will plan, design and construct infrastructure to reduce inorganic nitrogen discharged to the Bay. Desai said the procurement was structured as progressive design‑build with a 75% weighting on qualifications and 25% on price to prioritize technical solutions when direct construction costs are initially unknown. The staff packet lists an anticipated total progressive design‑build contract budget of $1,000,000,000.
Desai described a three‑step procurement (request for interest, RFQ, RFP) that produced two finalist teams; Jacobs‑PCL scored highest overall in written and oral evaluations. Sundt Construction submitted a protest to the notice of intent to award; contract administration in consultation with the city attorney’s office and the SIP team denied that protest and recommended proceeding with Jacobs‑PCL as the responsible proposer.
Commissioners asked about the number of proposer teams and why qualification scored more heavily than the price component; Desai and staff explained that progressive design‑build begins without a prescriptive technical solution and that a technically stronger team can produce cost savings during preconstruction that outweigh initial price plug estimates. Staff said the procurement included social‑impact and local business enterprise (LBE) considerations and that contract teams will work on workforce roadmaps during the 1,460‑day preconstruction period.
Public commenters from local contractor collectives urged strong, early outreach and real opportunities for local and Black‑led firms to participate in the project’s subcontracting and workforce pipeline. Project staff said LBE objectives are tracked through CMD closeout memos and that closeout reporting is published.
Commissioner Stacy moved to approve the contract award; the motion passed on a voice vote (attending commissioners voted aye; Commissioner Jamdar excused). Staff emphasized that no construction will occur until the commission has reviewed and approved CEQA documents and related mitigation measures.
The commission’s authorization covers the preconstruction services phase; staff said subsequent preconstruction deliverables will inform design, cost and schedule estimates for later construction authorizations.
