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Commission approves $3.8M design contract for Eastern Water Treatment Facility after questions about single-bid RFQ
Summary
Commission approved item 7D to contract design work for the Eastern Water Treatment Facility despite commissioners noting Kimley Horn was the only qualified respondent and asking how staff benchmarked the $3.8 million design fee; staff said construction could cost about $34 million and explained outreach and grant-match funding sources.
The Deltona City Commission voted to approve item 7D on June 1, authorizing design work for the Eastern Water Treatment Facility after commissioners pressed staff about procurement and costs.
Commissioner Cowwell asked how staff verified that the $3.8 million design fee was fair and what benchmarking was used because Kimley Horn was the only qualified respondent. A staff member said the RFQ produced just one qualified respondent, that prior similar procurements had been in line, and that some extra services were removed from the scope. The staff response included a cost projection: “The completed project has been estimated to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 34 million if it were to go to construction. This is simply for us to design it so that we can then begin to move forward and try to get funding for the project.”
Commissioners also raised concerns about use of the DemandStar procurement platform, noting a pattern of single respondents on recent RFQs and RFPs. Staff said the city and its engineering partner do outreach during the 90‑day advertisement period and that the grant administrator reviewed the solicitation and had no issue with a single qualified respondent because that respondent was qualified and experienced.
After discussion, Commissioner Harriet moved to approve item 7D and Commissioner Santiago seconded; the motion passed 5–1. The record does not name individual votes beyond the final tally. The motion authorizes staff to proceed with design contracting steps; staff said they will pursue funding for construction once design is complete.
