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Epping wastewater upgrade on schedule for 90% design; town pursues CWSRF funding
Summary
Underwood Engineers told the Wastewater Upgrade Committee the project will submit 90% drawings to the Town and NHDES on April 15 and that the state indicated the town is likely to receive CWSRF funding for the roughly $38 million project, though the amount of principal forgiveness is not yet specified.
Underwood Engineers told the Town of Epping Wastewater Upgrade Committee on April 10 that design work has advanced from 60% to 90% and that the firm plans to submit 90% drawings and specifications to the town and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services on April 15.
"Everything is on schedule to submit the 90% drawings and specifications to the Town and NHDES for review by April 15," said Dave Mercier of Underwood Engineers. He said most of DPC's value-engineering recommendations have been incorporated into the design.
The committee was given a detailed milestone schedule that shows tasks through when the first Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) bond payment would be due, currently projected for April 2030. Underwood reported combined billing through March 31 for Underwood and AECOM of $1.19 million, about 69% of a $1.72 million contract; Mercier said he expects approximately $100,000 in April billing and roughly $400,000 remaining to advance from 90% to 100% design.
Mercier said he spoke with a DES staffer and that the State indicated confidence it can offer the town funding for the approximately $38 million construction project and that principal forgiveness would be greater than 5%, but the forgiveness amount is not specified at this time. Underwood plans to submit a CWSRF pre-application at the end of May and expects DES comments around July 1, followed by a meeting to discuss waiver requests for several scope items.
The committee asked Underwood to identify which tasks are included in the initial contract and which are part of the next phase; Mercier said the break point is Sept. 1 (100% completion). He advised that bidding is likely to be slightly ahead of when a signed SRF loan would be received, and that the town should have sufficient reserves or other funding options to cover the bidding phase if the loan is not yet finalized. Underwood estimated construction-phase engineering at roughly $3 million and confirmed Owners' Contingency and Construction Phase Engineering lines were not in the 60% design but are now incorporated.
Town Administrator Jake Roger said he will review and sign permit applications (AoT and SP) and the CWSRF pre-application. Mercier said Underwood will submit a scope-and-fee proposal for work after transition to DES during the bidding phase and will provide a line-item breakdown showing which activities will be bid and which are under contract.
The committee delayed a decision on whether to add a 90% (Class 2) cost opinion back into the scope of work for about a month; Justin Skelley of DPC recommended preparing cost opinions at both 90% and 100%, and Eric Meserve of AECOM noted that the State may require a 100% cost opinion to authorize bidding and awarding.
The committee was told that, under the current schedule, a CWSRF loan best-case signed date would be Dec. 15, contracts could be awarded by Jan. 1, and a contractor would likely start no earlier than April 15, 2027. The next committee meeting is scheduled for April 24.
