Staff recommends the City Council award a professional engineering services contract for W.O. 25-01, Contract 1: 2025 Water Main Replacement, to DOWL in the amount of $699,429.

Staff proposes awarding a professional engineering services contract to DOWL for the 2026 Water Main Replacement project, which will replace approximately 8,300 linear feet of aging and failure-prone water mains in two high-priority areas selected based on age, break history, capacity, and coordination with future street improvements. The $699,429 contract is fully funded within the FY26 water fund budget of $5,015,000, with remaining funds allocated for construction and materials testing.

The City replaces and upgrades its water utilities as part of an annual maintenance program.  This project will replace approximately 8,300 linear feet of water mains in two separate geographic areas.  Area 1 consists of Central Avenue from 15th Street West to the alley west of 17th Street West, Lynn Avenue and Saint Johns Avenue from 16th Street West to the alley west of 17th Street West, and 16th Street West from Central to Saint Johns Avenue.  Area 1 will replace approximately 5050 linear feet of 8-inch and 12-inch water mains.  Area 2 consists of 6th Avenue North from North 13th Street to North 18th Street, and within North 13th Street and within North 18th Street from 4th Avenue North to 6th Avenue North.  

The water mains being replaced were selected based on several criteria including age, break history, lead joint pipe, undersized water mains, and replacement prior to future street improvement projects.  The water mains in and adjacent to Central Avenue have a very high break history and have caused recent property damage.  The 16-inch water main within 6th Avenue North is the primary backup feeding the Billings' Heights and has had several main breaks in recent years.  Due to the large diameter of the water main, breaks are difficult and expensive to repair.  

DOWL was selected for the project using the proposal process.  Four other proposals were received from Sanbell, Performance Engineering, Stahly Engineering and Associates, Inc., and Morrison-Maierle.  The consultant selection was based on Project Team and Availability; Project Approach; and Firm Qualifications and Experience as related to the project needs per state law selection requirements.

The water main replacement project was budgeted in FY26 using water funds in the amount of $5,015,000.  There are adequate funds to award the contract.  The remaining budget will be used for construction and materials testing.

City Council may:

• Approve awarding the Professional Engineering Services Contract to DOWL, or;
• Not approve awarding the Professional Engineering Services contract to DOWL. If the project is not awarded, the City's water main in these areas will continue to be unreliable and will likely experience ongoing maintenance problems and expenses.