The original Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) was published in 1991 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These rules were promulgated to protect people from serious harm associated with chemicals precipitating from old lead and copper service lines and water mains. Several revisions have occurred since then. Guidelines for the most recent comprehensive revisions to the LCR were published in August 2022. All water utilities are required to follow these new rules that include new testing requirements, treatment requirements, service line identification and replacements, as well as public outreach and notification. The submission of a comprehensive lead service line replacement plan has a compliance deadline set by the US EPA in October 2024. In response to Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 23-16932-MA, 3 firms submitted proposals which were received on November 15, 2022, and evaluated by a selection committee on December 14, 2022. A short list of engineering consultants were interviewed on January 10, 2023. The criteria used in evaluating the proposals were: 30 points for Project Team Organization and Qualifications; 3 points for Experience on Similar Projects; 30 points for Project Approach; and 10 points for Overall Responsiveness to the RFQ. The final scores were as follows:
Firm |
Possible 100 Points |
HDR Engineering, Inc., Austin, Texas |
84.8 |
Garver, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas |
83.6 |
120 Water, Zionsville, Indiana |
71.8 |
City Staff recommends that this professional services agreement, Contract 16932, be awarded to the highest ranked firm, HDR Engineering, Inc. of Austin, Texas, for $744,400. HDR will provide assistance to the City of Lubbock in meeting EPA’s October 2024 deadline. A Gap Analysis will be performed. The Gap Analysis examines current activities as they relate to LCRR, such as corrosion control treatment, lead sampling and monitoring, public outreach and notification, lead service line (LSL) asset understanding, and data management. The analysis will also contain a timeline for compliance, as well as cost estimates for the required compliance activities. Upon completion of the Gap Analysis, a planned LSL replacement program will be implemented that meets the LCRR requirements and mandatory deadlines. The negotiated fee with HDR Engineering, Inc. for this phase of the project is $744,400. |