City Wide Water Rights Assessment and Well 4 and 5 Production Assessment

The City of Issaquah is seeking a qualified consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive assessment of its water rights and the production capacity of wells 4 and 5, with the goal of informing the strategic buildout of its water system. The project entails evaluating the current yield and performance of wells 4 and 5, investigating all active and inactive water rights across the city, and determining opportunities to consolidate, relocate, or acquire new rights to better align with the planned water treatment facility and future infrastructure needs. The consultant will also review historical data, including past PFAS-related studies and aquifer analyses from 1999 and 2016, analyze the causes of production decline in Well 4, and assess whether existing monitoring wells can satisfy data needs before recommending new installations near the Gillman wells. Additional tasks include verifying if Well 4 can achieve its historic output of 240 gpm and ensuring Well 5 delivers flow consistent with its allocated water right, all while presenting a cost-benefit analysis comparing the financial implications of water right conversions versus continued water purchases from Cascade. Phase 1 is targeted for completion by early Q2 2027 to support Water Treatment Plant planning, while Phase 2 must be finalized by December 31, 2027 to inform the Gilman Wellhouse replacement project. The selection process is qualifications-based, with award determined by a weighted evaluation of the firm’s qualifications (30 points), relevant experience (20 points), key staff competency and availability (20 points), project management effectiveness (10 points), familiarity with local and external permitting requirements (10 points), and responsiveness to the RFQ (10 points). The highest-scoring respondents may be invited for interviews to clarify submissions. The winning firm must meet strict insurance requirements, including $1 million automobile liability, $2 million commercial general liability with the City named as an additional insured, $2 million professional liability with errors and omissions coverage, and compliant workers’ compensation under Washington State law. Insurance carriers must hold an A.M. Best rating of at least A:VII, and all policies must be primary for the City. Key personnel, including the Project Manager, must be approved in advance and cannot be replaced without written consent, and replacements must match or exceed the original qualifications. The firm must certify it is not suspended or debarred, and its principals must not have been convicted of fraud, antitrust violations, embezzlement, or other serious offenses in the past three years.