DeSoto County Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Deep injection Well Design, Permitting and Construction Engineering & Inspection Services

Background The DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is seeking services from a qualified engineering firm (herein referred to a “RFQ respondent”) to provide engineering design, permitting and construction engineering and inspection (CEI) services for a new effluent disposal system for the DeSoto County Regional (DCR) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) located at 7728 SE Highway 31, Arcadia, FL 34266. The effluent disposal shall utilize a deep injection well (DIW) system.
The DCR WWTP (FDEP Facility ID FLA530808) is an extended aeration wastewater treatment plant with a current rated capacity of 0.950 MGD. The County has contracted engineering design and permitting services to expand the WWTP in two phases to approximately 1.4 MGD and 2.0 MGD. Currently effluent is stored in an onsite lined storage pond and then pumped to an approximate 665-acre spray field located on nearby leased parcels. Refer to Exhibit ‘A' herein which depicts the location of the County owned and leased parcels.
The County anticipates that the spray field will be utilized for the expansion to 1.40 MGD, but a deep well will be required to expand beyond this capacity. Ultimately, the system will include two DIWs and a monitoring well. Ideally, the County would like to consider constructing one DIW and utilizing the existing lined pond and spray field for redundancy. This scope shall include an evaluation of feasibility in terms of permitting, capacity and cost of this approach. This scope is expected to include the design of both the single DIW with spray redundancy and the future second DIW. The scope will also include an evaluation of the existing effluent pumping system and design and permitting of improvements as required for the DIW system. A cost analysis is also required of the selected RFQ respondent to determine the optimal DIW design capacity. The County desires to have at least 6.0 MGD permitted effluent disposal capacity from the DIW system.
The selected RFQ Respondent shall include a professional engineer and professional geologist licensed in the state of Florida specializing in design and permitting of Class I DIWs. The RFQ Respondent shall include any other necessary professionals on the design team needed to complete the design, permitting and CEI tasks.
DeSoto County has existing survey work completed for the wastewater treatment plant site. It is anticipated that the existing surveys can be utilized for this scope. If it is determined that additional survey work is needed, the work may be performed by the County Surveyor or through the selected RFQ Respondent at the discretion of the County. DeSoto County will provide AutoCad files of the existing survey work to the selected RFQ Respondent once selection is complete and the contract negotiation phase has begun.
In 2021, DeSoto County contracted an Underground Injection Control (UIC) Deep Injection well System Feasibility Study. In 2023 DeSoto County contracted a Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility Geotechnical Analysis for Land Application. Both reports are included as attachments to this RFQ for review by potential RFQ Respondents.
The anticipated schedule for this project is as follows:
Release RFQ February 2024 RFQ Responses Due March 2024 RFQ Evaluation/Interviews if needed April 2024 Contact Negotiation Complete May 2024 Contract Approval by BOCC June 2024 Notice to Proceed (NTP) June 2024 Design/Permitting Complete April 2025 (Anticipate within 10 months from NTP) II DELIVERABLES:
It is anticipated that the following items are the minimum tasks which will be included in the Scope of Services:
Task 1 – Data Collection / Project Management
• Provide a list of documents required from DeSoto County Utilities. • Obtain existing records from FDEP resources available online. • Attend a project kick off meeting at the County Administration Building. • Attend at least 1 site visit to the DCR WWTP site, or more as needed to confirm existing conditions. • Attend a progress meeting at 60% and 90% deliverable stages at DCU office. • Attend a minimum of 1 monthly progress meeting through the course of the project which can be in person or virtual at the discretion of the awarded RFQ Respondent. • Attend a minimum of 1 pre-application meeting with FDEP and DCU staff. • Perform continual coordination with sub-consultants (if any), FDEP staff, and DCU staff as needed to complete scope of work.
Task 2 – Design and Permitting
• Development of a Preliminary Design Report (PDR) • Generation of draft plans and supporting documents at stages agreed upon between the selected RFQ Respondent and DCU. It is anticipated that at least 60%, 90% and final deliverables will be required in addition to the PDR. • Species survey as required for FDEP permitting. • Class I Injection Well system engineering design. • Hydraulic and groundwater modeling. • Site engineering design. • Effluent pumping / transmission design. • Evaluation of utilization of existing lined pond and spray field for DIW redundancy and design of improvements (if any). • Preparation of Technical Specifications for all design components. • Preparation of Class I UIC FDEP Construction Permit application(s) including all required supporting documents. • Modification of existing FDEP DCR WWTP Permit Number FLA530808. • Response to Requests for Additional Information (RAI) from FDEP. • Preparation of FDEP Environmental Resource Permit or Modification (if required). • Response in writing to comments provided by DCU. • Development of final construction/bid plans, specifications, and reports.
Task 3 – Bidding Assistance
• Assembling all required bid information including plans, specifications, permits, reports, and any other documents (DeSoto County Purchasing will prepare the invitation to bid with support from the selected RFQ Respondent). • Attend and lead the pre-bid meeting to be located at the County Admin Building. • Review and respond in writing to questions received from potential bidder/suppliers or other interested parties. • Assistance with bid evaluation and preparation of a Recommendation of Award.
Task 4 – Construction Engineering and Inspection Services
• Attend and lead the Pre-Construction meeting. • Attend and lead regular construction project meetings. • Review and respond to Requests for Information (RFI) received from the Contractor. • Review and respond to shop drawings and submittals received from the Contractor. • Provide engineering support throughout construction. • Provide inspection services. • Review Contractor applications for payment. • Assistance with the coordination of work in a manner that does not disrupt the operations of the DCR WWTP. • Preparation of accurate signed and sealed record drawings of all completed work. • Attend Substantial and Final Completion inspections and generation of punch lists. • Permit management and final certifications. • Preparation of Injection Well Operation and Regulatory Compliance Manual. • Preparation of FDEP request for Operation Testing Authorization. • Provide DCU staff personnel training and support for DIW initial start up and operational testing. • Coordinate FDEP interface, communications and reporting during DIW operational testing period.