Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW) Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Sampling

The City of Seattle, through Seattle City Light, is soliciting proposals for the Lower Duwamish Waterway Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) Sampling project under RFP #SCL-767077728, with a response deadline of August 26, 2026. The scope requires contractors to collect oil samples from 1,918 overhead and 145 submersible transformers located in the Lower Duwamish Watershed that were received before January 1, 1985, while the equipment remains electrified, followed by resealing, visual inspection, and photography of any damaged assets. Sampling must adhere to OSHA and Washington state safety standards for work on energized systems, and analysis must be conducted by a Washington State-accredited laboratory using PCB Method 8082A or an equivalent, with a PCB quantification limit of 1 ppm or less. The laboratory must provide chain of custody documentation and quality control data including calibration and spike results. All debris, PPE, and waste generated during sampling must be delivered to City Light’s South Service Center for disposal as PCB-contaminated material. Deliverables include a technical report and electronic data in Excel format, with final results due by July 1, 2027. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the City’s Procurement Portal by the deadline, and must include a firm fixed price using Proposal Form 5, without contingencies or assumptions, broken down by transformer type and condition. Evaluation is based on pass/fail gates including responsiveness, minimum qualifications, WMBE inclusion plan, financial responsibility, and consultant questionnaire, followed by weighted scoring of company experience, project team experience, cost proposal, and presentations. WMBE participation is strongly encouraged; firms must be at least 51% owned by women and/or minorities, registered in the City’s Procurement Portal or self-identified per SMC 20.42, and must submit a detailed WMBE Inclusion Plan. Contractors must comply with all federal, state, and local laws including non-discrimination, ADA, and Seattle’s minimum wage and paid sick time ordinances. Workers must belong to the IBEW and receive prevailing wages. Insurance requirements include $1 million CGL, $1 million auto liability, workers’ compensation per Title 51 RCW, umbrella coverage up to $2 million, and $1 million pollution liability from insurers rated A-:VII