Mulholland Highway Phase 1 & Escondido Canyon Pipeline Project: Request For Proposals

The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District (LVMWD) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Mulholland Highway Phase 1 and Escondido Canyon Pipeline Project to support its ongoing Potable Water Main Rehabilitation and Replacement Program. The District, which manages nearly 400 miles of potable water mains, seeks engineering services covering survey, easement acquisition, permitting, design, bid phase, and construction support for the installation of approximately 1.9 miles of 10-inch diameter pipeline across two sites in California. The work includes completion of design milestones at 60%, 90%, and 100%, preparation of site plans in .dwg format, geotechnical and potholing reports, permit applications (including coordination with the California Coastal Commission if applicable), bidding support, and construction oversight encompassing multiple meetings and final acceptance inspections. The project must maintain continuous service and integrate new pipelines with the existing system, while complying with local permitting and traffic control regulations. Proposals are assessed through a weighted evaluation process where cost constitutes 30% of the score and technical factors like project understanding, design expertise, personnel qualifications, and schedule management make up the remaining 70%, reflecting a trade-off award approach rather than lowest-price-technically-acceptable. Offerors are required to submit detailed cost breakdowns including a mandatory "Not to Exceed" ceiling and hourly rates by position, with strict adherence to proposal cost inclusions. The solicitation mandates professional liability insurance minimums, designation of key personnel (including a California-registered Professional Engineer with five years’ experience as project manager), disclosures of legal or conflict-of-interest issues, and naming the District as an additional insured under general liability policies. Proposals are limited to 25 pages (excluding resumes and cost sections) and must be submitted electronically by May 22, 2026, through the District's Procurement Portal. The award process includes best and final offer opportunities, with contractual payments made monthly on a Net 30 basis upon receipt of proper invoices. No formal FAR clauses, security clearances, or socioeconomic set-aside requirements apply, and the contract pricing and specific performance period remain to be established following proposal evaluation.