Professional Engineering Services for Buckman Direct Diversion Facility

The contract solicits professional engineering services for the Buckman Direct Diversion Facility, a critical water diversion and treatment infrastructure located near Santa Fe, New Mexico. This facility draws raw water from the Rio Grande River, removes sediment via Lakos separators near the intake, and pumps water uphill through pump stations for advanced filtration and purification before delivery to regional utility providers. Established under a Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County in 2005, the Facility became operational in 2011 but currently suffers from operational challenges, primarily due to its inability to manage sediment and turbidity fluctuations effectively. The Board overseeing the Facility intends to address these issues through the design and construction of a new intake structure capable of sediment exclusion, improved sediment removal processes, and hydraulic performance enhancements. The project includes analysis, modeling, development of design alternatives to a 30% design level, and preparation of cost estimates aligned with industry standards to ensure a reliable and resilient water supply capable of diverting up to 20.8 million gallons per day. This solicitation, posted in May 2026 by the City of Santa Fe’s Central Purchasing Division on behalf of Buckman Direct Diversion, involves a detailed evaluation and selection process emphasizing organizational experience, demonstrated expertise, financial stability, and local business preferences. The evaluation framework assigns 60% weight to organizational experience, 15% to references, and 10% each to mandatory specifications and interview presentations, with additional consideration given to financial strength and resident business status. Offerors must address comprehensive compliance requirements including conflict of interest disclosures, campaign contribution reporting, and business certifications. The contract is awarded based on a best-value trade-off process rather than lowest cost, with robust requirements for key personnel qualifications and ethical compliance. Deliverables include a 30% design submittal, technical memos on sediment exclusion, hydraulic modeling results, and probabilistic cost opinions. The Board and City retain oversight responsibility for inspection and acceptance, with formal project endorsement by the Board. Submission requirements mandate thorough proposal documentation, including financial statements, organizational references, and disclosure of subcontractors. The contract ensures confidentiality, prohibits post-award amendments to contract terms, and seeks to establish a permanent solution foundational to the water security of the region.