Request for Proposals: Consulting Services for a Whitewater Park Feature Replacement

Gunnison County Parks and Trails
Consulting Services for a Whitewater Park Feature Replacement
"Gunnison County Whitewater Park Drop 2 Proposal"
9/25/2026

1. STUDY OBJECTIVES
Gunnison County seeks professional engineering, surveying, environmental, hydraulic, geotechnical, and
permitting services to advance the Gunnison County Whitewater Park Drop Structure #2 Replacement
Project from the existing ~10% concept design to 100% final, sealed construction documents.
The selected consultant will provide full final-design development, supporting technical investigations,
environmental permitting, and preparation of bid-ready documents.
The work is limited to in-river replacement of Drop #2, directly associated riverbank tie-ins,
jetties/vanes downstream of Drop #2. The initial concept design is included as part of the
documentation for this RFP.
2. BACKGROUND
The Gunnison County Whitewater Park is a community recreation feature located on the
Gunnison River and has evolved through more than two decades of planning, development, and
improvement. Initial planning for the park began in 1996, reflecting a long-term vision to create a
dedicated in-channel recreational facility.
In 2002, the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD) and Gunnison
County entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement to jointly advance the project. Under this
agreement, UGRWCD was responsible for securing recreational water rights while Gunnison
County oversaw the design and construction of physical whitewater features. The park opened for
public use in spring 2003 following completion of initial design, permitting, and major
construction activities.
Between 2006 and 2012, UGRWCD secured and subsequently finalized a Recreational In-Channel
Diversion water right for the Gunnison Whitewater Park, ensuring long-term flow protections for
whitewater recreation, boating access, and related community activities. Construction of the park's
designed whitewater features was completed in 2011, and the park has continued serving as a
venue for instructional programs, commercial outfitting, and the annual Gunnison River Festival.
Gunnison County has annually undertaken maintenance and repairs to sustain public safety and
recreational performance. In 2015, the County solicited bids to repair and replace damaged Drop
#3 structures at the park, reflecting ongoing stewardship needs in the dynamic river environment.
Additional community-supported improvements have continued, including funding to restore
damaged features and enhance habitat and bank stability.
Most recently, engineering assessments identified structural deterioration at Drop #2 and
recommended replacement and modernization to improve hydraulic performance, fish passage,
safety, and long-term stability. In 2022, preliminary design efforts advanced concepts to relocate
and reconstruct Drop #2 and integrate current-control features and aquatic habitat improvements.

Today, the Gunnison County Whitewater Park remains a key recreational asset, supporting
paddling, surfing, tubing, angling access, and community events. The County continues to invest in
the facility to ensure safe, high-quality recreational use and responsible river management.
3. SUBMITTAL GUIDELINES
Firms interested in submitting Proposals for Engineering Consulting Services shall submit the
following on or before the Submittal Deadline in a sealed envelope marked "Gunnison County
WWP Drop 2 Proposal" or one (1) electronic version in PDF format.
Proposals may be submitted by email or delivered in person to the Department by 4:00 pm on
Wednesday, October 28th, 2026, and addressed to:
Gunnison County Parks and Trails
195 Basin Park Drive
Gunnison, Colorado 81230
Questions generated by respondents and subsequent answers by the owner will be answered and
posted on the County website at: https://www.gunnisoncounty.org/Bids.aspx . The County will
answer questions from potential respondents only in writing, no verbal responses shall be considered
binding. All such questions and the County's answers will be provided by numbered addendum, by
email and by public publishing. Please email questions to: Martin Schmidt, Assistant County Manager
for Public Works, at: mschmidt@gunnisoncounty.org please allow 2-3 workdays for responses. No
answers will be provided after October 23rd, 2026.
A question-and-answer meeting will be hosted on Microsoft Teams on October 13th, 2026 at 10
a.m. Please contact Martin Schmidt for the meeting details and login information. All proposals must
be submitted to: Martin Schmidt, Assistant County Manager for Public Works,
mschmidt@gunnisoncounty.org Proposals must be received no later than 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 28th, 2026.
The Department reserves the right to waive non-substantial irregularities in any proposal, to reject
any or all responses received as a result of this solicitation, to request additional information for the
purposes of clarification, to extend the submission due date for; to modify, amend, reissue or rewrite
this document; and to procure any or all services by other means. The Department may modify,
clarify, or interpret the RFP by sending an addendum to each firm that originally received or
requested an RFP. Any such addendum shall become part of the RFP and of any contract awarded.
The Proposer may not make modifications to a proposal already submitted to the Department but
may submit a written request to withdraw. It is the responsibility of the Proposer to ensure that
modified proposals are resubmitted in accordance with the RFP submittal deadline.
The Department will not be liable for any costs incurred by the consulting firms' incidental to

the preparation of proposals or for developing and carrying out interview presentations, if needed.
Submission of a proposal indicates acceptance by the firm of the conditions contained in this Request
for Proposals (RFP) unless clearly and specifically noted in the proposal submitted and confirmed in
the contract between the Department and the firm selected.
County Contact: Martin Schmidt
mschmidt@gunnisoncounty.org
970-641-0044
4. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Study will require the selected consultant (Consultant) to perform all necessary analyses and
documentation to perform the engineering work to design the replacement of drop 2 in the
Whitewater Park.
Specifically, the Scope of Work will include, but shall not be limited to the following:
4.1. STUDY OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study is to obtain professional engineering, surveying, environmental, hydraulic, and
geotechnical services necessary to advance Gunnison County's preferred concept design for the
Whitewater Park Drop Structure #2 Replacement from its current approximately ten-percent design
level to fully developed, sealed one-hundred-percent construction documents. The selected consultant
shall perform all tasks required to complete progressive design milestones at the 30%, 60%, 90%, and
100% levels; conduct supplemental technical investigations; complete hydraulic and structural analyses;
deliver environmental and permitting documentation; and prepare all drawings, specifications, quantity
estimates, and support materials required for future bidding and construction. The resulting work shall
support the safe, durable, and regulatory-compliant replacement of Drop Structure #2, including
associated riverbank stabilization, fish-passage improvements, in-channel feature refinement, and
restoration of disturbed areas within the defined project limits.
4.2. STUDY REQUIREMENTS
A. Project Management & Administration
The consultant shall provide a structured project management process throughout the design period,
including:
* Project setup, internal coordination, schedule management, and overall QA/QC.
* Monthly progress meetings (virtual), progress reports, tracking of tasks, design reviews, and milestone
documentation.
* One project kickoff meeting (virtual or in-person).

* Up to two meetings with the County Board (one in-person, one virtual).
* Prepare meeting agendas, notes, tracking matrices, and maintain an action-item log.
Deliverables:
Kickoff materials, monthly reports, meeting summaries, design review documentation.
B. Supplemental Field Investigations & Data Collection
The consultant shall perform all supplemental field work necessary to support design, including:
1. Surveying
* Perform field survey of the Gunnison River corridor (~2,000 linear feet) from the pedestrian bridge
north of Drop #1 to downstream of Drop #3.
* Complete cross-sections around Drop #2 and rock-pile areas.
* Designate and survey traceable underground utilities.
* Collect aerial LiDAR and imagery via drone (pending airspace permissions).
* Produce an AutoCAD Civil 3D existing-conditions base file.
2. Site Walks
* Conduct up to two design-team site walks to observe Drop #2, access constraints, scour, deposition,
utilities, and constructability issues.
3. Geotechnical Investigation
* Perform needed geotechnical investigation of subject soils.
* Conduct laboratory testing and prepare engineering recommendations for foundations, seepage/uplift,
scour protection, excavation, and constructability.
* Provide a stamped geotechnical engineering report.
Deliverables:
Civil 3D base file, survey data, aerial data, site walk documentation, geotechnical report, updated
conditions file.
C. Environmental Coordination & Permitting
The consultant shall complete all environmental studies and permitting support necessary for Clean
Water Act and floodplain compliance, including:
* Environmental desktop review (species, wetlands, aquatic resources, hydrography).
* Biological resources assessment, including two-day site visit, aquatic resource mapping, wetland
delineation, raptor-nest scanning, and GIS deliverables.
* Cultural resources investigation (Class I file search, Class III pedestrian survey, reporting).
* Coordination with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the correct permitting pathway
(Nationwide Permit 3(a), Regional General Permit 37, or Individual Permit).
* Prepare and submit complete Section 404 Pre-Construction Notification or Individual Permit
application package.
* Provide engineering support figures, quantities, plan views, cross sections, elevations, and narratives
required for the permitting package.
* Prepare Gunnison County floodplain development permit application and respond to up to two
rounds of comments.
A no-rise condition is anticipated so no FEMA LOMR is included in this scope.
Deliverables:

Biological resources memo, wetland mapping and GIS files, cultural resources report, Section 404 permit
package, floodplain permit materials, comment tracking.
D. Engineering for Drop #2 Replacement & River Features
The consultant shall advance design through the following milestones (miles stones will be selected
cafeteria style as-needed):
1. 30% Design Development
* Confirm design criteria for safety, recreation, hydraulics, fish passage, durability, and constructability.
* Update hydraulic models using new survey data; set preliminary crest elevations and hydraulic profile.
* Develop preliminary grading plans, profiles, key sections.
* Prepare preliminary permit-impact exhibits.
* Provide 30% design memorandum and Class 3 cost estimate.
Deliverables:
30% drawings, memo, preliminary specs list, quantity assumptions, cost estimate.
2. 60% Design
* Complete structural analysis and preliminary foundation designs.
* Conduct 2D/3D hydraulic modeling for recreation and fish passage (up to four iterations).
* Complete HEC-RAS analysis of floodplain impacts.
* Prepare scour protection and streambank stability design.
* Draft technical specifications.
* Prepare Class 2 cost estimate.
Deliverables:
60% drawings, memo, draft specifications, hydraulic modeling outputs, structural calcs, cost estimate.
3. 90% Design
* Finalize structural details for Drop #2 and jetties/vanes.
* Update hydraulic modeling (up to two iterations).
* Final refinement of scour, streambank stability, and restoration designs.
* Prepare near-final drawings and specs.
* Submit Section 404 permit package.
* Provide Class 1 cost estimate.
Deliverables:
90% drawings, memo, specs, structural calcs, modeling outputs, cost estimate.
4. 100% (Final Sealed) Design Documents
* Prepare final sealed construction drawings (~18-22 sheets expected).
* Final technical specifications.
* Final design memorandum (design basis, hydraulic and recreation performance, structural criteria, scour
protections, streambank stability).
* Final quantities and Engineer's Opinion of Probable Construction Cost.
* Review County's Construction Bid Documents and provide comment
* Provide all final electronic files for bidding, permitting, and construction planning.
Deliverables:
Signed/sealed 100% drawings, final specifications, final memo, final cost estimate, electronic design files.

E. General Assumptions (for RFP consistency)
These items define limits of work for all proposers:
* Work is limited strictly to in-river features associated with Drop #2 and downstream restoration.
* Upland park improvements are excluded.
* Consultant must coordinate field access; County will provide right-of-entry.
* No new alternatives analysis beyond the existing 10% concept basis.
* Construction-phase services are excluded from this RFP.
* Floodplain permitting assumes a no-rise condition; no FEMA coordination required.
* Wetland mitigation is not anticipated; mitigation would be separately authorized if required.
F. . Expected Schedule
Final design is expected to be completed in 10-12 months from Notice to Proceed.
Schedule adjustments may occur based on river conditions, weather, agency timelines, and access.
G. Required Qualifications
Consultants submitting proposals must demonstrate capacity and experience with:
* Whitewater feature and drop structure design.
* River hydraulics modeling (1D/2D/3D).
* Fish passage design.
* Geotechnical engineering for in-river structures.
* Environmental permitting and floodplain regulations.
* Civil and structural design for riverine environments.
* Surveying and aerial LiDAR acquisition.
H. Required RFP Response Components
Proposing firms shall submit:
* Technical approach to completing Tasks A-D.
* Proposed project schedule with milestones.
* Team qualifications and resumes.
* Examples of similar river-engineering projects.
* Detailed fee proposal by task.
* Identification of any proposed subconsultants.
* Statement of assumptions or requested clarifications.

5. PROPOSAL FORM AND CONTENT
5.1. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL
The proposal shall be formatted in a typical and professional manner. It should provide
information that covers at least all the following areas and may include additional information
that pertains to the request.
a) All pages of the proposal must be numbered consecutively. The proposal must be organized
in accordance with the list of proposal contents. The proposal must provide specific and
succinct responses to all questions and requests for information.
b) Proposers must address the Scope of Services in Section D. Proposals and the fee schedule must
be valid and binding for 120 days following the proposal due date and may become part of
the agreement with the Department.
c) Include name, address, telephone number and the e-mail address of the person or persons
who are authorized to represent the Proposer and to whom correspondence should be
directed.
d) Summarize key provisions of the proposal. Provide a statement describing why the Proposer
is qualified to perform this work, the names of individuals who would serve as the Project
Manager and the Department's primary Point of Contact with the proposing firm.
e) State the "not to exceed" cost and anticipated billing process.
f) Provide contact information for at least 5 municipal clients and/or utility Departments within
the state of Colorado for which services have been provided by the designated project team
to serve as references.
g) If an hourly rate basis is used for additional services, please state the hourly rates for each of the
project team members. Provide this information in a table format.
h) If a separate individual or firm is proposed as a subcontractor to Proposer, specify the hourly
rates for each type of service to be provided as well as the rate for any items that would be
billed separately.
i) Any and all pertinent information the proposer feels informs the Department's decision.

6. SELECTION PROCESS
6.1. PROCESS
The RFP process will determine how each proposal meets the qualifications of the Scope of
Services and the requirements of the RFP. The proposal shall conform to the Proposal
Requirements. It is important that all listed items be included in the proposal. Proposals, which
do not comply with all the requirements per or on the proposal deadline, will not be considered.
The Department reserves the right to reject any or all proposals without qualifications, and to
negotiate specific requirements and costs using the selected proposal as a basis. The Department
will choose proposals based on best fit and best value which explicitly may not mean lowest
price.
A review of all submitted proposals will be conducted by an initial review team comprised of
staff from the Department. The initial review will be comprised of a review of submitted
proposals and may involve interviews with one or more firms.
The second portion of the RFP process, staff will make a recommendation to award the contract
to a specified firm. The County Standard Contract will then be negotiated and submitted to the
Board for approval and a notice to proceed will be issued to the awarded firm.
6.2. EVALUATION CRITERIA
The following information will be considered during the evaluation process. These are not
listed in order of importance or priority:
a. Experience and qualifications identified in the Proposal.
b. Demonstration of workload capacity and level of experience of the designated Project
Manager and Point of Contact. Professional reputation for providing high-quality services
and ability to work cooperatively with the Department.
c. Service orientation and creativeness in finding solutions to difficult or complex issues.
d. Demonstrated understanding of the Department.
e. Demonstrated sound judgment, integrity, and reliability as determined by the references
provided.
f. Capability to perform professional services promptly and in a manner that permits the
Department Board and staff to meet established deadlines and to operate in an effective
and efficient manner.
g. Demonstrated overall quality of work product as evidenced by quality of proposal.
h. Cost of providing services.

At the conclusion of the evaluation, the Department will enter into contract negotiations with the
top-ranking firm. Department staff will make recommendations to the board which reserves the right
to reject any or all proposals. The selection process will be completed when a contract is executed
with the Department.
Furthermore, the Department reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, and to waive any and
all irregularities to choose the firm, which, in their opinion, best serves their interests.
7. PROJECT TIME SCHEDULE
The engineering scope of work is expected to take place beginning in November 2026 with a
projected completion date of October 2027. A detailed schedule of tasks and milestones is required
as part of the proposal.