Flood Management

The City of Seattle has a successful contract for providing emergency distribution of sandbags; however, this contract (City of Seattle Blanket Contract 3079 with BAG LADY INC) needs to be rebid. Therefore, the City is releasing a competitive solicitation to establish new contracts and expand services beyond the scope of the current contract to include Supply and Delivery of Sandbags, Emergency Transportation Services for Flood Barriers, and Emergency Placement of Sandbags for Flood Barriers. The total annual contract expenditure for all services in the pool of contracts is estimated to be $1.1 million.

The City of Seattle recognizes the urgent need for a robust and proactive flood management strategy to mitigate the impacts of both seasonal flooding and King Tides. To enhance the city's flood response capabilities, the City is soliciting bids from vendors capable of covering the full spectrum of flood management, including a comprehensive approach to ensure effective response and preparedness during emergency events.

The City is seeking bidders for the following products and services:

Supply and Delivery of Sandbags

The City of Seattle is soliciting bids for supplying and delivering sandbags for urban flooding and other emergency situations. This involves delivering and maintaining sandbag sites at four community centers, ensuring pallets or supersacks of sandbags are available at these sites, and cleaning up the sites on a bi-monthly basis. Additionally, vendors will be required to deliver sandbags to SPU (Seattle Public Utilities) warehouses and other specified locations.

Emergency Placement of Sandbags for Flood Barriers

The City of Seattle seeks bids for skilled labor services for placing sandbags as temporary flood barriers in designated areas, predominantly during emergencies. The Vendor is responsible for following the City’s flood barrier plans, adhering to safety protocols, and providing regular progress updates to City officials, ensuring effective and safe deployment of sandbags and flood barriers in response to flooding events.

Emergency Transportation Services for Sandbags

The City of Seattle seeks bids for transportation services for flood barriers, within the city during emergency and “declared emergency” events. The work includes transporting flood barriers with less than 24 hours' notice from manufacturers or SPU warehouses to specified locations, adhering to safety protocols, and providing regular progress updates to City officials.

The City anticipates seeking federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for portions of this work if appropriate based on emergency preparedness and/or emergency response/recovery efforts.

In anticipation of seeking federal aid, the contract(s) awarded as a result of this solicitation will also be subject to federal terms and conditions as specified in the ITB or as otherwise added via purchase order.

The City of Seattle experiences significant rainfall and seasonal flooding and heightened flood risks during the fall and winter months. This risk is further exacerbated by King Tides, which are exceptionally high tides occurring periodically throughout the year. King tides can push seawater into rivers and drainage systems, further increasing the risk of flooding in coastal and low-lying areas. King Tides, combined with heavy rainfall, have the potential to cause severe flooding, impacting homes, businesses, and infrastructure, particularly in low-lying areas such as South Park and along the Duwamish River. Recent incidents have highlighted the devastating effects of these natural phenomena, with tidal waters overtopping riverbanks, inundating streets, and necessitating the evacuation of residents. The flooding not only disrupts daily life but also poses significant risks to public health and safety, and it can result in substantial economic losses.