Request for Information Buckman Direct Diversion Water Intake Redesign

The Buckman Direct Diversion Board (BDD), in coordination with the City of Santa Fe Public Utilities Department, is seeking the best possible solution to the Water Treatment Plant raw water influent quality.

One such solution is to procure an engineering firm with demonstrated experience in planning, designing and implementing surface water diversions and intakes subject to large fluctuations in sediment, if sufficient engineering firms are available.

Therefore, the BDD is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) and Intent to Participate to solicit interest from engineering firms (“Firms”) with demonstrated experience in planning, designing, and implementing surface water diversion subject to large fluctuations in sediment.

Information received through this RFI will help BDD refine the procurement approach for a forthcoming Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for engineering services. The anticipated RFQ will request development of a minimum 30% design, with potential progression into further design phases (60%, 90%, and final design) depending on the selected project elements and delivery method. The scope will entail providing engineering services to progress to a level, a selected alternative for stream diversion and intake structure improvements.

Engineering Firms that are interested in providing the requested services are requested to submit to this RFI.

Responses to this RFI are voluntary and not a prerequisite for participating in future solicitations.

The Buckman Direct Diversion Water Treatment Plant diverts raw surface water from the Rio Grande and treats it using a multi-stage process to provide potable water to the City and County of Santa Fe. Seasonal hydrologic patterns, storm-water pulses, and watershed disturbances create substantial variability in influent turbidity, requiring resilient diversion structures, pre-treatment systems, hydraulic conveyance, and treatment processes.

BDD is evaluating improvements to:

• River diversion and intake structures
• Raw water conveyance systems and pump stations
• Sediment and debris removal systems
• Aquatic species exclusion
• Permitting

Planned improvements are intended to increase operational reliability, reduce vulnerability to turbidity spikes, improve safety and maintainability, and enhance reliability during a wide variety of river sediment conditions. BDD is currently developing an Alternative Concepts which will be made available during the RFQ process.

The information gathered from this RFI will be used to shape approaches for future development of the technical scope, level of design, and contracting.