Professional Services Related to the Lake George Water Quality Improvement Project - RFP

PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
Request for Proposals
Professional Services Related to the
Lake George Water Quality Improvement Project
Proposal
The City of St. Cloud, Minnesota is requesting proposals from qualified consultants for
professional technical assistant services related to the Lake George Water Quality
Improvement Project.
Background Information
Lake George is a centerpiece and gathering place for many community events in St.
Cloud. The following is a summary of the Lake George Water Quality Improvement
Project(s):
* 2012: Lake George was placed on Minnesota's Impaired Waters list due to low
water clarity, elevated phosphorous and algae blooms.
* 2017: The Lake George Sub-Watershed Assessment Plan and Water Quality
Improvement Implementation Plan were completed with the following
objectives:
Reduce lake phosphorus concentration sufficiently to remove Lake
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George from the States Impaired Waters list.
Mitigate nuisance algae problems.
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Maintain the fishery to support event-related opportunities.
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Maintain an improved aesthetic quality of the Lake.
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* 2018: The City began in-lake alum treatments and consistent water quality
monitoring began and has continued consistently.
* 2018 - 2019: The Little George pre-treatment stormwater pond was dredged, and
an in-pond iron filings application occurred.
* 2020: An underground stormwater treatment system was installed.
* 2022: Lake George is delisted from the State's Impaired Waters list.
* 2026: Data indicates that a larger in-lake and in-pond treatment may be
needed. The initial sediment inactivation alum treatment in Lake George and
the iron filings treatment in the Little George may have reached their
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effectiveness longevity. Two 500-gallon phosphorus stripping applications were
completed in the Lake.
Resources Available
The following can be provided as requested prior to proposal submittal and are to be
reviewed as part of the scope of services:
* Lake George Sub-Watershed Assessment Plan and Water Quality Improvement
Implementation Plan
* Lake George alum treatment summary reports
* Lake George annual limnology reports
* Lake George algae sampling summary reports
* Lake George and Little George water quality sampling raw data
* Little George water quality summary reports & 2021 sediment core data
* Lake George Water Quality Improvement Project webpage and Story Map
Scope of Services
The following services are expected to be provided from October 2026 through
December 2027 to help the City continue to meet the goals of the Lake George Water
Quality Improvement Project.
Little George Stormwater Pond
1) Review of water quality and sediment core data, annual reports, and the 2019
iron filings treatment.
a. Pond dredged in 2018
b. Iron filings treatment 2019
c. Surface & near bottom water chemistry data since 2018 is available
d. 2021 sediment coring data from the U of MN
e. Pond has been part of the U of MN pond study work since 2016. U of MN
provides annual summary reports
2) Provide recommendations for data collection needs to then recommend the
next in-pond treatment, dosage, and timing.
3) Provide a cost estimate for sediment core collection and analysis. Assist with
sediment core data collection coordination as needed.
4) Provide in-pond treatment recommendation(s), dosage and cost analysis. Pros
and cons of multiple treatment options shall be evaluated and include but not
limited to iron filings, alum, spent lime and lanthanum.
5) Provide guidance and assistance through the completion of an in-pond
treatment (anticipated in 2027) including but not limited to permitting,
application logistics, contractor guidance and coordination.
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6) Review and provide feedback of 2027 water quality data during the sampling
season.
7) Provide short-term and long-term implementation plan recommendations
including but limited to providing St. Cloud a technical memo.
Lake George
1) Review of water quality data, reports and alum treatment history.
2) Provide recommendations for data collection needs to then recommend the
next in-lake treatment, dosage, and timing.
3) Completion of a vegetation survey in the Lake with summary report (2027).
4) Provide a cost estimate for sediment core collection and analysis (if needed).
Assist with sediment core data collection coordination as needed.
5) Provide in-lake treatment recommendation(s) and dosage. Pros and cons of
multiple treatment options shall be evaluated and include but not limited to iron
filings, alum, spent lime and lanthanum.
6) Review of 2027 water quality data during the sampling season.
7) Provide short-term and long-term implementation plan recommendations
including but limited to providing St. Cloud a technical memo.
Submission Requirements
Submit the following information by email to stormwater@ci.stcloud.mn.us by 4:30 PM
(CST) on Friday, September 18, 2026, Subject Line to Read: Lake George Water Quality
Improvement Project RFP Submittal.
1) Hourly rates for 2026 and 2027 for the staff expected to work on this project.
2) Summary of experience and qualifications related to the work detailed in the
scope of services
3) At least two references where consultant has previously completed similar work
as described in the scope of services.
Consultant Selection Process
Proposals will be evaluated based on consultant experience, references, and cost of
services. The City will take into account such matters when selecting the successful
consultatn. The City reserves the right to reject, for any reason, any or all submittals.
Evaluation criteria of the contractor will include:
Demonstration of understanding of the request for proposal, and ability to follow
instructions.
Hourly rate for qualified, selected team members.
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Estimated hours to complete work.
Experience and qualifications written summary.
Review of references provided.
The City reserves the right to negotiate contract services from the selected consultant(s)
as deemed necessary to fulfill the complete intent of the professional technical
services. The City reserves the right to terminate the contract and delete all remaining
work tasks at its discretion.
Schedule
Request For Proposals Advertised September 4, 2026
Proposals Due 4:30 PM(CST) on September 18, 2026
Tentative Selection Announced September 24, 2026
Finalize Work Plan, Fees and Contract October 1, 2026
Additional Information
Submit questions by email to Noah Czech, Stormwater Compliance Coordinator, at
noah.czech@ci.stcloud.mn.us by September 15, 2026, at 4:30 PM(CST).
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