Request for Proposals for Construction Management and Environmental Services for the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant Facilities Improvement Project

The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) is soliciting Proposals from Construction Management (CM) firms shortlisted as part of the previous qualifications process to provide construction management and environmental services to support the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant (GHWTP) Facility Improvements Project (FIP) (Project). The purpose of this request for proposals (RFP) is to select a firm to provide construction management services for the GHWTP FIP – a $100 million+ construction value, progressive design-build project on an active water treatment plant – including project management, construction management, inspection and environmental monitoring. SCWD is using a two-step process to pre-qualify and then select construction management and environmental services consultants for this Construction Management and Environmental Services RFP. Only previously pre-qualified Consultants are eligible to submit proposals on this integrated RFP. The SCWD’s intent is to enter into a single contract for Construction Management and Environmental Services During Construction. The solicitation process involves the following:

• Step 1 (Pre-Qualification): The Request for Qualifications solicitation that closed on May 14, 2026, pre-qualified the following firms:

Construction Management Firms: Ardurra Group, Inc, Carollo Engineers, Inc. Environmental Services Firms: BKF Engineers, Jodi McGraw Consulting Panorama Environmental, Inc

• Step 2 (RFP): This RFP will be issued for "Construction Management and Environmental Services

During Construction" under a single contract. Only short-listed environmental firms and shortlisted CM firms from Step 1 are eligible for Step 2. A construction management firm must partner with an environmental services firm to submit a joint proposal for this RFP.

The SCWD is a public agency operating a water system which provides safe, high-quality water service for about 100,000 people. The GHWTP is a critical component of the City’s water supply system as its only treatment facility capable of treating surface water. It was originally constructed in 1960 and standards and regulations enacted over the intervening 66 years necessitate the Project. The GHWTP is a conventional treatment plant treating raw water from the San Lorenzo River, north coast streams and Loch Lomond Reservoir. The GHWTP must remain fully operational throughout construction. The Project will be constructed at the existing GHWTP, a secured and fenced facility closed to the public, located at 715 Graham Hill Road in Santa Cruz, CA. The 12.4-acre parcel is within City limits; however, it is non-contiguous to the City and hence constitutes an “island annexation” surrounded by parcels in the unincorporated County. The GHWTP parcel is located in the upper portion of a large west-facing slope adjacent to the San Lorenzo River. The majority of the existing and proposed building areas on the parcel are situated on an upper building pad, surrounded by undeveloped areas. Single-family residential land uses surround the parcel on the northern, eastern, and southern perimeters. Dense tree canopy and vegetation and scattered residential dwellings are located beyond the western perimeter on a hillside that slopes down to the San Lorenzo River, approximately 0.3 miles to the west of the Project. The Project may also utilize a temporary construction staging area located at 1941 Ocean Street Extension in Santa Cruz, CA and services under this RFP process may be required at both the primary construction site and offsite staging area.

The Project will replace and substantially upgrade the majority of the existing water treatment processes and associated infrastructure with modern facilities. The Project will increase the City’s treatment reliability to meet current and anticipated future water quality requirements; support the treatment of wet season water to facilitate implementation of the City’s Water Supply Augmentation Strategy and Securing Our Water Future Policy; improve the ability to treat variable and degraded source water quality conditions, such as those associated with post-wildfire, severe storms, and droughts; and meet current seismic, building, electrical, and fire code requirements.

The consultant team selected as part of this RFP process will play a critical role in planning, coordinating, and overseeing construction activities to ensure uninterrupted treatment operations, regulatory compliance, and public health protection.