Currents Aquatics Center Pool and Spa Plaster Refinish 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) FOR THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING PLASTER AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW PLASTER FINISH FOR THE CURRENTS AQUATICS CENTER

The City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Department (City) is asking for Request for Proposals (RFP) for the demolition and disposal of the existing plaster and to provide and install a new plaster finish to the pool and spa at the Currents Aquatics Center, located at 600 Cregg Ln, Missoula, MT 59801. The City will select one (1) Supplier to provide the equipment, materials, and labor for the project outlined in this request.

Work is to include the demolition of the existing plaster and the installation of a commercial grade pool plaster for the existing pool and spa within the selected time frame of the annual closure of the facility. More details will be provided in the Scope of Work.

A complete set of the RFP documents including a description of the services to be provided, the minimum content, and the factors to be used to evaluate the responses, may be obtained on the City website: http://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/bids . Select “All other Bids, RFPs & RFQs.”

Scope of Work

Facility Description & Project History

Currents Aquatics Center is an indoor water park at 600 Cregg Ln in Missoula, Montana. Original construction was completed in June of 2006 and opened to the public. The pool and spa are made of a Gunite shell with a Diamond Brite plaster finish to waterproof it. The pool consists of a shallow play area, lap lanes, and a slide plunge area with depths ranging from 0” to 8’-6”. Both the pool and spa have a tile coping around the water line and some tile accents underwater. The pool also has a stainless-steel gutter/coping in some areas.

This will be the first time the pool and spa have been fully replastered since opening to the public in 2006. A plaster finished pool shell typically has around a 15-year life span but with extreme care and some light patching we have been able to stretch that life span by 5 years. Now it is in need of a fresh plaster finish. Where we have had to patch has worn thin and rust from the rebar continues to seep through despite our best efforts to seal it off from exposure to the water. In other places the Gunite has started to show and overall, the plaster has lost its bright color and clean look. This is all general wear and tear of a plaster finished pool and ours is coming to the end of its life span. The project will be set to take place in our scheduled 3-week shutdown of Currents, from August 22, 2026, through Sept 12, 2026.

Time is of the essence in this contract. Therefore, the Contractor shall prosecute the work regularly and uninterruptedly with such force as to complete the work within the contract time and to minimize the effects on the regular function of the facility. While the Pool area will be closed to the public, the lobby and offices attached to the building will be functioning regularly. Staff will be on-site during work hours to complete other projects and will work with contractor to ensure these projects do not slow or limit Contractor’s operations.

Work to be Performed by the Selected Bidder

Pool and Spa:

1. Equipment Removal: Contractor shall remove and safely store all pool toys, ropes, towers, ladders, fiberglass bear slide feature and other equipment in cooperation with facility staff. Staff will help to find storage on-site.

2. Surface Preparation:

a. The facility will drain pool and spa following local environmental discharge protocols. Draining will commence on Aug 21, 2026, at the regular closure time for the pool. Draining should be complete by 5 p.m. on August 22, 2026.

b. Contractor will perform a “tap test” to identify and remove all loose, hollow, scaling, bubbling or delaminated plaster.

c. Contractor will Grind/Cut down existing plaster 6 inches below the waterline tile and the tile on the pool bottom to create a notched header, allowing the new plaster to “feather” in flush with the tile.

d. Contractor will Grind/Cut down/ chip out existing plaster around the water features (pipe spray features and ground geysers) and plaster over the bolt connections to ensure a smooth layer on top of the bolts.

e. Bonding: Contractor will apply a professional grade submerged primer/bonding agent. (Multicoat or similar) to the entire cleaned shell to ensure adhesion of the new finish.

3. Structural & Tile Repairs

a. For all rust spots, the contractor shall chip out concrete to 1 inch behind the rebar, cut back oxidized metal, clean & treat ends with a corrosion inhibitor epoxy or sealant and patch with waterproof hydraulic cement.

b. Inspect and replace all broken or loose waterline and underwater tiles with matching commercial grade tiles.

c. Inspect the grout lines on the existing pool tile and regrout any areas that display degradation of the grout using an epoxy based white grout.

d. Safety Tile Break Line Installation: Contractor will install a 2-inch wide, about 32 foot long, safety marker tile line in the pool bottom and sides in the beach entry pool.

i. The tile shall be flush with the level of the pool shell

ii. Tile break line shall consist of 1-inch, non-slip rated tile (wet DCOF of .6 or R12 or approved equal) that is rated for submerged environment, and which has similar slip resistance to the plaster on either side of it.

iii. This tile line shall be a 2-inch wide, continuous contrasting line to serve as a visual marker of where the pool depth tends to be enough that a toddler can be drawn into deeper water by the flow of the water.

iv. Tile shall be dark blue to match the existing safety break line in the lap pool. Submittal required to approve color.

v. This line will be installed where the facility currently uses a buoyed rope as a depth indicator.

e. Fittings: Inspect all wall and floor returns. Repair or replace any cracked or broken fittings as needed.

4. Surfacing & Finish:

a. Sand down existing stains and seal “problem areas” susceptible to weeping or moisture migration.

b. Apply new PebbleSheen or Diamond Brite plaster (or approved equal). Contractor shall provide Facility with color options to decide on the plaster. Submittal required to approve color.

i. Maintain a minimum thickness of ½ inch.

ii. Finish must be smooth, uniform and free of trowel marks or sharp edges.

5. Refill all vessels with water (working with facility to accomplish) and start up the new plaster as per manufacturer recommendation including acid finish with brushing and then balance chemicals before starting pumps.

6. Re-install facility equipment (ladders, ropes, bear slide, etc.)

7. Sweep and dispose of all demolition and construction refuse leaving a turnkey environment.

8. All acid bath and other plaster cure steps shall be completed no later than Wednesday, Sept 9 to allow Facility the necessary time to balance the water, filter and heat in anticipation of Saturday, Sept 12 reopen to the public.

9. Contractor shall take steps to limit negative effects of acid bath on the pipe spray features.

10. Facility recognizes that brushing may be necessary after reopening, due to the tight schedule. It is understood that brushing may be required twice (2x) daily for fourteen consecutive days to remove plaster dust. Facility accepts this as their responsibility, but requests formal training so that it is accomplished correctly and does not affect the warranty.

SEE ENTIRE BID PACKAGE AT:

https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/80829/FINAL-2026-Currents-Aquatics-Center-Plaster-Refinish-RFP-Bid-Package