Water And Sewer Rate Study

Location:	Illinois
Posted:	Mar 12, 2026
Due:	Apr 6, 2026
Agency:	City of Geneva
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	C - Architect and Engineering Services - Construction S - Utilities and Training Services Y - Construction of Structures and Facilities
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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CITY OF GENEVA

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

2026 WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY

March 12, 2026

1800 South Street

Geneva, IL 60134

630-232-1551

CITY OF GENEVA

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

FOR 2026 WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for engineering and financial services for the 2026 Water and

Sewer Rate Study are to be addressed to Bob VanGyseghem, Superintendent of Water &

Wastewater, by email to bvangyseghem@geneva.il.us and must be received before 3:00 p.m. CST

on Monday, April 6, 2026.

The RFQ in its entirety shall be a maximum of twenty (20) single-sided pages using a 12-point font.

Questions concerning the 2026 Water and Sewer Rate Study should be directed to Bob

VanGyseghem, Superintendent of Water & Wastewater, by email bvangyseghem@geneva.il.us,

no later than 3:00 p.m. CST on March 23, 2026, as identified in schedule listed in the RFQ.

The Firm shall submit two (2) hard copies and one (1) PDF on a thumb drive.

A general description of scope of work for this RFQ can be found on the City of Geneva website:

https://www.geneva.il.us/

The City of Geneva reserves the right to refuse and reject any or all qualifications and to waive

any or all formalities or technicalities or to accept the qualification to be the best and most

advantageous to the City of Geneva and hold the qualification for a period of 60 days without acting.

Qualifications submitted past the deadline date and time will not be accepted.

CITY OF GENEVA

REQUEST FOR

QUALIFICATIONS

FOR 2026 WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDY

PURPOSE OF RFQ

The City of Geneva is seeking submittals from qualified companies to provide a water and sewer

rate study that includes cost of service and evaluation of connection fees.

The purpose of this study is to determine revenue requirements, costs of service, fee structures,

rate design, and fund balance targets necessary to sustainably operate the City’s Water & Sewer

Fund.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The City of Geneva owns and operates a Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant, Water

Distribution System, Sanitary Collection System, and Wastewater Treatment Plant. Geneva has a

population of 21,247 with approximately 8,443 customers. Utility revenues are generated primarily

through user charges.

OBJECTIVES

• Evaluate the existing water and sewer rate structures for compliance with applicable laws, bond

covenants, and regulatory requirements. Make recommendations for any changes that are

necessary to achieve compliance.

• Evaluate and establish minimum fund balances for the water & sewer fund, based on best

practices.

• Evaluate & recommend rates that are financially sustainable.

• Ensure rates are structured to fairly allocate costs among customer classes.

• Evaluate water and sewer service connection fees that have not been updated since 2012.

• Review the existing five-year capital improvement plans for both sewer and water funds and

recommend financing strategies.

• Evaluate the plan for the current and future issuance of debt service to fund future capital

projects.

Current rate increases are scheduled through 5/15/2027 under Ordinance No. 2023-04. Study will

evaluate the current rate increases and recommend any changes. Rate study will recommend rate

increase(s) for no more than five (5) years beginning 5/15/2028.

Links to 2023 rate study and presentation to City Council.

https://www.geneva.il.us/DocumentCenter/View/16972/Geneva-2023-Water-Sewer-Rate-Study-

Report

https://www.geneva.il.us/DocumentCenter/View/16941/2023-Geneva-Water-Rates-Presentation

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The City has identified a general scope of services as described below. At a minimum, this project

shall include:

1. General:

a. Review historical financial statements, budgets, audits, and rate ordinances.

b. Review customer data by class and usage.

c. Review existing debt, future debt, capital improvement plans, and funding

requirements.

d. Evaluate historical revenues and expenses.

e. Analyze fund balance and reserve policies.

f. Review compliance with bond covenants and other financial constraints.

g. Identify structural deficits or surpluses.

h. Allocate costs between water and sanitary sewer utilities.

i. Allocate costs between customer class.

j. Evaluate equity and rate design considerations.

k. Evaluate water and sanitary connection fees that have not been updated since 2012.

l. Develop multi-year financial projections.

m. Model alternative rate scenarios. Evaluate impacts on customer classes.

n. Assess affordability consideration

o. Develop recommended rate structures and adjustments.

p. Provide clear documentation supporting rate.

2. Meetings:

a. Conduct a project kick-off meeting with City staff.

b. Conduct up to six (6) additional meetings including three (3) planning meetings, one

(1) meeting to review preliminary report, and two (2) evening presentation to the

City Council and/or Committee of the Whole.

3. Reports:

a. Draft Report: A draft report shall be presented to the City for review and comment.

This report should compile all of the results and associated recommendations

including but not limited to: a discussion of the revenue requirements, cash flow

forecast, comparison of alternate rate designs and the proposed rate structure and

impact, analysis of fees, and funding strategies for the CIP and other projects.

Recommendations should be outlined and identified in exhibits, tables, and graphs.

A spreadsheet model shall be presented in digital format for implementation by the

City. The Consultant shall incorporate the City’s comments into the final report.

b. Final Report: Final report shall incorporate all review comments and revisions. It

shall also include a concise executive summary and a phased implementationoption

if the recommendation includes a significant change to the current rates and rate

structure.

c. Provide progress reports as necessary/requested.

4. Current System Rate Assessment:

a. Water and Sewer Rate Study:

i. Analyze the current water and sewer rate and make recommendations

regarding future water and sewer rate structures to provide sufficient funding

of current and future operational and capital costs for five years.

Any suggested changes to the rate structure must be technologically feasible

with the City’s water meter reading and water billing technology.

1. Water and sewer rate recommendation shall establish the projected

revenue requirements necessary to ensure an adequate cash flow in a

stable predictable manner.

2. Develop a fair and equitable fee and rate analysis, which should

include periodic and ongoing end-of-service life replacement of water

and sewer infrastructure assets including water mains, sewer mains,

and control systems.

3. The benefits of any proposed modification shall be weighed against

the financial impacts on rate payers.

4. Prepare a forecast of revenues, operation and maintenance expenses,

and capital improvement costs for a five-year period.

5. Recommend which capital projects anticipated over the five-year

study period should be financed with cash on hand and which should

be financed with debt.

6. Recommend other non-traditional funding opportunities such as

grants, low-interest loans, or other such financing options. These

other options should be explained in detail and provide the contact

information of the appropriate state/federal agency.

7. Recommend funding strategies for capital improvements and major

non-recurring operational expenses.

8. Evaluate the existing water and sewer rate structures for conformity

with existing statutory regulations and make recommendations for

any changes that are necessary to achieve compliance.

9. Compare and recommend alternate rate structures and a charge

schedule (residential vs. non-residential) that ensures water and sewer

services are delivered on a self-supporting basis and which will

distribute costs equitably to appropriately allocate fixed and variable

costs, using AWWA recognized methods.

10. Compare revenue under existing rates for each customer class with

their allocated cost of service to determine the adequacy of present

revenue levels for each class and the indicated adjustment in rates

required to equitably distribute costs to the respective classes of

customers.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

Bid Title:	Water And Sewer Rate Study
Category:	Requests For Bids and Proposals
Status:	Open