2026 Wastewater Improvement Project

Location:	Indiana
Posted:	Nov 12, 2025
Due:	Dec 5, 2025
Agency:	Zionsville town
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Y - Construction of Structures and Facilities
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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TOWN OF ZIONSVILLE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND QUALIFICATIONS TO DESIGN, BUILD,

OPERATE, AND TRANSFER THE 2026 WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

Issued:

Responses Due:

Town Contact:

November 10, 2025

December 5, 2025

George Lewis, Town Engineer

glewis@zionsville-in.gov

Town of Zionsville

1100 W. Oak Street

Zionsville, IN 46077

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction………………………………………………………………..

II. Town Background………………………………………………………..

III. Statement of Intent………………………………………………………...

IV. Sewer Project Overview……………..……………....................................

A. Project Site………………………………………………………..

B. Design Engineer………………………………………………......

C. Winning Offeror Responsibilities…………………………………

D. Maximum Budget and Town Payment………………………………

V. Procurement Process……………………………………………………….

A. Review RFPQ Responses………………………………………….

B. BOT Agreement Recommendation ……………………………….

VI. Anticipated Procurement Schedule…………………………………………

VII. Town’s Reserved Rights …………………………………………………….

VIII. Solicitation and RFPQ Requirements……………………………………....

A. RFPQ Submission Deadline……………………………………….

B. Delivery Of Responses…………………………………………….

C. Questions And Requests For Clarifications ……….……………....

D. Addenda To The RFPQ……………...……………………………..

E. Modification And Withdrawal Of RFPQ Responses…..……..…….

IX Format And Content Of RFPQ Response………………………..………….

A. Format………………………………………………………………

B. Organization……………………………………………………..….

C. Content of Response……………………………..……...…………..

X. Evaluation And Selection…………………………..……...…………………

A. Responsiveness/Minimum Qualification……..……...………………

B. Content of Proposal…………………………..……...…………….…

List of Exhibits

Exhibit A- Sewer Project ……………………………………………………..

Exhibit B – Project Sites……………………………………………………….

Exhibit C – Required Insurance ……………………………………………….

Exhibit D – Transmittal Letter …………………………………………………

Exhibit E - Non-Collusion Affidavit …………………………………………..

Exhibit F – No Default, Breach or Bankruptcy …………………………………

Exhibit G – Outline of RFPQ Response ………………………………………...

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Town of Zionsville

RFPQ - Wastewater Improvements Project

I. INTRODUCTION. The Town of Zionsville, Boone County, Indiana (the “Town”), issues

this Request for Proposals and Qualifications (“RFPQ”) to prospective entities interested in

designing, building, and transferring the 2026 Wastewater Improvements Project, as further

described in Exhibit A, the “Sewer Project”) pursuant to a public-private agreement between the

Town and the winning offeror in accordance with Ind. Code §5-23 et seq. (the “Act”).

II. BACKGROUND. The Zionsville Wastewater Treatment Plant is a Class III, two million

gallon per day facility located at 855 Starkey Road. The facility serves the Town with

approximately 70 miles of sanitary sewers and 26 lift (pumping) stations. In December, 2024,

the Town increased its sanitary sewer rates necessary to keep up with increased operational costs

as well as to begin the capital replacement plans for replacing equipment beyond their service

lives, as well as upgrading both the plant and the collection system.

III. STATEMENT OF INTENT. The Town now seeks private involvement to design,

develop and construct the Sewer Project, because (1) the Town lacks expertise in executing,

streamlining, and overseeing projects like the Sewer Project; (2) private sector expertise in the

design, development, and construction of the Sewer Project will allow the Sewer Project to be

completed quicker and more efficiently; (3) private sector expertise will help shift risk away from

the Town and allow subcontractors to be directly accountable to the winning offeror; and (4)

private sector expertise should prevent unknown costs from being added to the Sewer Project.

IV. SEWER PROJECT OVERVIEW.

A. The Project. The Project consists of multiple components, which include the

following: (i) replacement of pumps Main Lift Station, (ii) upgrades to the Boone Village Lift

Station; (iii) New Headworks at treatment plant; (iv) belt filter press replacement; (v) process

instrumentation; (vi) new non-potable water pump station; and (vii) electrical and SCADA

upgrades, all as further described in Exhibit A. The Project Sites are further described and depicted

on Exhibit B.

B. Project Engineer. The Town has separately contracted with Commonwealth

Engineers, Inc., who will be the Town’s design engineer for the Sewer Project (the “Project

Engineer”). The winning offeror will be required to work with the Town and Project Engineer to

help design the Sewer Project within the Budget (as defined below), including, but not limited to

regularly meeting and collaborating with the Town and Project Engineer to evaluate alternative

materials and design prior to construction (the “Scoping Process”). For the avoidance of doubt,

the winning offeror will be required to work with the Town and Project Engineer throughout the

Scoping Process, rather than merely construct the Sewer Project based on design documents

provided by Project Engineer and the Town. The Town plans to retain the Project Engineer during

construction to assist with construction administration and construction observation services. All

contracts with the Project Engineer will be held directly by the Town.

C. Winning Offeror Responsibilities. With respect to the Sewer Project, the winning

offeror shall perform the following services necessary to complete the BOT Agreement:

Town of Zionsville

RFPQ - Wastewater Improvements Project

• Design. Provide input and expertise, including, without limitation, estimated pricing

information, while collaborating with Project Engineer and the Town during the Scoping

Process.

• Project Development. Complete and/or review due diligence for the Sewer Project and

complete any necessary borings, tests, inspections, examinations, studies, and

investigations necessary to complete and deliver the Sewer Project.

• Permits. Obtain all required permits and approvals necessary for completion of the Sewer

Project, including, without limitation, necessary approvals of the State of Indiana, Town,

and any other governing body necessary to complete the Sewer Project. Offeror shall

additionally cause any necessary utility relocations to be performed.

• Professional Services. Provide all professional services necessary to complete the Sewer

Project, other than the engineering services provided by Project Engineer.

• Construction. Construction of the Sewer Project including, without limitation, overseeing

day-to-day construction and sub-contractors and working with the Project Engineer and

Town, together with their representatives, vendors, utilities, security personnel and other

entities necessary for and related to the Sewer Project.

D. Maximum Budget and Town Payment The Town’s maximum budget for

completing the Sewer Project is Nine Million Six Hundred Thousand and no/100 Dollars

($9,600,000) (“Maximum Amount”), which amount does not include costs to finance the Sewer

Project and other soft costs.

V. PROCUREMENT PROCESS. The Act authorizes the Town to solicit requests for

proposals, conduct discussions with offerors for the purpose of clarification to assure full

understanding of and responsiveness to the solicitation requirements, to negotiate the best and final

offers with responsible offerors who submit proposals that are determined to be reasonably

susceptible of being selected for a public-private agreement, and to enter into a BOT Agreement

with the offeror to construct the Sewer Project. The Town anticipates the following sequential

steps as part of the procurement process:

A. Review RFPQ Responses. The Town will (1) review responses to this RFPQ

based on the factors and weight provided to each factor included in Section X; and (2) negotiate

with offeror for the best and final offer, as more particularly described herein. The Town may

refuse to disclose the contents of proposals during discussions with eligible offerors. Additionally,

based on its review of the responses to the RFPQ, the Town will determine whether to interview

offerors for the Sewer Project.

B. Scoping Agreement.

1. General. The Town may enter into a scoping agreement with an

Offeror it believes to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for a BOT Agreement. In

Town of Zionsville

RFPQ - Wastewater Improvements Project

general, the scoping agreement shall concern delivery of all professional services,

including, without limitation, property inspections, preparing schematic design documents

and drawings, and other professional services needed to complete the Sewer Project’s

design and budget (collectively, the “Scoping Services”). Offerors may request a fee to

defray their costs of performing the Scoping Services (the “Scoping Fee”), which Scoping

Fee shall be among the criteria for which proposal are evaluated, all as further described

herein. Any cost or expense for completing the Scoping Services in excess of the

Scoping Costs shall be and remain the sole and exclusive liability and obligation of the

Offeror. The Town reserves the right to enter into multiple Scoping Agreements with

different Offerors. If the Offeror is not selected for a BOT Agreement, the Scoping Costs,

if any, shall be paid to Offeror for the performance of any Scoping Services completed. If

the Offeror is selected for a BOT Agreement, the Scoping Costs, if any, shall be rolled into

the project’s financing.

C. BOT Agreement Recommendation. If, at the conclusion of the Scoping Services,

and in its sole discretion, the Town decides to recommend an offeror to its Town Council for

completing the Sewer Project, the Town Council will entertain the recommendation at a duly

noticed public hearing. If a recommendation to award the public-private agreement is made to the

Town Council, the Town Council shall satisfy the statutory processes included in the Act prior to

awarding a BOT Agreement. Alternatively, and in its sole discretion, the Town may terminate the

RFPQ process.

At all stages, the Town reserves the right to discuss this RFPQ with Offerors to clarify the

Offerors’ understanding of and responsiveness to the solicitation requirements and to negotiate

with Offerors. Further, at all times, the Town reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate

the process without making a recommendation to the Town Council or awarding a BOT

Agreement.

Additionally, among other commercially acceptable and negotiated provisions, any BOT

Agreement will include the following contractual provisions:

• Payment bond in an amount not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the cost to

develop and construct the Sewer Project

• Performance bond in an amount not less than fifty percent (50%) of the cost to develop

and construct the Sewer Project

• Non-discrimination provision

• Drug-free workplace provision

• Compliance with E-Verify requirements.

• Indemnification by the winning offeror. The Town will not indemnify the winning

offeror

• Application of Indiana law with venue in Boone County

• Maintenance of the policies of insurance included at Exhibit E

• Termination for gross misconduct

Town of Zionsville

RFPQ - Wastewater Improvements Project

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

Bid Title:	2026 Wastewater Improvement Project
Category:	Notice of Public Bids
Status:	Open