Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is on the hunt for qualified teams to provide expert support for its Drainage and Wastewater (DWW) System Planning Section. Tasked with the vital role of citywide and area-specific planning services, SPU is stepping up its game by combining current consultancy efforts into potentially more cohesive contract agreements.
Currently supported by a trio of contracts that are inching toward their expiration, the DWW System Planning Section has laid out plans to reshape how it secures consultancy expertise. Signaling a sweeping change, the traditional approach of separate contracts is set to give way for a structured yet adaptive on-call type contract that could total $5 million over five years, according to a recent article from the City's consultant outreach.
Although deliverable schedules are up in the air, SPU envisages a dynamic project timeline, sculpting the work assignments as the contracts progress, with no promises of a minimum workload. This beckons a tailored approach from consultants, who should be nimble and ready to pivot as project milestones come into view. Interested parties can dig into the details by diving into the solicitation and background documents available online, ensuring their submissions hit the City’s Procurement Portal by the May 15 deadline.
The SPU has thrown the door wide open for inquiries, with an optional pre-submittal conference slated for April 23, and encourages consultants to leverage the vendor discussions section of their procurement portal. For those preferring a direct line, Sherry Shaffer, the Contract Administrator, will field questions via email until the cut-off on April 26. Curiosity piqued, consultants can join the fact-finding mission at a pre-arranged MS Teams meeting or chime in over the phone, as detailed in the announcement.
With a strong push for inclusive participation, SPU is not only fielding a swing at improving its services but also championing the involvement of women- and minority-owned businesses. Echoing the City of Seattle's broader commitment to diversity, the upcoming selection process for consultation services is set against a backdrop of legal frameworks and cultural pledges that affirm the City's progressive values on public contracting and community engagement.
