INTRODUCTION

The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), has a requirement for contract for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) and facilities located in San Diego County, California.  Type of contract, Firm Fixed Priced, Cost Reimbursable, Hybrid, etc. to be determined.  

The Contractor shall provide, all labor, material, management (including bi-national participation with Mexico), and other resources required to perform full-service O&M of the SBIWTP and its conveyance system, plus Canyon Collectors, Pump Stations, and South Bay Land Outfall (SBLO). Full service operation and maintenance is defined as complete facility operation and maintenance, including but not limited to providing day-to-day contract management, planning, supervision, administration, personnel; plant influent and effluent sampling and laboratory testing; equipment operation, maintenance, servicing, repair and replacement; system monitoring and operation; data recording, markups of plant as built, management and reporting; quality control; capital improvements; vehicles and vehicle fleet management, operation, maintenance and repair; housekeeping; grounds maintenance; consumable supplies including chemicals, and other services related to the operation and maintenance of the SBIWTP.   

BACKGROUND  

The SBIWTP is a twenty-five (25) million gallon per day (MGD) wastewater treatment plant located at 2995 Clearwater Way, in San Diego, San Diego County, California, , north of the International Boundary, and near the intersections of Monument and Dairy Mart Roads.  Construction of the plant’s advanced primary treatment phase was completed in September 1997, and construction of the secondary treatment phase was completed in January 2011.  The plant is treating wastewater originating in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico and the SBIWTP is operated under the authority of the United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC).  An average of twenty five million gallons per day (25 MGD) of effluent is being discharged through the South Bay Ocean Outfall (SBOO), and is subject to the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, Permit Number CA0108928, Order Number R9-2023-0009; the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB) Monitoring and Reporting Program, Number: R9-2023-0009; and the California Ocean Plan.   

In 2024, USIBWC awarded a $600M contract for the design and construction of the rehabilitation and expansion of the SBIWTP. USIBWC awarded the contract to PCL Construction (PCL) of Long Beach, California. In turn, PCL selected Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. (Stantec), of San Diego, as the design firm. The project was awarded using the Progressive Design-Build (PDB) contract delivery method consistent with Government contracting practices and regulations. 

Expansion of Capacity 

According to USIBWC's timeline, the design process of the plant’s expansion will unfold in strategic phases, with the complete plant expansion targeted for completion by 2027. The initial phase of the plant’s expansion encompasses design development for the entire SBIWTP scope, while subsequent phases will implement rehabilitation efforts concurrent with the ongoing expansion work. 

During the expansion, the PDB team will work closely with the future SBIWTP Operator of this Contract to rehabilitate the plant while also expanding it. The USIBWC and PDB team aims to enhance the plant's treatment capacity from the current 25 MGD to 35 MGD by 2025, with a subsequent expansion to 60 MGD projected for completion by 2027. This will likely be done in incremental increases of, for example, 10 MGD or 20 MGD at a time, with a maximum potential capacity of 60 MGD. Throughout the incremental expansion period, the Operations and Maintenance contract will be adjusted as needed to accommodate the changing requirements and milestones of the Progressive Design-Build project. While the PDB project team will retain responsibility for all construction activities, modifications to this contract will undergo review and receive appropriate authorization when necessary. 

There will be a sixty (60) day phase in/outperiod. The Contract will consist of a Base Year from date of award 6March 30, 2027 plus four (4) one-year option periods.  This is anticipated to be an unrestricted procurement under the NAICS code 221320 (Sewage Treatment Facilities), the small business size standard is $50 million. 

An Industry day/s is anticipaited to be held at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant the week of 11 August 2025 to provide industry an opertunity to provide feedback during the market research phase. Those attending need contract Philip (Phil) Johnson @ [email protected] by 31 July 2025. 

The solicitation is expected to be posted on or about September 2025 (this is a target date which may slip or change; if the solicitation is not posted on Federal Business Opportunities by 01 October 2025 to that is because the solicitation is not available for posting).  

Draft PWS and Attachments (attached) 

PWS attached  

List of Attachments: 

1. SOM- Submittal Registry (aka deliverables) 

1. Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) 

1. Required Performance Metrics (RPM) 

1. NPDES Permit R9-2023-0009 

1. List of Permits 

1. SBIWTP Asset Registry  

1. SBIWTP Condition Assessment Report- January 2024 

1. SBIWTP Asset Maintenance Schedule 

1. SBIWTP Capital Project List- April 2024 

1. Monthly Chemical Dosage from March 2024- March 2025 

1. Canyon Collector Daily Inspection Template 

1. NPDES Annual Biosolids Report 2024 

1. SBIWTP O&M Manual 

1. SBIWTP System Security Plan 

1. NIST SP 800-17r3 

1. Plans/Drawings 

1. Maps 

1. NIST SP 199 

1. SBIWTP Sequence of Operations (SOO) 

1. Wage Determination (WD) 

1. Request for Information (RFI) Tracker 

REQUEST FOR FEEDBACK:

The information gathered from the sources sought, industry day/s, and these questions may be used as market research to assist the Government in determining and shaping various aspects of the acquisition process. This includes, but is not limited to, the development of solicitation documents, source selection criteria, contract type, Performance Work Statement (PWS), Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP), and other acquisition-related documents. The responses provided will help the Government understand industry capabilities, identify potential risks, and develop strategies to ensure successful project execution. Your participation and input are greatly appreciated.

Cost:

• What are the potential cost drivers for operating and maintaining the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP)?
• How will costs be affected during the temporary facility's increase to 35MGD and the permanent expansion to 50-60MGD? How can these cost risks be managed and mitigated?
• What strategies can be used to manage and mitigate unexpected costs associated with operating and maintaining the plant? How would these strategies change during the increase in temporary capacity from 25MGD to 35MGD and eventually to 50-60MGD?
• What measures can be implemented to help potential contractors manage and mitigate unexpected costs associated with operating and maintaining the plant?

Technical:

• What technical challenges do you anticipate in operating and maintaining the plant? What strategies could be used to manage and mitigate these risks?
• What technical challenges do you anticipate during the temporary facility's increase to 35MGD and the permanent expansion to 50-60MGD?
• Can you share your experience with similar projects and the lessons learned that could be applied to this project?
• Are there any other technical risks that are unique to the O&M services for the SBIWTP?

Performance:

• What performance metrics would you use to measure the success of the operation and maintenance of the plant?
• How would you ensure that your projects meet performance standards?
• What are the key resources required to perform these services for a project of this size and complexity?
• What other performance risks do you see that may be unique to the O&M services for the SBIWTP?

Schedule:

• What are the key milestones and timelines for the phase-in period? How will you ensure an effective transition?
• How would you manage any delays or disruptions that may occur during the performance? What contingency plans would you have in place to address these issues?
• What strategies could you implement to ensure the timely completion of tasks/projects?
• What other schedule risks do you see as unique to the O&M services for the SBIWTP?

Additional Feedback Requested:

• Clarity and completeness of PWS and attachments
• Feasibility of the requirements
• Suggestions for improvements
• Feedback on the contract type (FFP plus Cost Reimbursement, or FFP only). Please provide a recommendation on the most suitable type of contract for this requirement.
• Risks and drawbacks
• Can your company extend services to the NIWTP in Nogales, AZ? If so, please explain.
• Contractor’s experience working with FAR and Government contracts that would be considered the same or similar in size, scope, and complexity
• Contractor’s experience in WWTP within the last 5-7 years
• Would your company intend to form a Joint Venture, partnership, LLC, or subcontract portions of work to satisfy the requirements listed in this Sources Sought?
• Will the majority of the work be subcontracted?
• Experience working internationally
• Experience working with sediment and waste removal
• Experience with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for WWTP