Lewis Opengov #296532

Feasibility study for potential County acquisition of 54 Thurston PUD water systems

Lewis County is seeking consulting qualifications to assess whether it should acquire and manage 54 water systems currently owned and operated by Thurston PUD. - Government buyer: Lewis County Public Works, Public Works–Roads; procurement contact listed as Anders Pollman. Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Office of Drinking Water, is funding and reviewing the work. - Systems in scope: 54 Thurston Public Utility District No. 1 (Thurston PUD) water systems—7 Group A and 47 Group B—with the consultant required to validate the inventory. - Requested service: One independent feasibility study covering system condition, capacity, water rights, fire-flow capability, regulatory compliance, water quality and PFAS, finances and rates, capital needs, staffing, operating models, economic effects, risks, alternatives, and a possible transition to County ownership. The PFAS review includes Sandra Avenue Water System No. 627. - Key deliverables: Validated inventory and condition matrix; compliance checklist; financial and rate models; capital improvement plan and funding-eligibility summary; staffing and operations plan; economic and risk analyses; alternatives and recommendations; initial and final feasibility reports for DOH review; and presentation materials for the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners. Editable source files and searchable PDFs are also required. - Funding and value: Grant support is capped at $150,000 through the Washington State Department of Health Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. A fee proposal is not requested with the qualifications submission; the County will negotiate scope and fee with the selected firm. - Notable qualifications and constraints: The proposed team must include Washington-licensed professional engineering capability and relevant water-system, financial, and rate expertise. Firms must disclose conflicts that could compromise the study’s independence.

Description

Lewis County Public Works is seeking statements of qualifications from consulting firms to conduct an independent feasibility study on the potential acquisition, ownership, operation, and long-term management of 54 Thurston PUD water systems in Lewis County. The study will verify system conditions and records and assess technical, regulatory, water-quality, financial, rate, staffing, operational, and acquisition risks, including alternatives and a potential transition roadmap. Required deliverables include system inventories and condition assessments, financial and operations analyses, risk and alternatives assessments, and initial and final reports for DOH review and BOCC consideration. The project has up to $150,000 in federal grant funding; this is a qualifications-based procurement, and cost proposals are not requested at this stage.

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