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City of Newport, Washington Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Water Resources Study Introduction: The City of Newport, Washington is seeking a qualified water resources firm to provide professional services for evaluating water source availability and development within and adjacent to the city’s service area. The selected firm will assist in applying for funding for the study, which will include assessing current water sources, identifying potential new sources and developing strategies for sustainable water management. This study requires the expertise of a licensed or registered geologist and/or hydrogeologist with extensive regional experience, knowledge of local water rights, and a proven track record in similar hydrogeological studies. The anticipated completion time of the study is approximately 18 months. Newport Water Source Background and Needs: The City of Newport operates a public water system which provides the City’s population with groundwater from multiple groundwater wells. Newport is adjacent to the West Bonner Water and Sewer District No. 1 service area, serving Oldtown, Idaho, which has the ability to provide an emergency water intertie to the City. The City desires to maintain this intertie. A number of the City’s wells experience loss of production over time and require cleaning to restore production, or in some cases, have lost production entirely. The City requires a detailed plan to identify and develop sustainable sources and implement the infrastructure to incorporate the sources into their water system. Anticipated Scope of Work: The selected consultant will be responsible for: • Assisting the City in developing a detailed scope and cost for the study, applying to the Washington State Department of Health or other agencies for funding for the study and assisting in the administration of funding requirements. • Assessing the current water sources through review of source data and reports, field investigations, and analysis of the reliability and sustainability of current sources. • Identifying possible new water sources, including identifying and evaluating source types and locations, conducting feasibility studies with cost-benefit analyses and providing recommendations for new water source development. • Evaluate the water rights associated with current and future sources and provide recommendations for the steps to modify or consolidate the existing water rights or obtain new water rights, including potential transfers across Water Resource Inventory Areas (WRIA) or state boundaries. • Develop short-term and long-term water management strategies for the water sources and their incorporation into the water system operations, preparing technical reports and presentations for city officials and assisting in public outreach and stakeholder engagement. Qualifications: Applicants must demonstrate: • Regional Experience: Proven experience in northeast Washington and the adjoining areas in Idaho. • Funding Management: Experience in applying for and managing project funding. • Water Rights Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of local water rights and regulations for Washington and Idaho. • Hydrogeological Studies: Experience in conducting similar water resources and hydrogeological studies. • Water System Evaluation: Expertise in evaluating and recommending modifications to water distribution systems. • Team Availability: Ability to schedule and coordinate effectively with city staff. • Project Experience: Demonstrated experience in managing and executing similar projects. Evaluation Criteria: The City of Newport will evaluate submissions based on the following criteria, each ranked on a scale for a total score of 100 points. • Relevant Experience and Past Performance (20 points) • Grant and Funding Management (15 points) • Knowledge of Washington and Idaho Water Rights (20 points) • Technical Expertise (15 points) • Project Approach and Methodology (10 points) • Team Qualifications (10 points) • Team Availability (5 points) • Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements (5 points) Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity: The City complies with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of any protected status. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City commits to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all of its programs and activities. In accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 USC §2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, the City will affirmatively ensure that in this RFP process and in any contract entered into pursuant to this RFP, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex in consideration for an award. Women- and minority-owned business enterprises (WMBE) and veteran-owned firms are encouraged to respond to this opportunity. Submission Requirements: Interested parties should submit their statement of qualifications in response to the Evaluation Criteria, to the City of Newport 200 S Washington Ave Newport WA 99156 by 2:00 p.m. August 28th, 2025. Questions can be directed to Abby Gribi, City Administrator 509.447.6496 or [email protected] *Submissions will be limited to 30 pages. Closing Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025 Organization: City of Newport Point of Contact: [email protected]