Azusa Light & Water 729 N. Azusa Avenue Azusa, California 91702 Tel: (626) 812-5225 Fax: (626) 812-0963 www.azusalw.com
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR DEVELOPMENT
OF AN ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY SOURCE
INTERCONNECTION TO AZUSA LIGHT & WATER
WATER DIVISION
IMPORTANT DATES
RFP ISSUED: July 28, 2026
REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION/QUESTIONS DEADLINE: August 11, 2026 PROPOSAL DUE DATE: August 27, 2026
INTERVIEWS September 8, 2026
AWARD DATE (TENTATIVE): September 28, 2026
2 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES
FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLY
SOURCE INTERCONNECTION TO AZUSA LIGHT & WATER
I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Azusa Light & Water (ALW) invites interested consulting engineering firms to submit proposals.
To provide professional engineering services to prepare a feasibility study for the interconnection of an additional water supply source for ALW. ALW will select a consultant for this project based on the consultant’s understanding of ALW’s need for supplemental water supply, technical engineering expertise, understanding of the project scope, and engineering fee.
ALW seeks to evaluate opportunities to improve water supply reliability, operational flexibility, emergency preparedness, and long-term water resource sustainability by developing an additional imported or interconnected water supply source.
The recent discovery of the Golden Mussel larva, an invasive mussel species in the State Water Project water supply, led the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW) to ban all imported water deliveries, including the State Water Project water delivery to the Los Angeles County San Gabriel Canyon Spreading Grounds. During a December 2025 presentation, MWD indicated suspected adult Golden Mussels have been detected at the Box Springs Feeder (downstream of the Devil Canyon Afterbay Power Plant (DCAP) which provides water to the SGVMWD. While LACDPW halting the delivery of State Water Project Water helps prevent the potential spread of Golden Mussels, it also has the potential to reduce or eliminate recharge of the Main San Gabriel Basin, upper canyon, a significant source of ALW groundwater well supply.
Recharge of the Main San Gabriel Basin is required to maintain a groundwater basin water level sufficient to supply ALW’s wells. This groundwater source supplies approximately 60 to 70 percent of ALW’s water system demand. ALW has prepared a Golden Mussel contingency plan to identify potential supplemental water sources to replace the loss of the Main San Gabriel Basin source. The Golden Mussel contingency plan identifies several supplemental water sources.
ALW desires to retain a qualified civil engineering firm with demonstrated experience in municipal water systems, water supply planning, hydraulic modeling, water transmission facilities, pumping systems, treatment facilities, and engineering economics to perform a comprehensive feasibility study evaluating four potential water supply alternatives and providing the best recommendation.
The study shall identify, evaluate, compare, and recommend the most feasible alternative for advancement into design and construction.
Azusa Light & Water
ALW’s current sources of water supply include: (1) local surface water treated at the Canyon Filtration Plant; (2) groundwater from wells located in the Main San Gabriel Basin (Main Basin), including the Canyon Sub-Basin of the Main Basin; (3) treated imported water from a connection with the Upper San Gabriel Municipal Water District’s (Upper Water) connection, a Metropolitan 3 Water District of Southern California (MWD) member agency, through MWD’s Middle Feeder; and (4) deliveries of untreated imported water for treatment at the Canyon Filtration Plant from the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District’s (SGVMWD) Devil Canyon-Azusa Pipeline (DCAP). The DCAP consists of 38 miles of pipeline extending from the Devil Canyon Power Plant Afterbay in San Bernardino County direct to the San Gabriel Canyon Spreading Grounds (Canyon Spreading Grounds) in Los Angeles County.
ALW is a member agency of the SGVMWD, a wholesale agency formed to meet the supplemental water needs of its member agencies (including ALW and the Cities of Alhambra, Monterey Park, and Sierra Madre). As a State Water Project (SWP) contractor. SGVMWD purchases imported water supplies from the SWP to deliver untreated imported water to replace groundwater produced in excess of its member agencies’ water rights in the Main Basin. The SGVMWD delivers the imported water through the DCAP which it owns and operates.
ALW is also a member of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper Water) and has a connection within the 590-pressure zone called USG-8. USG-8 provides treated water with chloramines and is typically not utilized by ALW. ALW is also a member of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District (Three Valleys); a small portion of ALW's service area customers are within the Three Valleys Municipal Water District.
Water System Highlights
Azusa Light & Water’s Water System serves approximately 110,000 people within five cities and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County. It includes:
• 287 miles of distribution pipe (2 to 30 inches in size) with 64% constructed prior to 1960. 50% of pipe material is steel.
• 12 MGD Joseph F. Hsu Membrane Filtration Plant
• 11 active wells
• 7 pressure zones
• 13 reservoirs
• 9 booster stations
• 15 pressure regulating stations
• Approximately 24,000 water meter services
The successful consultant may be awarded a contract to provide engineering services based on the qualifications of proposed staff and an evaluation of the Scope of services and Fee Proposal.
ALW does not guarantee the award or a total contract amount to the selected consultant.
II. PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are to:
1. Evaluate the technical feasibility of four candidate water supply alternatives.
2. Assess operational impacts and reliability benefits associated with each alternative.
3. Develop preliminary engineering concepts and layouts.
4. Identify permitting, environmental, right-of-way, and utility constraints. 4 5. Prepare planning-level capital and lifecycle cost estimates.
6. Conduct engineering economic analyses.
7. Develop implementation schedules.
8. Quantify risks associated with each alternative.
9. Recommend a preferred alternative for final design and construction.
10. Provide Azusa Light & Water with a clear decision-making framework supported by technical and financial analyses.
III. ALTERNATIVES TO BE EVALUATED
The Consultant shall evaluate all four alternatives.
1. Sierra Madre Pipeline Connection and Treatment Facility Evaluate the feasibility of constructing a transmission pipeline connection via Sierra Madre Avenue, recommending connection to MWD (via Upper Water or Three Valleys) or to City of Glendora and developing any required treatment facilities necessary to meet potable water quality standards.
1A. Construct a new transmission main in Sierra Madre Avenue from New MWD connection near Minnesota Ave to ALW 730 zone near the ALW Sierra Madre Reservoir, Capacity 17 mgd = 26CFS = 12,000gpm, including chlorination station to convert Chloraminated MWD water to Free Chlorine. Source new MWD connection.
1B. Construct a new transmission main in Sierra Madre Avenue from Glendora operations headquarters to ALW 730 zone near the ALW Sierra Madre reservoir, Capacity 17 mgd = 26CFS = 12,000gpm, including chlorination station to convert Chloraminated water to Free Chlorine.
Source new Glendora system connection.
2. Covina Valley Water Company Interconnection
Evaluate a new water supply interconnection with the Covina Valley Water Company water system. Evaluate development of facilities necessary to pump water from the existing USG-8 & Covina 590 Pressure Zone to the 715 Pressure Zone.
Activate USG 8, capacity 4.8MGD. 590 zone demand 6.4 MGD. Construct a new connection with Covina Valley Water Company on San Bernardino Road near Hartley Avenue, connect to 590 zone, include flow control facility for 590 zone connection, Capacity3.2 MGD =5CFS=2,000gpm.
Extra capacity 1.6MGD available for 715 zone. Construct 715 zone booster station and transmission main to connect to 715 zone.
3. City of Glendora Interconnection and new Covina Valley Water Company Interconnection
Evaluate a water supply interconnection with the City of Glendora water system, activate USG-8, and add new Covina Valley Water Company Interconnection. 5 Activate Glendora interconnection to Azusa 830 zone at Barranca Ave. and Gladstone Street, Capacity 1.4MGD. Activate USG 8 and construct a new connection with Covina Valley Water Company per option 2. Total capacity 4.8+3.2 = 8 MGD to zones 590, 715, and 830.
4. Advanced Treatment at Water Treatment Plant
Reconfigure the Canyon Filtration Plant operations to treat 100% imported surface water from San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District’s (SGVMWD) Devil Canyon-Azusa Pipeline (DCAP) source. Local surface water currently treated at the Canyon Filtration Plant will be diverted to the main spreading grounds. Implementation of this alternative will require adding ozone injection or ultraviolet light treatment, or an approved equivalent, to the treatment plant process to mitigate hydrocarbon levels in imported surface water.
Evaluation of each alternative shall include:
• Available supply capacity
• Conveyance capacity
• Interagency coordination requirements
• Adjudicated Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster requirements • Transmission facilities
• Reservoir Impacts/requirements
• Pressure zone compatibility
• Pipeline improvements
• Pipeline routing alternatives
• Hydraulic modeling
• Hydraulic capacity analysis
• Pump Station requirements
• Treatment requirements
• Required infrastructure improvements
• Energy consumption analysis
• Site requirements
• Utility conflicts
• Water quality considerations
• Emergency supply capabilities
• Right-of-way considerations
• Reliability assessment & benefits
• Operational requirements & flexibility
• Capital and O&M costs
• Cost of the water
III. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Accompanying this RFP in Attachment 1, which contains a copy of the standard City Professional Service Agreement. The selected consultants will be required to sign the standard ALW Professional Service Agreement for this project. The consultant is expected to review the general terms and conditions and acknowledge their acceptance of Attachment 1 in the Proposal Cover letter.
6 IV. SCOPE OF SERVICES
All services performed by the consultant or any sub-consultant shall be provided in a manner consistent with the level of care and skill exercised by members of the consultant's or the respective sub-consultant's profession. Such services shall be performed under the direct supervision of qualified and experienced personnel. The specific types of services to be provided may include, but are not limited to, the services described herein.
The consultant will be responsible for working with appropriate ALW staff, consultants, and utility personnel to oversee, coordinate, administer, and manage the project under the direction of the Assistant General Manager – Water Operations or their designee. The consultant shall provide necessary services to submit documents and assist ALW staff in various phases of the project.
The Consultant is expected to provide full engineering and support services.
Task 1 – Administration, Project Management and Coordination Participate and lead meeting(s) with ALW staff to discuss the project objectives. Participate in and host public meetings, as needed, to convey the proposed project to interested citizens/stakeholders for public input to ensure a successful project. Coordinate meetings with local water purveyors and regional water suppliers to confirm the feasibility and cost of water-delivery options.
The Consultant shall provide overall project management, including:
• Project kickoff meeting
• Monthly progress meetings
• Schedule management
• Budget tracking
• Meeting agendas and minutes
• Coordination with ALW staff
Deliverables
• Project Management Plan
• Preparing Implementation schedule
• Monthly Progress Reports
• Meeting Agendas and Minutes
• All Files
Task 2 – Existing Conditions Assessment
Perform field reconnaissance to inspect, photograph, and make field notes to document the existing site and surrounding environment and become familiar with project conditions, limitations, and possibilities. Research and review existing plans, reports, and other relevant documentation for all required water systems. Develop an understanding of the pertinent water agencies and water infrastructure.
The Consultant shall collect and review available information including:
• Existing water master plans
• ALW Golden Mussel Contingency Plan
7 • Technical Memorandum Preliminary Groundwater Depletion Evaluation San Gabriel Canyon Groundwater Basins
• Field Visits
• GIS mapping
• Water system models
• Pressure zone information
• Pump station data
• Reservoir data
• Water quality records
• Required agreements to secure the new water source
• Utility and infrastructure mapping
• Utility research and coordination
Deliverables
• Existing Conditions Technical Memorandum
• All files
Task 3 – Hydraulic Analysis
Perform hydraulic analyses as needed to deliver sound engineering solutions for all water systems, including Azusa Light & Water, Glendora, Covina Valley Water Company, and the Metropolitan Water District. Perform water system hydraulics and fire flow analysis. Review water supply and demand data.
The Consultant shall:
• Review and update hydraulic models as necessary for this project • Evaluate system impacts of each alternative
• Analyze peak day, maximum day, and emergency demand scenarios • Evaluate fire flow impacts
• Assess pressure zone compatibility
• Water Quality impacts with new water source and the existing ALW water system • Evaluate system reliability and operational redundancy Deliverables
• Hydraulic Analysis Memorandum
• All files
Task 4 – Preliminary Design Engineering Evaluation
Prepare preliminary engineering plans and layouts for reports and for discussions with ALW staff.
Utility Research and Coordination. Consultant shall coordinate with utility companies and facilitate any utility relocations necessary for the project. The Consultant shall maintain a log of all utility communications and a utility relocation schedule identifying required relocations and associated milestones.
Perform all necessary research to establish the location of substructure utilities. Consultant shall coordinate with the utility companies to ensure accuracy and verify if there are any utility conflicts 8 with the project. In addition to written notification, the Consultant shall contact the utility companies to verify that they have received the written notification. If any relocation of utilities is required, these relocations will be performed by the respective utility companies. The consultant shall coordinate or assist Azusa Light & Water with the utility companies to ensure timely relocations of these facilities so as not to hinder or delay the project.
Prepare a base map for the project including but not limited to the following: project boundary, right-of-way, easements if necessary, existing structures, existing utilities, and existing private improvements and landscape/hardscape.
For each alternative, the Consultant shall prepare:
• Conceptual layouts
• Preliminary design criteria
• Pipeline sizing recommendations
• Pumping requirements
• Treatment requirements for each option
• Water quality impacts with new water source and the existing ALW water system • Site requirements
• Utility conflict assessment
Deliverables
• Alternative Evaluation Technical Memorandum
• Preliminary Layout Exhibits
• CAD files
• Survey files
• All files
Task 5 – Engineering Economics Analysis and Financial Evaluation The Consultant shall perform engineering economic evaluations including:
Capital Costs
• Planning-level construction costs
• Soft costs
• Environmental costs
• Permitting costs
• Design costs
• Treatment costs
• Water source costs
• Provide all potential funding sources available
• Provide grant funding opportunities for this project
• Contingencies
Operating Costs
• Energy consumption
• Treatment costs
• Maintenance costs
• Water source costs
• Staffing impacts
• Replacement costs
9 Economic Evaluation
• Net Present Value (NPV)
• Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)
• Benefit-Cost Comparison
• Sensitivity Analysis
• Escalation Analysis
• Value engineering analysis
• Engineer’s construction cost estimates for each alternative Deliverables
• Engineering Economics Memorandum
• Files and all calculations
Task 6 – Regulatory, Right of Way Acquisitions, Easements, Environmental and Permitting Review
Prepare a list of properties affected by the project and adjacent projects that may be impacted by construction activities.
Prepare a map and legal descriptions for right-of-way acquisition, easements, and any temporary construction easements for each affected property.
The Consultant shall identify:
• CEQA considerations
• California Division of Drinking Water (DDW)
• State Requirements
• RWQCB
• Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster
• Permitting requirements
• Environmental clearance
• Agency approvals
• Easement requirements
• Right-of-way constraints
• Environmental constraints
Deliverables
• Permitting and Environmental Constraints Memorandum
• All files
Task 7 – Risk Assessment
The Consultant shall evaluate:
• Supply reliability risks
• Construction risks
• Schedule risks
• Regulatory risks
• Operational risks
• Long-term sustainability risks
• Water quality risks
10 • Agreements required to secure new water source
A risk matrix shall be prepared for each alternative.
Deliverables
• Risk Assessment Memorandum
• All files
Task 8 – Alternative Comparison and Recommendation
Inform the ALW of the review progress and evaluation of feasible engineering solutions. The consultant shall prepare graphics and PowerPoint presentations for various public meetings.
The Consultant shall develop a weighted evaluation matrix comparing:
• Technical feasibility
• Reliability
• Water quality
• Environmental impacts
• Water source costs
• Capital cost
• Operating cost
• Constructability
• Permitting complexity
• Schedule
• Long-term operational benefits
The Consultant shall clearly identify:
Preferred Alternative
The Consultant shall recommend the single best alternative for advancement into final design and construction, including supporting technical and economic justification.
Deliverables
• Alternative Ranking Matrix
• Preferred Alternative Recommendation Memorandum
Task 9 – Preliminary Design of Recommended Alternative
For the recommended alternative, the Consultant shall prepare:
• Conceptual alignment
• Preliminary facility layouts
• Preliminary equipment sizing
• Preliminary water treatment sizing
• Preliminary process flow diagrams
• Preliminary construction sequencing
• Preliminary opinion of probable construction cost
• Cost of the new supply of water
Design development shall be approximately equivalent to 25% design level.
Deliverables
• Preliminary Design Package
• Preliminary Cost Estimate
11 Task 10 – Implementation Schedule
The Consultant shall develop a project implementation roadmap including:
• Environmental review
• Permitting
• Design
• Treatment
• Property acquisition
• Construction procurement
• New water source agreement
• Construction
• Commissioning
Deliverables
• Detailed Project Implementation Schedule
• Critical Path Schedule
Task 11 – Final Feasibility Study Report and Presentation Prepare and submit Technical Reports and Proposed Recommendations. Consultant shall meet with ALW to discuss and review comments before proceeding to prepare the final feasibility study, which should include three iterations of comments from ALW Staff.
Exhibits and Plans are to be in AutoCAD format using ALW standard sheet title block on 24”x36” standard engineering plan size paper. Documents, Reports and Specifications are to be in MS Word format. The cost estimate is to be in MS Excel format. Proposed Schedules shall be in Microsoft Project.
The Consultant shall prepare a comprehensive report documenting:
• Methodology
• Existing conditions
• Alternative analyses
• Hydraulic evaluations
• Economic analyses
• Risk assessment
• Recommendation
• Preliminary design
• Cost estimates
• Schedule
The Consultant shall present findings to ALW management and City leadership.
Deliverables
• Administrative Draft Report
• Final Feasibility Study Report
• Utility Board Staff Report and Presentation
• Executive Summary
• Presentation Materials
12 V. REQUIRED STUDY SCHEDULE
The Consultant shall complete the feasibility study within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from Notice to Proceed (NTP).
Milestone Schedule Deliverable Due From NTP
Kickoff Meeting 10 Days
Existing Conditions Memo 30 Days
Hydraulic Analysis Memo 45 Days
Preliminary Alternative Evaluation 60 Days
Engineering Economics Memo 75 Days
Risk Assessment & Alternative Ranking 90 Days
Preferred Alternative Recommendation 100 Days
Preliminary Design Package 110 Days
Draft Final Report 115 Days
Final Report & Presentation 120 Days
No schedule extensions shall be granted without written authorization from ALW.
VI. FINAL STUDY REQUIREMENT
The primary outcome of this assignment is a technically defensible recommendation identifying the preferred alternative that ALW should advance into final design and construction, supported by:
• Engineering analysis
• Economic justification
• Water Treatment requirements
• Cost of new supply source
• Water Costs
• Proposed agreement language for new water source
• Risk assessment
• Preliminary design
• Cost estimates
• Implementation schedule
The final recommendation shall provide ALW with sufficient information to proceed directly into design procurement and project development.
VII. CONTENT OF THE PROPOSAL
At a minimum, include the following items in the proposal:
1. Introduction to the firm – size, office locations, service lines, ownership, etc.
2. Design experience on similar Capital water facilities projects, including the agency/company, contact person, and telephone number
13 3. Resumes of the key personnel who may be assigned to a Project, including specifics of experience on similar projects
4. List of sub-consultants to be used and the items of work to be performed
5. Resume of key personnel and experience for each named sub-consultant.
6. Quality Assurance Program Description
7. Provide a detailed project schedule
8. Scope of work
9. Rate schedule showing the fully loaded billing rates for all staff classifications proposed to provide services to ALW through Project completion.
10. Provide not to exceed price to complete all deliverables
11. Identify any exceptions or revisions to the sample Professional Services Agreement
12. Acceptance of the sample Professional Services Agreement VIII. CONSULTANT SELECTION
Selection will be based on a comparative evaluation of overall qualifications that is entirely at the discretion of ALW. Some criteria of particular interest are:
1. Understanding ALW’s project requirements, goals, schedule ALW’s system operations, local water system operations, and regional water supply availability.
2. Consultant’s past project experience and expertise (water supply planning, interconnection projects, hydraulic modeling expertise, water quality and water treatment design experience, pump station experience, engineering economics)
3. Qualifications and location/availability of key personnel
4. Knowledge of the City, State, and Federal requirements
5. Quality Assurance Program and management approach
6. Rate Schedule
7. Any exceptions to the sample Professional Services Agreement ALW reserves the right to interview the qualified firms before making final selections if needed.
From the firms expressing interest, a selection committee will review the Statement of Qualifications and rank the firms. If interviews are required to assist in the selection process, the respondents will be provided with a minimum advanced notice of one (1) week. The selection committee is anticipated to include the Assistant General Manager - Water Operations, Water System Engineer, and Treatment & Distribution Superintendents and Assistant Water Utility Engineer.
IX. RIGHT TO REJECT ALL PROPOSALS
The City reserves the right to reject any and/or all proposals submitted. No guarantee is made hereby that any contract will be awarded pursuant to this RFP, or otherwise. All costs incurred in the preparation of the proposals, in the submission of additional information, and/or in any other aspect of a proposal prior to the award of a written contract will be borne by the respondent(s).
X. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL
14 An original signed proposal and three (3) hard copies of the Proposal shall be submitted in a sealed envelope or package bearing the name, address, and telephone number of the individual or entity submitting the proposal. In addition, the individual or entity submitting the proposal shall provide an electronic copy of the complete Proposal in searchable PDF format via a Microsoft OneDrive link or via email. The OneDrive link and/or email shall be included with the proposal submission and provided by email at the time of proposal submission. Proposals shall be addressed as follows:
Terry Kerger
Water Systems Engineer - Water Operations
729 North Azusa Avenue
Azusa, CA 91702
The proposal shall be delivered to the above address on or before 5:00 PM on August 27, 2026.
XI. STAFF CONTACT
For inquiries, please contact Terry Kerger at [email protected] or (626) 633-4111.
All questions related to this RFP shall be submitted in writing via email to Terry Kerger at [email protected] The final date to submit Requests for Clarification is Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 4:00pm.
XII. ATTACHMENTS
1. Professional Services Agreement
2. Technical Memorandum Preliminary Groundwater Depletion Evaluation San Gabriel Canyon Groundwater Basins.
3. ALW Golden Mussel Contingency Plan Final Draft