DB-141 Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction Jignesh Desai, Principal Project ManagerFebruary 10, 2026
•Award Progressive Design-Build Contract No. DB-141 Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction to Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture.•Initial award in the amount of $192,799,000•Duration of 1,460 consecutive calendar days•Pre-construction services authorization•Anticipated Total Progressive Design-Build Budget: $1,000,000,000•Total Not-To-Exceed Contract Duration: 4,850 consecutive calendar days2 Commission Action Request
•San Francisco Bay experienced harmful algalblooms and fish kills in 2022 and 2023.•To meet permit requirements from the SanFrancisco Bay Regional Water QualityControl Board, the project will plan, designand construct the treatment infrastructureat the Southeast Plant to significantly reducenutrient discharges from the plant to theSan Francisco Bay.3 SEP Nutrient Reduction Project Background
August 2022 Algal Bloom (NOAA/NCCOS)
4 DB-141 SEP Nutrient Reduction Progressive D-B Procurement ApproachRequest for Information (12/2024)• Notify of upcoming opportunity(PDB, OA)• Gauge market interest• Seek market feedbackRequest for Qualification (04/2025)• Establish essential requirements for firms• Define minimum qualifications for firmsRequest for Proposal (08/2025)•Team qualifications•Approachto technical and management•Price•Social Impact Partnership
5 DB-141 SEP Nutrient Reduction Progressive D-B Procurement•Two Proposals Received – Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture and Sundt Construction Inc. •Evaluation consisted of Written Proposal, Oral Interview, Price Proposal, DEI Submittal and Social Impact Partnership•Final score summary resulted in Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture as top-ranked proposer team 6 Progressive Design-Build Sequence
7 Progressive Design-Build SequenceAction 1.0 – Award of Contract
8 DB-141 SEP Nutrient Reduction Pre-construction Services Authorization•Project Management•Project Controls•Risk Management•CEQA Environmental Support•Workforce Planning•Trade Package Planning•Pilot Testing Technologies•Geotechnical Field Investigation and Site Assessment•Planning Phase Deliverables•Design Phase Deliverables•Constructability and Sequencing Award Progressive Design-Build Contract No. DB-141 Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction to Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture.•Initial award in the amount of $192,799,000•Duration of 1,460 consecutive calendar days•Pre-construction services authorization9 Commission Action 1.0 Award of Contract
DEPARTMENT
Infrastructure Division
AGENDA NO. 13
MEETING DATE
February 10, 2026
Last updated: 05.03.2023
AGENDA ITEM
Public Utilities Commission
City and County of San Francisco
Calendar: Regular Calendar
Project Manager: Jignesh Desai
Award Progressive Design-Build Contract No. DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction
Summary of Proposed
Commission Action:
Award Progressive Design -Build Contract No. DB -141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction, to Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture between Jacobs Project Management Company and PCL Construction Inc., to design and construct secondary treatment facilities to achieve effluent quality requirements set forth in performance requirement of Nutrient Watershed Permit (CA0038873), with an initial award in the amount not-to-
exceed $192,799,000, and with a total contract duration of 4,850 consecutive calendar days (approximately 13 years and three months), which includes a duration of 1,460 consecutive calendar days (approximately four years), to provide pre -
construction services (e.g., planning, design, and
environmental review).
Background: The Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant (SEP) is the centerpiece of the San Francisco Public Utility Commission’s ( SFPUC) wastewater treatment operations and handles approximately 80% of the wastewater and stormwater from the eastern watersheds of San Francisco.
In July 2024, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) adopted the Nutrient Watershed Permit (CA0038873) that requires reduction of the amount of nutrients, specifically total inorganic nitrogen, discharged in the effluent from the SEP into the San Francisco Bay.
The permit includes two effluent limits on the average seasonal discharges from the SEP that occur between May 1 and September 30: (1) “Interim” limit effective upon permit adoption of 11,000 kilograms (kg) of total inorga
nic nitrogen (TIN) as nitrogen (N) per day; and (2) “Final” limit effective October 1, 2034, of 3,300 kg-N/day. The SEP is in full compliance with the interim limit requirement as of the October 2024 adoption of the Nutrient Watershed Permit. Contract No. DB-141 is aimed to meet the final limit RWQCB set in the Nutrient Watershed Permit.
On October 14, 2025, through Resolution No. 25-0143, this Commission authorized the General Manager to designate Emerson Process Management Power & Water Solutions, Inc ., as the sole source for Distributed Control System equipment and installation in Contract No. DB-141, pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Section 6.73(e) and California Public Contract Code Section 3400(c)(2).
Agenda Title: DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction Commission Meeting Date: February 10, 2026
On December 9, 2025, SFPUC staff presented an overview of the progressive design-build process for SFPUC projects. The presentation Slide 5, attached to this staff report, outlines the progressive design-build sequence describing pre-construction, construction, Commission actions, and contract milestones.
As described in Slide 5, the proposed action in this agenda item is “Award of Contract – Action 1.0.”
Scope of Contract: The work location for Contract No. DB -141 is at the SEP in the City and County of San Francisco.
The pre-construction services of the contract work being authorized in this Commission action consist of:
• Project Management
• Project Controls, Cost Model and Schedule Model
• Risk Management
• Pilot Testing and Evaluating Nutrient Reduction Technologies • Field Investigation, Geotechnical Site Assessment and Condition Assessment of Secondary Processes
• Alternative Analysis Report
• Conceptual Engineering Report
• Design Criteria Report
• 35% design, 65% Design and 100% Design
• Constructability and Sequencing
• Trade Packages Planning
• Workforce Planning
• CEQA Environmental Review Support
• Permitting Support
Funding and Costs: Funding Source: Wastewater Capital Improvement Program Project No. 10041824, SEP Nutrient Reduction
Total Not-To-Exceed Pre-Construction Contract Amount: $192,799,000 Anticipated Total Progressive Design-Build Budget: $1,000,000,000
Schedule: Advertised: August 13, 2025
Estimated Pre-Construction Notice-to-Proceed Date: March 16, 2026 Estimated Pre-Construction End Date: March 15, 2030
Pre-Construction Contract Duration: 1,460 consecutive calendar days Total Not-To-Exceed Contract Duration: 4,850 consecutive calendar days
Evaluation and
Selection Criteria:
The evaluation and selection process consisted of five factors: (1) Written Proposal; (2) Oral Interview; (3) Price Proposal; (4) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan; and (5) Social Impact Partnership (SIP) Submittal Agenda Title: DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction Commission Meeting Date: February 10, 2026
bonus points . The proposer teams could be awarded up to a maximum of 1,000 points: 645 points for the written proposal phase; 5 points for the DEI submittal; 100 points for the oral interview phase; 250 points for the proposal price; and 37.25 bonus points for the Social Impact Partnership Submittal.
The technical evaluation panel consisted of individuals knowledgeable on the subject matter and included staff from the Central Marin Sanitation District, East Bay Municipality Utility District, SFPUC Wastewater Enterprise , and SFPUC Infrastructure Division. The panel reviewed and ranked the proposer teams during the written proposal and oral interview phases. A separate panel evaluated SIP Submittals.
On March 14, 2025, SFPUC advertised a Request for Qualifications for Contract No. DB-141. On April 29, 2025, SFPUC received responses from two proposers. SFPUC reviewed and pre -qualified two firms to respond to the Request for Proposals for Contract No. DB-141.
On October 17, 2025, SFPUC received two proposals, one from each short- listed firm. The top-ranked proposer team is recommended for the contract award.
Final Score
Summary:
Written Proposal, Oral Interview, Price Proposal, DEI submittal, and Social Impact Partnership Bonus:
Firms
Written
Proposal
Score
(645)
Oral
Score
(100)
Price
Proposal
(250)
DEI
Score
(5)
SIP
BONUS
Score
(37.25)
Total
Score
(1037.25)
Jacobs/P
CL, a SF
Joint
Venture
645 100 219.86 5 37.12 1006.98
Sundt
Construct
ion Inc.
632.4 95.41 250 5 19.77 1002.58
Protest: On December 1, 2025, the SFPUC received a protest letter from Sundt Construction Inc. (Sundt), protesting the recommendation to award the Agenda Title: DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction Commission Meeting Date: February 10, 2026
contract to Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture . On December 8. 2025 , Jacobs/PCL, a SF J oint Venture submitted a response letter. On December 10, 2025, Sundt submitted rebuttal to Jacobs/PCL , a SF J oint Venture’s response. On January 13, 2026, a fter review of the protest, response, and rebuttal, the Contract Administration Bureau, in consultation with the City Attorney’s Office and the SIP team,
issued a determination denying the
protest. Jacobs/PCL, a SF J oint Venture remains the responsible proposer submitting the highest scoring responsive proposal.
Environmental
Review:
Environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the project will begin once the project scope is defined. This action is to award Contract No. DB-141 and authorize proceeding with design and pre -construction services only, and staff will not approve any pre - construction work that would result in a physical change to the environment, such as geotechnical investigations, under this contract until the proposed work is reviewed and any appropriate environmental review under CEQA has been completed.
This action shall not be considered approval of the project , and the Commission reserves the right of the SFPUC, among other things, to modify the project to mitigate any significant environmental impacts or terminate the contract if this Commission elects not to proceed with the project.
This Commission will not consider approving the start of construction services unless and until environmental review is complete and this Commission has reviewed and considered the environmental review, adopted any required CEQA Findings and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and approved the project.
Local Business
Enterprise Utilization
and Non-
Discrimination in
Contracting:
The Contract Monitoring Division established a n LBE subcontractor participation requirement of 10% Pre-Construction (Design) services and 13% for Construction services for this contract. Jacobs/PCL, a SF J oint Venture has committed to an LBE subcontractor participation of 11% for Pre- Construction (Design) services and 13% Construction services with its proposal.
Attachment(s): 1. Contract Monitoring Division Memorandum
2. Overview of Progressive Design- Build Process for SFPUC Projects Slide 5 , Presented at the December 9, 2025, Commission Regular Meeting, Agenda Item 5.g
Agenda Title: DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction Commission Meeting Date: February 10, 2026
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO.
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is responsible for the planning, design, and construction of the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant (SEP) Nutrient Reduction Project to comply with the Nutrient Watershed Permit (CA0038873); and
WHEREAS, On March 14, 2025, SFPUC advertised a Request for Qualifications for Contract No. DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction, and, on April 29, 2025, SFPUC received responses from two proposers that were subsequently pre -qualified; and
WHEREAS, On August 13, 2025, SFPUC advertised Contract No. DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction and invited the two pre-qualified proposers to submit proposals by October 17, 2025; and
WHEREAS, The Progressive Design-Build anticipated contract budget for the Contract No. DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Re duction contract is $1,000,000,000 for planning, environmental, design, construction, and start-up and commissioning of secondary treatment facilities to achieve the effluent quality requirements of the SEP as set forth in the performance requirements of the Request for Proposals and the Nutrient Watershed Permit (CA0038873); and
WHEREAS, The Pre-Construction contract duration is 1,460 consecutive calendar days, and the total contract duration is 4,850 consecutive calendar days; and
WHEREAS, On October 17, 2025, SFPUC received two proposals in response to the advertised Request for Proposal; and
WHEREAS, SFPUC staff , the Proposal Evaluation Panel and the Contract Monitoring Division (CMD) reviewed the proposals and have determined that Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture is the responsible and responsive proposer; and
WHEREAS, CMD established a Local Business Enterprise (LBE) subcontracting requirement of 10% for the Pre-Construction (Design) services and 13% for the C onstruction services of this contract, and Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture committed to 11% for Pre- Construction (Design) services and 13% for Construction services in its proposal; and
WHEREAS, Environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Project will begin when the project scope is defined; and
WHEREAS, This action is to award Contract No. DB -141 and authorize proceeding with design and pre -construction services only, and staff will not approve any pre -construction work
that would result in a physical change to the environment, such as geotechnical investigations, under this contract until the proposed work is reviewed and any appropriate environmental review under CEQA has been completed; and
WHEREAS, This action shall not be considered approval of the project and the Commission reserves the right of the SFPUC to, among other things, modify the project to mitigate any significant environmental impacts or terminate the contract if this Commission elects not to proceed with the project; and
WHEREAS, T his Commission will not consider approving the start of construction services unless and until environmental review is complete and this Commission has reviewed and considered the environmental review, adopted any required CEQA Findings and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and approved the project; and
WHEREAS, Funds are available from Project No. 10041824, SEP Nutrient Reduction; now, therefore, be it,
RESOLVED, That this Commission hereby awards Contract No. DB-141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction, in the initial award amount of $192,799,000, with a total contract duration of 4,850 consecutive calendar days which includes a Pre-Construction services contract duration of 1,460 consecutive calendar days, to the responsible proposer submitting the highest scoring responsive proposal, Jacobs/PCL, a SF Joint Venture , to provide Pre-Construction services (planning, design and environmental review support) to reduce total inorganic nitrogen in the effluent from the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant into the San Francisco Bay; and, be it,
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the implementation of the Construction s ervices for Contract No. DB -141, Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction, will not be authorized nor commence until environmental review of the project is complete and th is Commission approves the project and the first of the progressive contract modification(s) for the initial scope of construction work, including the increased contract amount and duration associated with that work.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at its meeting of February 10, 2026.
Director of Commission Affairs
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
City & County of San Francisco
Daniel Lurie, Mayor
Office of the City Administrator
Carmen Chu, City Administrator
Contract Monitoring Division
Regina Chan, Director
1455 Market Street, Suite 16A, San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone (415) 554 0630
MEMORANDUM
Date: January 13, 2026
To: Jignesh Desai, SFPUC
Rosanna Tse, SFPUC
Derek Wong, SFPUC
From: Jovi Cuntapay-Vitin, CMD
Subject: CMD Review for DB-141 Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant Nutrient Reduction
The Contract Monitoring Division (“CMD”) has reviewed the proposals and supporting documentation and applied the appropriate rating bonuses submitted for the above referenced design build project. Based on this review, CMD has determined that the proposals were materially compliant with the Chapter 14B pre-award requirements.
Rating Bonus
The following is a summary of the rating bonus information:
FIRM Status, Type and Size Rating Bonus
Jacobs Project
Management Company &
PCL Construction, Inc.
Joint Venture
(“Jacobs/PCL JV”)
Non-LBE Not eligible
Sundt Corporation, Inc. &
Carollo Engineers, Inc.
Non-LBE Not eligible
The RFP indicates that only the highest-ranked proposer from the written technical proposal evaluation, oral interview evaluation, price proposal and Social Impact Partnership bonus points will be awarded the contract. For the two (2) shortlisted firms, CMD has reviewed the score sheets submitted by the panelists and the final score tabulations from the SFPUC. Based on this information and after application of the LBE rating bonus or LDJVI, the proposers are ranked as follows:
RANK FIRM
1 Jacobs/PCL JV
2 Sundt Corporation, Inc. & Carollo
Engineers, Inc.
Based on the foregoing, Jacobs/PCL JV is the highest ranked proposer.
LBE Subcontracting Participation Requirements
For the Design Phase, the Local Business Enterprise (“LBE”) subcontracting requirement is
10.00%. For the Construction Phase, the LBE subcontracting requirement is 13.00%. The
10.00% LBE subcontracting requirement for the Design Phase must be met at the time of proposal. The 13.00% LBE subcontracting requirement for the Construction Phase will be met by the cumulative LBE participation through the various trade packages. The LBE subcontracting requirements for both phases can only be met by CMD certified San Francisco Micro and/or Small-LBEs.
Design Phase – LBE Subcontracting Participation
At the time of proposal, Jacobs/PCL JV met the 10.00% LBE subcontracting requirement for the Design Phase by listing the following LBE firms on CMD Form 2A:
LBE Firm Service
LBE Status,
Type and
Size
Listed LBE
Participation
Credited LBE
Participation
Structus, Inc. Structural
Engineering
SF LBE-MBE
(Small) 2.25% 2.25%
Telamon Engineering
Consultants, Inc. Civil, Survey SF LBE-
WBE (Small) 1.59% 1.59%
The Their Group Project
Support/Controls
SF LBE-
WBE (Micro) 0.86% 0.86%
Infraterra, Inc. Civil Engineering
Support
SF LBE-MBE
(Small) 0.12% 0.12%
Apex Testing
Laboratories, Inc.
Materials
Testing
SF LBE-MBE
(Small) 0.02% 0.02%
MEI Architects Architecture SF LBE-
WBE (Small) 1.67% 1.67%
SRT Consultants Civil Support SF LBE-
WBE (Small) 0.24% 0.24%
Hoseley Corporation Utility Locate SF LBE-OBE
(Small) 0.86% 0.86%
IRML LBE Outreach SF LBE-
WBE (Micro) 0.95% 0.95%
JBR Partners, Inc.
Workforce
Development
Strategy
SF LBE-MBE
(Micro) 0.83% 0.83%
Bonner Communications
Workforce
Development
Strategy
SF LBE-
WBE (Micro) 1.13% 1.13%
Spex Center LLC
Local Workforce
Development
Strategy
SF LBE-OBE
(Micro) 0.48% 0.48%
TOTAL 11.00% 11.00%
Additionally, Jacob/PCL JV also listed the following non-LBE subconsultants on CMD Form 2A:
Firm Scope of Service Participation
Hazen and Sawyer Process Engineering 16.66%
Stantec Civil Engineering/DCS Integration 13.09%
ENGEO Geotechnical 1.29%
Structural Technologies Structural Condition Assessment 0.71% Global Design-Build Scheduling/Risk Management 0.24%
Urban Strategy Group,
Inc. Community Relations 0.36%
TOTAL 32.35%
Construction Phase – LBE Commitment
Due to the anticipated time lapse between proposal submission and the submission of the construction trade bid packages, Proposers were required to submit the LBE Commitment Certification form which is confirmation by the Proposer that it will meet the 13.00% LBE subcontracting participation requirement established for the Construction Phase through the various trade packages. Jacob/PCL JV has submitted this form.
After award and prior to the advertisement of any trade packages, Jacob/PCL JV will consult with the CMD and submit a written plan for achieving the 13.00% LBE subcontracting participation requirement for the Construction Phase. As mentioned above, the LBE subcontracting requirement for the Construction Phase will be met by the cumulative LBE participation through the various trade packages. The written plan will specify the LBE subcontracting participation requirement for each trade package based on the availability of LBEs to perform the work or supply materials and equipment for the subject trade package.
Good Faith Efforts Requirements
Jacob/PCL JV utilized Approach B (Inclusion of Micro-LBE) on CMD Form 2B to meet the Good Faith Efforts (“GFE”) Requirements. Jacob/PCL JV demonstrated that it met the GFE requirements under Approach B by listing the Micro-LBE firm: The Their Group.
Based on the foregoing, CMD has determined that Jacob/PCL JV has complied with the Chapter 14B pre-award requirements. Should you have any questions, or if I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].