Sludge Dryer Contract Awaits EM Approval (UPDATED)

The massive 20 year, $683 million bio-solids contract with the New England Fertilizer Company, which was approved by the Board of Water Commissioners on March 27, 2013, and passed the Detroit City Council on May 14, 2013, must await final approval by the City's Emergency Manager, Kevyn Orr.   

Up-front construction costs will be $143 million, plus $540 million for operation and maintenance over 20 years.

According to the schedule outlined to the Water Board in March, DWSD plans to issue a Notice to Proceed on Contract PC-792 by May 30, 2013. 

Update (9/18): In a press release issued today, NEFCO confirmed that its bio-solids contract with DWSD has been approved. 

For more about DWSD Update, click here.  

DWSD Picks the New England Fertilizer Company (NEFCO) to Negotiate Biosolids Project, Contract PC-792 (UPDATED)

On February 8, 2013, less than three weeks after receiving proposals, DWSD identified the New England Fertilizer Company (NEFCO) as the highest ranked proposer for its "Biosolids Dryer Facility" project, Contract No. PC-792.

 DWSD advised the other two bidders last Friday that it would be seeking to negotiate a contract with NEFCO, but reserved the right to proceed to the next highest ranked proposer. DWSD did not identify the second ranked proposer. 

DWSD received proposals on January 23, 2013 from three teams competing for this 20 year contract. 

Update (3/26): A proposed $683 million contract with NEFCO has been placed on the Agenda for the March 27, 2013 Monthly Water Board Meeting. Up-front construction costs will be $143 million, plus $540 million for operation and maintenance over 20 years.

For more about DWSD Update, click here.

DWSD Receives Proposals from 3 Teams for Biosolids Contract, PC-792

On January 23, 2013, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department received proposals from three teams in response to the RFP for the project known as "Biosolids Dryer Facility" (Contract PC-792). 

Proposals were received from the following teams:

• NEFCO
• Synagro/Walsh Construction
• We Care Organics /DeMaria

According to the January 23, 2013 Director's Report (here), the proposals will be "evaluated promptly by the joint DWSD and county representative evaluation team."

Contract PC-792 was advertised for bids last October. 

For more about DWSD Update, click here.  

   

DWSD Extends Deadline for Submitting Biosolids Proposals to January 23, 2013 (UPDATED)

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) earlier this week extended to November 29, 2012 January 23, 2013* the due date for design-build, operate and maintain proposals for Contract PC-792, "Biosolids Dryer Facility." 

DWSD is now seeking proposals for a single, 20 year O&M contract, rather than a 5 year agreement, with a series of 5 year options.  The capacity of the new sludge drying facility is also being reduced slightly to 220 dry tons per day, from 250 tons. These changes are outlined in Addendum 1. 

According to the RFP, as amended:

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is seeking a qualified firm to provide design-build-operate-maintain services under a negotiated, fixed‑price contract to provide all design, obtain all necessary permits, furnish all materials and equipment, perform any required demolition, removal or relocation, construct, start-up, and test a biosolids dryer facility with a firm capacity of 250 220 dry tons per day, as well as providing new and/or modified sludge cake conveying capabilities. 

The PC-792 Contractor will also be responsible to operate and maintain the new dryer facility and to load, haul and sell or otherwise beneficially reuse and/or dispose of all biosolids and residuals transferred to the dryer facility for a period of up to twenty (20) years after Substantial Completion consisting of an initial five (5) year operation and maintenance (O&M) period and up to three (3) succeeding five (5) year O&M periods, that may be exercised in the sole discretion of DWSD unless terminated in accordance with the Contract provisions.

Update (11/12): The response deadline for this Biosolids RFP has been extended to January 23, 2013, per Addendum No. 4. 

For more about DWSD Update, click here.