Placement: Consent Agenda
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Award Contract #20250143 for Design-Build Services for the Discovery (Formerly Known as Rangeline) Water Treatment Facility.
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Submitted By: Nathaniel Rubel, Procurement Assistant Director, Procurement Management Division (PMD).
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of high-quality infrastructure and facilities.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: Nathaniel Rubel, Procurement Assistant Director, PMD.
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie and Jacobs Project Management Co.
3. Purpose: Design-Build services for the new Discovery (formerly known as Rangeline) Water Treatment Facility to meet the City’s projected water demands.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: New.
5. Duration: 527 calendar days for Phase 1 Scope of Services.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: To address the increase in water demand, the City has long planned and is moving forward with the design and construction of the Discovery Water Treatment Facility. This facility will increase the City's water system capacity by 10 million gallons per day (MGD). The treatment facility will utilize reverse osmosis (RO) for water purification, drawing its supply from six wells in the Southwest Wellfield, which tap into the Upper Floridan Aquifer.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): A one-time expense of $31,817,327.00, for the Phase 1 Scope of Services which includes $11,817,327.00 for Design and Pre-construction Services and an allowance of $20,000,000.00 for Early Site Work and the purchase of Critical Long-Lead Process/Electrical Equipment.
Presentation Information: N/A.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council Award Contract #20250143 for Design-Build Services for the Discovery Water Treatment Facility to Jacobs Project Management Co.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council reject the recommended award and provide staff with direction.
2. Move that the Council reject all proposals and provide staff with direction to reissue the solicitation or cancel the Request for Qualifications.
Background: The City of Port St. Lucie, Florida (City) is ranked as one of the fastest growing cities in the country. The Utility Systems Department (USD) has long planned for the additional water treatment facility and with continued growth, future capacity is needed. This facility will increase the City's water system capacity by 10 MGD. The plant will utilize reverse osmosis (RO) for water purification, drawing its supply from six wells in the Southwest Wellfield, which tap into the Upper Floridan Aquifer. This project will provide comprehensive design-build services for the new facility to meet the City’s projected water demands.
The project’s intent is to design and construct a new water treatment facility with an initial capacity of 10 MGD with an ability to expand up to 30 MGD and associated improvements at the existing repumping station site. Additionally, space will be allocated for a future 10-MGD surface Water Treatment Plant (WTP), which will be supplied through aboveground impoundments located at the St. Lucie River/C-23 Water Quality Project.
During Phase 1 of the project, the water treatment facility will be designed to produce 10 MGD and be fully functional, and operational by the completion of Phase 2. The scope of work under Phase 1 will include the design, permitting, and preconstruction services for an initial 10-MGD RO WTP, with the flexibility for one of the following options:
1) Have the Design-Builder design with the option to construct the additional 10-MGD features for a full capacity of 20 MGD under this contract;
2) Have the Design-Builder provide the necessary documents outlined in this scope of work so the City can have another entity construct the additional 10-MGD expansion from 10 MGD to 20 MGD; or
3) Have the Design-Builder design and construct the initial WTF under this scope of work as a 10 MGD facility. The City will notify the Design-Builder before the 30% Design milestone of which option will be implemented under this contract agreement and whether it wants to proceed with the design and construction of the Storage Building with offices.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued in accordance with Section 287.055, Florida Statutes, identified as the Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) on September 8, 2025, to 1,266 potential consultants. There were 5 proposals received on November 4, 2025. PMD held the first evaluation committee meeting on December 5, 2025, to review and discuss the proposals and individual scores to determine the short list. All proposing firms were invited to a second evaluation meeting held on December 18, 2025, to make presentations and to answer more detailed questions regarding the project. After reviewing the phase 1 evaluation results, the Design-Build team from PC Construction respectfully declined the invitation to make their presentation and withdrew their team from consideration. Following the presentations, the Evaluation Committee reviewed scores and adjusted accordingly. The final scores were announced as follows:
#1 Ranked Firm: Jacobs Project Management Co. (268.6)
#2 Ranked Firm: PCL Construction (267.0)
#3 Ranked Firm: Wharton-Smith, Inc. (258.8)
#4 Ranked Firm: The Haskell Company (258.4)
#5 Ranked Firm (withdrew): PC Construction Company (248.6)
PMD began negotiations with the top-ranked firm, Jacobs Project Management Co. After the negotiations, the recommendation was made to accept the proposal of $31,817,327.00, for the Phase 1 Scope of Services.
Issues/Analysis: Staff has reviewed the final proposal and finds that the scope is consistent with the needs for the phasing of the project and finds that the fees are fair and reasonable.
Financial Information: Funding is appropriated in the Utility CIP Fund/ Discovery Water Treatment Facility / Design Professional Services (#448-3312 & 3313-563005-00000).
Special Consideration: The name of the project was changed after the solicitation closed from Rangeline Road Water Treatment Facility to Discovery Water Treatment Facility. This is a multi-year project to complete the entire scope of work. Multiple work packages, each with a GMP and guaranteed completion date will be placed on future Council agendas for approval prior to commencing the work for each GMP phase.
Location of Project: Due to Homeland Security protection, the location of the facility is not disclosed.
Attachments:
1. Notice of Intent to Award.
2. Proposals Submitted Report.
3. RFQu #20250143 Evaluation Summary Report.
4. Signed Contract.
5. Jacobs Phase 1 Proposal.
6. Jacobs RFQu Response.
7. RFQu #20250143 Solicitation Documents.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 26022-06.
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Alyssa Lunin, Senior Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.