Solicit for Request for Proposal

ZAVALA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for

ENGINEER, BOND COUNSEL, and FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Zavala County Water District (District) requests the submission of qualifications statements, which will lead to the possible award of a contract to provide Engineer, Bond Counsel and Financial Advisor services for project(s) involving the District’s Emergency Generators at their Water Treatment Facility, Water Distribution Improvements, and Lift Station Improvements of the District’s Wastewater Collection System.

Scope of Work

The services to be obtained for the Engineer require: with the proposed North Water Treatment Plant, storage, and distribution system improvements, including Planning, Acquisition, and Design of a water treatment plant, water storage facilities, water plant raw water reservoir, and distribution water lines; assistance in application preparation and documentation to federal, state, and other possible funding sources.

The services to be obtained for the Bond Counsel require: assistance in obtaining loan and/or grant funding and providing a legal opinion with respect to the validity of any debt obligations issued by the District for Capital Improvement Projects; preparation of necessary resolutions authorizing and securing the debt and/or authorizing any grant/loan agreements as necessary.

The services to be obtained for the Financial Advisor require: strategic financial planning; analysis of market conditions; recommended investments of bond proceeds; provide recommendations to the District for financing through programs established by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), including loan and grant funding.

Project Description: The project consists of New Emergency Generators at their Water Treatment Facility, Water Distribution Improvements, and Lift Station Improvements of the District’s Wastewater Collection System.

Guidelines for Content of Qualification Statements

DO NOT INCLUDE COST INFORMATION with the qualification statement. Responses that include cost or pricing information will be rejected and will not be considered by the District.

Detailed instructions on the preparation of the qualification statement must be obtained from the District. For more information on preparing, submitting, or requesting the qualification statement, contact, Juanita Vasquez, General Manager, at zcwcid@yahoo.com , the Subject Line: TWDB RFQ for Engineer, Bond Counsel or Financial Advisor or call the District at 830-365-4119. This information should be requested as soon as possible in order to allow time to prepare the document and comply with the procedures.

Submittal Deadline

Six (6) bound copies and one USB of the qualifications statement must be sealed with the service name marked in the lower left corner and filed with the District by Friday, October 30, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at 470 W. Edith St., La Pryor, Texas 78872. The qualifications statement received after this time will not be considered.

Minimum Qualifications and Selection Criteria

The District will evaluate the proposals to determine which firm has the best qualifications.

Contract Terms and Negotiation Schedule

The consultant for Bond Counsel, Financial Advisor, and Engineering services is expected to negotiate an agreement for services that is acceptable to the District. If an acceptable contract cannot be negotiated, the District may formally end negotiations and begin negotiating with the next highest qualified person or firm.

This contract is contingent upon release of funds from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Any contract or contracts awarded under this Invitation for Bid (IFB) or Request for Qualifications (RFQ) are expected to be funded in part by a loan from the TWDB. Neither the State of Texas nor any of its departments, agencies, or employees are or will be a party to this IFB, RFQ, or any resulting contract. RFQ's are issued in accordance with Section 2254 of the Texas Government Code (Professional Services Act).

This contract is subject to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, which includes EPA-approved fair share goals toward procurement of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) firms. EPA rules require that applicants and prime contractors make a good faith effort to award a fair share of contracts, subcontracts, and procurements to M/WBEs through demonstration of the six affirmative steps. For more details of the DBE Program and the current, applicable fair share goals, please visit www.twdb.texas.gov/dbe.

Zavala County Water District is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap or national origin. Small, minority, and women-owned business enterprises are encouraged to submit proposals.