SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a professional service agreement with Black and Veatch of Tampa, FL, to assist in the implementation of Florida Senate Bill 64 Plan in the not-to-exceed the amount of $19,000,000.00 for a five-year term pursuant to Request for Qualification (RFQ) 08-25 and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Body
SUMMARY:
Florida Senate Bill 64, signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in June 2021, requires all domestic wastewater utilities to eliminate non-beneficial discharge of effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse water to surface waters by January 1, 2032.
In compliance with this mandate, the City of Clearwater (City) submitted its Plan for Eliminating Non-Beneficial Surface Water Discharges to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on October 26, 2021, pursuant to Section 403.064(17), Florida Statutes (F.S.). The City’s plan received FDEP approval on May 2, 2022.
To advance the implementation of Senate Bill 64 requirements, the City issued RFQ 08-25, Florida Senate Bill 64 Implementation, on February 12, 2025, and two responses were received on March 19, 2025. An evaluation committee comprised of representatives from Public Utilities Engineering evaluated the responses and selected Black & Veatch as the highest-ranked firm to provide these services. The anticipated engineering costs under this agreement are approximately $19,000,000.00.
The City of Clearwater’s Public Utilities Department owns, operates and maintains the three Water Reclamation Facilities and miles of reclaimed water transmission and distribution lines throughout the City.
Currently, treated effluent from the Marshall Street Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) is discharged into Stevenson Creek, a Class III Marine Water, which flows into Clearwater Harbor North, also classified as Class III Marine Waters. The East and Northeast WRFs discharge combined effluent into Old Tampa Bay, a Class II Marine Water and designated Outstanding Florida Water.
As part of City Project No. 21-0016-UT, the City evaluated multiple options to eliminate surface water discharges. These options included assessing environmental impacts, expanding the reclaimed water (irrigation) system, constructing a deep injection well, and considering potable reuse alternatives. The scope of services includes, but is not limited to:
• Program and project management;
• Preparation and updating annual reports for FDEP;
• Development and implementation of solutions for water discharge elimination;
• Engineering design and permitting;
• Construction engineering and inspection (CEI) services; and
• Construction management and contractor oversight services over a five-year term.
Approval of this agreement will provide the City with the professional engineering services necessary to implement its FDEP-approved Florida Senate Bill 64 Plan and support compliance with the January 1, 2032, statutory deadline.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
3217321-530100-M2606 - Annual estimated expense $4,000,000.00
Funding for the current year’s portion of this agreement is available in capital project 321-M2606, SB64 Surface Water Discharge. Future years will be requested as part of the annual budget process. This project is funded by revenues from the Water and Sewer Utility Enterprise Fund.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
This project aligns with the City’s Strategic goals of High Performing Government by maintaining, modifying, and improving public infrastructure to adhere to Florida Department of Environmental Protection laws. This project will also align with the City’s goals of Environmental Stewardship through projects that reduce risk associated with sea level rise and storm surge.
