CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA – RFQ
RFQ 25-C-00032 Howard F. Curren AWTP Main Switchgear Replacement and
Standby Power Facility Improvements Design-Build
Public Announcement in Compliance With Requirements of Section 287.055 Florida Statutes (Consultants’
Competitive Negotiation Act) Applicable Law, Executive Orders, Rules, Regulations, and The City’s Standard
Procedures. Notice of Intent to Award Shall be posted, if at all, on the City’s Website accessible by utilizing
the website link: www.tampagov.net/contract-administration/programs/architectural-engineering-
construction-and-related-rfqs .
The City of Tampa Wastewater Department desires to obtain Design-Build Services for the replacement of
the Main Switchgear Facility and improvements/upgrades to the existing Standby Power Facility to provide
reliable, redundant, and fully integrated power distribution for the Howard F. Curren AWTP (HFC AWTP).
Services will be provided under a contract with negotiated fixed fees for replacement of the main
switchgear facility, evaluation and selection of the improvements needed at the standby power facility,
final design, permitting, project management, overhead, profit, and a guaranteed maximum price with
appropriate surety bonds. Services will also include, but are not limited to, engineering investigations, site
planning, cost estimating, advertising and administration of subcontracts, start-up, O&M manuals, training,
and all related work required for a complete project.
Background: Howard F. Curren AWTP is permitted to treat 96-MGD with a Type I two-stage, high rate (pure
oxygen and fine bubble aeration) activated sludge biological nitrification/denitrification domestic
wastewater treatment plant. This plant is operated to discharge advanced wastewater treated, high-level
disinfected and de-chlorinated effluent to Hillsborough Bay. Currently annual average daily flows are 60
MGD and peak flows of 200 MGD.
The existing Main Switchgear Facility (Building 044), constructed in 1973, distributes 13.2 kV power
supplied by Tampa Electric Company (TECO) to the HFC AWTP through two (2) individual switchgear
lineups and associated 13.2 kV feeders. Each lineup is supported by the plant’s Standby Power Facility
(Building 078) that contains five (5) 2-MW 13.2 kV diesel generators. The facility was constructed in 1996
and originally contained four (4) generators; a fifth generator was added in 2024.
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CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA – RFQ
Due to age and condition, the Main Switchgear Facility requires replacement. Additionally, the Standby
Power Facility requires upgrades to the existing control systems and other improvements to ensure reliable
and redundant power distribution across the plant.
The scope of the design-build contract will include:
1. Accessment of the Standby Power Facility to identify, evaluate alternatives, and provide
recommendations of needed improvements and upgrades
2. Complete design of recommended improvements and upgrades for the Standby Power Facility
3. Complete design for the replacement of the Main Switchgear Facility
4. Develop maintenance of plant operations (MOPO) plans for ensuring uninterrupted power supply
and full redundancy during construction
5. Equipment Procurement, Construction, and Installation
6. Testing, Start up and Commissioning
Estimated fee is $35,000,000-$45,000,000.
Additional material may be found at: www.tampagov.net/contract-administration/programs/architectural-
engineering-construction-and-related-rfqs
Questions may be directed to Jim Greiner, P.E., Contract Administration, City of Tampa, (813) 274-8598, or
E-Mail jim.greiner@tampagov.net.
A pre-submittal conference will be held at 1 P.M. March 9, 2026, in the Howard F. Curren AWTP
Maintenance Training Room, 2700 Maritime Blvd, Tampa, FL 33605.. The only site visit/walk-through will
follow the meeting. Firms must email names, cell phone numbers and companies represented for all
attendees a minimum 24 hours in advance to Deann.Wheeler@tampagov.net and
Jeremy.Beck@tampagov.net to obtain security clearance and to be registered in the treatment plant
emergency notification software.
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CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA – RFQ
Attendance is not mandatory.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and Section 286.26, Florida Statutes,
persons with disabilities needing a reasonable accommodation to participate in this public hearing or
meeting should contact the City of Tampa’s ADA Coordinator at least 48 hours prior to the proceeding. The
ADA Coordinator may be contacted via phone at 813-274-3964, email at TampaADA@tampagov.net, or by
submitting an ADA - Accommodations Request form available online at tampagov.net/ADARequest.
An individual or entity (“Firm”) responding to this RFQ must provide evidence of any required licenses,
certificates, or registrations with its submission or within 10 days thereof in order to be considered. The
City shall own all ideas, documents, plans, and materials developed as a result of this solicitation and Firm
is informed same shall be subject to reuse in accordance with Section 287.055(10), Florida Statutes. Firm (i)
confirms it has read and is familiar with Section 119.071(3), Florida Statutes regarding certain building
plans, blueprints, schematic drawings, which depict the internal layout and structural elements of a
building, facility, or other structure owned or operated by the City or other agency that are per said section
exempt from Section 119.07(1), Florida Statutes and Section 24(a), Art. I of the Florida Constitution
(“Exempt Plans”) and (ii) agrees Firm shall remain in compliance with same, including maintaining the
exempt status of such Exempt Plans for so long as they are held by Firm or otherwise in its possession.
Pursuant to Section 2-282, City of Tampa Code, during the solicitation period, including any protest or
appeal,
NO CONTACT with City officers or employees is permitted from any proposer, other than as specifically
stated in this solicitation. The City may cancel, withdraw, or modify this RFQ at any time and reserves the
right to reject any or all responses and to waive irregularities, formalities, and informalities as it
determines in the City’s best interest. The City of Tampa will not request documentation of or consider a
bidder’s (proposer’s) social, political, or ideological interests when determining if the bidder (proposer) is a
responsible vendor and will not give preference to a proposer based on the proposer’s social, political, or
ideological interests.
Firms should consider applicable concepts in the City’s Climate Action And Equity Plan as posted at
https://www.tampa.gov/document/climate-action-and-equity-plan-122846 .
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CITY OF TAMPA, FLORIDA – RFQ
In order to apply for 5 “Ban-The-Box” bonus points, a firm must provide the documentation required
pursuant to the “Ban-The-Box” ordinance listed at
https://library.municode.com/fl/tampa/ordinances/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=1171018,
Firms desiring to provide these services to the City must submit a single electronic file in searchable PDF
format, Smaller than 10MB, that includes the attached RFQ Transmittal Memorandum completed as
appropriate, a Letter of Interest addressed to Brad L, Baird, P.E., Chairman, and referring to this RFQ by
number, together with a Statement of Qualifications and any supplemental material allowing evaluation for
further consideration (short-listing) based upon the following criteria/point system: Successful Comparable
Project Experience, (65 pts); Workload and Availability, (5 pts); Past Performance/Low amount of City Work, (5
pts); Standard Form A305, (5 pts); “Ban-The-Box”, (5pts); Planned SLBE Solicitation & Utilization, Form DMI 10,
20, & 50, (15 pts).
The PDF file must be E-Mailed to ContractAdministration@tampagov.net BEFORE 2 P.M., March 26, 2026.
As a courtesy, the City will endeavor to provide an email acknowledgement usually sent within a few days
after submission receipt (submissions received on the day of the deadline may not be acknowledged before
the deadline or at all). It is Firm’s responsibility to confirm its submission (PDF file) has been received.
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RFQ: 25-C-00032 DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES
FOR THE
Howard F. Curren AWTP Main Switchgear Facility
Replacement and Standby Power Facility Improvements
PREPARED BY:
Jacinto Ferras, P.E. – PROJECT COORDINATOR
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT
CITY OF TAMPA
February 2026
This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.