Professional Advisory Services - Evaluation of Utility Service Options

VILLAGE OF LISLE
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS ("RFQ")
#1428
PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY SERVICES
EVALUATION OF UTILITY SERVICE OPTIONS
DUE BY:
MAY 20, 2026 @ 10:00 am CST
AT:
WWW.DEMANDSTAR.COM
Issue Date: April 23, 2026

I. INTRODUCTION
The Village invites qualified individuals, firms, or teams to submit statements of qualifications to
provide professional advisory services related to the evaluation of water and sewer utility service
options within a defined portion of the community.
This effort is intended to help the Village understand a range of potential approaches, including,
but not limited to, potential acquisition of existing infrastructure, along with associated
considerations, costs, and timelines. The Village has not identified a preferred outcome and seeks
objective, experience-based guidance.
The Village is seeking the most qualified firm ("Consultant") to provide strategic advisory services
for this project without the consideration of fees at the statement of qualifications stage. The
selection of professional consultants will be based on the individual, firm, or team's professional
qualification experience, and expertise of key personnel to be assigned to the project.
Responses to this RFQ should clearly demonstrate a thorough understanding of the project
specifics, challenges, and discuss the proposed approach to successfully completing the project.
Responses that are generic, nonspecific, or simply reiterate the tasks listed in the RFQ will be
viewed as less desirable. Submittals that reflect thoughtful, innovative, comprehensive, and cost-
effective understanding in developing a proposed approach typically are viewed more favorably
than a generic response.
II. BACKGROUND
Water and sewer service within the Village is primarily provided by a municipal system that also
extends to limited unincorporated areas. A portion of the Village is serviced by a privately-owned
utility system with approximately 600 service connections within municipal limits. The private utility
system extends to serve adjacent unincorporated territory, estimated to be slightly larger than the
incorporated service area.
The privately-owned system is operated by an investor-owned utility regulated by the Illinois
Commerce Commission. Rate structures are established through regulatory processes and may
reflect broader system-wide considerations.
Water quality, water flow, and differences in rates between the private system and the Village's
municipal system have been a longstanding concern for some residents. Water quality was
improved in the 1990s when the water supply was converted to Lake Michigan water. Water flow
was improved through construction of new water mains. However, recent rate increases have
renewed community interest in system differences. The Village previously evaluated options to
address these differences (circa 2006), including construction of additional infrastructure and
other mechanisms, but those efforts were not advanced.
Following recent community engagement, the Village is seeking to better understand the
feasibility and implications of various potential approaches, including continued service
arrangements, coordination opportunities, and potential acquisition of the privately-owned
system.

III. PROJECT PURPOSE
The purpose of this engagement is to provide the Village with a clear, objective, and experience-
informed understanding of:
1. Potential pathways related to utility service arrangements, including acquisition.
2. Key considerations associated with each pathway.
3. Relative cost and timeline implications.
4. Risks, uncertainties, and decision points.
5. Comparable municipal efforts and outcomes.
6. Benefits to the Village and/or the municipal system.
This is a professional advisory and feasibility-level effort intended to inform future decisions.
IV. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The selected Consultant will be expected to assist developing or refining an appropriate scope of
services, which may include, but are not limited to:
1. Service and Acquisition Pathway Analysis
a. Overview of potential approaches to utility service provision, including:
i. Continued status quo.
ii. System coordination or integration.
iii. Potential acquisition of privately-owned infrastructure.
b. Identification of statutory and regulatory frameworks applicable to each approach.
2. Legal and Regulatory Considerations
a. Overview of applicable legal authorities, including processes available to
municipalities under Illinois law.
b. Discussion of both voluntary transactions and, where applicable, acquisition
through involuntary methods.
c. Identification of regulatory considerations, including interaction with the Illinois
Commerce Commission.
d. Coordination with the Village Attorney.
3. Cost Considerations Framework
a. Identification of common cost components associated with utility acquisition and
related approaches, which may include:
i. System/infrastructure value.
ii. Business or going-concern value.
iii. Potential impacts to remaining operations.
iv. Transactional, legal, and administrative costs.
b. Development of order-of-magnitude and, where feasible, planning-level cost
ranges.

4. Timeline and Process Consideration
a. Identification of major phases and sequencing.
b. Development of generalized timeline ranges.
c. Discussion of factors that may influence duration, including the potential for
extended proceedings depending on circumstances.
5. Risk and Uncertainty Assessment
a. Identification of key uncertainties and variables.
b. Discussion of risks observed in comparable efforts.
c. Consideration of factors that may influence outcomes.
6. Decision Framework
a. Identification of key milestones and decision points.
b. Recommended phased approach for further study, valuation, or otherwise if
warranted.
c. Identification of points at which the Village may reassess continuation.
7. Information Review
a. Review of publicly available regulatory and system information, including materials
associated with the Illinois Commerce Commission.
b. Review of historical Village materials.
8. Meetings and Presentations
a. Coordination with Village staff.
b. Presentation(s) to decision makers.
9. Deliverables
a. Written feasibility and roadmap report.
b. Supporting cost and timeline frameworks.
c. Summary of key risks and uncertainties.
d. Presentation materials.
10. Desired Qualifications
Respondents should demonstrate experience in:
a. Utility acquisition or transaction advisory.
b. Public-sector infrastructure planning.
c. Voluntary / Involuntary acquisition of utility or infrastructure assets.
d. Regulatory processes involving the Illinois Commerce Commission.
e. Complex feasibility or professional advisory engagements.
A lead advisor should be clearly identified.
The Village anticipates that portions of this evaluation may involve legal and regulatory
considerations and may require coordination with the Village Attorney, including in

connection with potential administrative, regulatory, transactional, or court-related
matters. To help the Village Attorney provide legal advice and prepare for potential
proceedings, the selected Consultant may be asked to perform certain services at the
direction of, and in coordination with, the Village Attorney. The Village will structure the
final scope of work and contract terms to appropriately address confidentiality and related
protections.
V. SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS
Interested firms shall upload all submittal requirements electronically at www.demandstar.com
and shall be received no later than 10:00 am CST, May 20, 2026. Submittals received after the
date and time specified above will not be considered. Each respondent is responsible for
monitoring DemandStar and the Village website for addenda and shall acknowledge receipt of all
addenda in its statement of qualifications.
VI. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS
Firms interested in providing any of the above Scope of Services to the Village shall submit to the
Village the following:
* Letter of Interest; and
* Statement of Qualifications ("SOQ")
SOQ must include the following information:
1. The name of the firm, corporate office address, closest office address, and a brief history.
2. A statement that the firm can provide the services consistent with the Scope of Services
using in-house staff and/or identified subconsultants, including identification of any
anticipated services not listed or any listed service the firm believes may not be necessary.
3. Narratives for the main point of contact and other key personnel, and an organizational
chart of persons who will be part of the scope of work.
4. Related project experience of the firm during the last five years, including project name
and description, assigned staff for the project, client name, client contact information,
month and year completed. Preference for demonstrated experience serving municipal
clients. The Village recognizes this assignment might be unique and directly related
experience could be limited.
5. Outline and description of the Consultant's approach to organizing and addressing the
scope of services, along with a preliminary estimate of time anticipated to provide the
deliverables.
6. Any additional information not listed above which you believe may be useful and helpful
to determining the qualifications of your firm, provided however that the total submittal
must not exceed thirty single-sided pages.

Only those companies which meet the following qualifications, either in-house or with a sub-
consultant, will be considered for selection:
A. Authorized to do business in the State of Illinois.
B. Demonstrated experience and knowledge consistent with the content of this RFQ.
Respondents must not include (and the Village will not consider) cost proposals or fee information
(including prior project fees, hourly rates, or other measures of compensation) as part of the SOQ.
30 ILCS 535/30.
VII. Ownership of Submittals; Confidentiality; Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
1. Public record status: SOQs and related materials submitted to the Village are subject to
the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
2. Ownership and retention: All SOQs and related materials submitted in response to this
RFQ become the property of the Village and will not be returned.
3. Permitted use: The Village may use submitted materials for purposes of evaluating
qualifications, administering this solicitation, and planning for the project described in this
RFQ.
4. Marking procedure for confidential/proprietary content:
a. If a respondent contends that portions of its SOQ are exempt from disclosure under
FOIA, the respondent shall clearly mark each page (or specific portion) it contends
is exempt and shall provide a brief written explanation of the basis for the claimed
exemption.
b. Marking material as confidential or proprietary is not determinative of whether the
material is exempt from disclosure under FOIA.
5. Trade secrets/commercial information: FOIA includes an exemption for trade secrets and
certain commercial or financial information furnished under a claim of confidentiality where
disclosure would cause competitive harm, but only to the extent the claim directly applies
to the records requested. 5 ILCS 140/7.
6. No guarantee of nondisclosure; good-faith compliance: The Village cannot and does not
guarantee that any portion of a submittal will be withheld from disclosure, and the Village
will not be liable for disclosure made in good-faith compliance with FOIA.
7. Respondent cooperation: In the event of a FOIA request for SOQ materials, the Village
may (but is not required to) notify the respondent of the request and provide an opportunity
to submit additional written support for any claimed exemption within a timeframe specified
by the Village.

VIII. EVALUATION CRITERIA
Selection will be based on the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act (50 ILCS
510). The following project-related criteria shall be used to evaluate the firms requesting
consideration for selection:
* Overall Quality of SOQ; 10%
* Personnel Qualifications; 25%
* Experience & References; 25%
* Approach and Scope Discussion; 30%
* Ability to Timely Deliver Work Product; 5%
* Location of Firm / Team. 5%
The Village anticipates using a 0-5 scale for each criterion (0 = non-responsive/unsatisfactory; 5
= excellent), multiplying the raw score by the criterion weight to determine a weighted score.
The Village may request interviews and may consider interview performance as part of its
qualifications assessment if interviews are conducted.
Tie-breaking: If two or more respondents are tied (or substantially tied) after scoring, the Village
may break the tie by (a) higher score on Approach and Scope Discussion, then (b) higher score
on Experience and References, and if still tied, (c) inviting tied firms to interviews and/or selecting
the firm the Village determines best serves the Village's interests consistent with this RFQ.
IX. SELECTION PROCESS
The Village intends to review and evaluate each SOQ based upon the aforementioned evaluation
criteria. After review and evaluation, the Village may identify certain firms with whom the Village
desires to conduct an interview. Upon preliminary selection of the most qualified firm, the Village
may conduct negotiations concerning the final Scope of Work, proposed pricing, the delivery of
the Services, or any other contractual terms.
The Village shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by any person or entity to prepare,
submit or present its response to this request. Additionally, the Village reserves the right in its
sole and absolute discretion to reject any and all statements, to waive any irregularities in any
submitted statement or to accept any statement, which will best serve the interest of the Village.
This RFQ is not an offer to contract, and no contract or other obligation is formed unless and
until a written agreement is executed by the Village and the selected Consultant.
The Village may cancel this RFQ or the project described herein, or may reissue a solicitation,
at any time as determined by the Village to be in its best interests.
All statements received in response to this request must remain valid for at least 60 days
following the date of submission.

X. QUESTIONS
Any inquiries or requests for clarification shall be directed to Jeff Cook, Village Manager, via email
to jcook@villageoflisle.org no later than May 1, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. The Village reserves the right
to respond or not respond to questions individually or collectively. Responses to questions that
materially affect the RFQ will be issued in an addendum published to the Village's website at
www.villageoflisle.org, and on Demandstar.com. The Village assumes no responsibility for receipt
of such addendum. Interpretations or clarifications will only be binding if issued in an addendum.
Oral statements by Village staff or representatives are not binding unless confirmed by written
addendum. Respondents are responsible for checking for addenda and for acknowledging all
addenda in their SOQ.
XI. CERTIFICATIONS
By submitting an SOQ in response to this RFQ, Consultant hereby represents and warrants as
follows:
A. Independent Contractor. For purposes of the services described herein, the
Consultant is an independent contractor and is not, and may not be construed or
deemed to be an employee, agent, or joint venturer of the Village.
B. Compliance with Laws. All Services must be provided, performed, and completed
in accordance with all statutes, ordinances, codes, and regulations applicable to
the Services. Consultant shall fulfill all obligations due under the Freedom of
Information Act at no cost to the Village in coordination with the Village Attorney.
C. Representation of No Conflicts. The Consultant represents that (1) no Village
employee or agent is interested in the business of the Consultant or this contract,
(2) as of the effective date neither the Consultant nor any person employed or
associated with the Consultant has any interest that would conflict in any manner
or degree with the performance of the obligations under this contract, and (3)
neither the Consultant nor any person employed by or associated with the
Consultant may at any time during the term obtain or acquire any interest that
would conflict in any manner or degree with the performance of the obligations
under this contract.
D. Not Barred. The Consultant represents that the Consultant is not barred from
contracting with a unit of federal, state or local government.
E. No Collusion. The Consultant represents that the only persons, firms, or
corporations interested in this contract as principals are those disclosed to the
Village prior to the execution of this contract and that this contract is made without
collusion with any other person, firm, or corporation.
F. Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity: The Consultant shall
comply with all applicable federal and Illinois non-discrimination and equal
employment opportunity laws and regulations in employment and in the

performance of services for the Village. The Consultant represents that it does not
discriminate and will not discriminate against any employee, applicant,
subcontractor, or member of the public in connection with the services.
XII. ADDITIONAL REFERENCE MATERIAL
A. Related draft background material is published with the September 15, 2025
Committee of the Whole Agenda Packet, which is available through the Village's
website.