RFP Colgate Penstock Rebuild Professional Design Services

Agency:	Yuba Water Agency
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541310 - Architectural Services 541330 - Engineering Services 541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Posted Date:	Mar 18, 2026
Due Date:	Apr 8, 2026
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RFP Colgate Penstock Rebuild

Professional Design Services

Request for Proposals

Colgate Penstock Rebuild Professional Design Services

Release date

March 18, 2026

Mandatory Pre-Bid Discussion

March 26, 2026

10:00 am PST

Submit Proposals to:

purchasing@yubawater.org

Proposal Submission Deadline:

April 8, 2026

2:00 PM local time

RFP Colgate Penstock Rebuild

Professional Design Services

Table of Contents

1. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.......................................................................................................................... 3

2. SCOPE OF WORK ....................................................................................................................................... 4

3. PROCUREMENT SCHEDULE ....................................................................................................................... 8

4. AGENCY RIGHTS ........................................................................................................................................ 9

5. ADDENDA .................................................................................................................................................. 9

6. QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................ 9

7. CONFLICT OF INTEREST ........................................................................................................................... 10

8. PROPOSAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.................................................................................................. 10

9. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS................................................................................................................... 12

10. PROTEST PROCUREDURES .................................................................................................................... 12

11. EVALUATION CRITERIA.......................................................................................................................... 12

12. SELECTION PROCESS ............................................................................................................................. 13

13. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PUBLIC RECORDS............................................................................................. 13

14. NEGOTIATION OF CONTRACT ............................................................................................................... 14

15. FORM OF AGREEMENT ......................................................................................................................... 14

16. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................ 14

17. BONDS ................................................................................................................................................... 15

18. SUBCONSULTANTS ................................................................................................................................ 15

19. OWNERSHIP OF DOCUMENTS .............................................................................................................. 15

20. PAYMENT TERMS .................................................................................................................................. 15

21. CHANGES IN SCOPE............................................................................................................................... 15

22. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS..................................................................................................................... 15

23. NON-COLLUSION................................................................................................................................... 16

24. ENTIRE AGREEMENT ............................................................................................................................. 16

25. RIGHTS IN DATA .................................................................................................................................... 16

ATTACHMENTS:........................................................................................................................................... 16

RFP Colgate Penstock Rebuild

Professional Design Services

1. REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Yuba County Water Agency, also known as Yuba Water Agency, (“Agency”) desires to retain a

qualified firm (Consultant) to provide professional services needed for the Colgate Penstock

Rebuild Project (Project) in Yuba County, CA.

On February 13, 2026, a section of the 14-foot-diameter Colgate Penstock abruptly failed,

resulting in a significant release of water down the hillside above the New Colgate Powerhouse.

The following list includes, but is not limited to, anticipated work required by the Consultant to

complete the Project:

• Project Management

• As-Found Condition Assessment and Reporting

• Design Charrette

• Engineering Design Services

• Post Design Services

• Re-Watering Plan

The Colgate Penstock is part of the Yuba River Development Project that is regulated by the

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), FERC Project No. 2246. The water conveyance

system from New Bullards Bar Dam to New Colgate Powerhouse is over 5 miles long, consists of:

• Approxmelty 250 feet of a 15-foot diameter steel penstock from New Bullards Bar Dam

to the Colgate Tunnel inlet portal;

• Approximately 5 miles of tunnel;

• Approximately 0.5 miles of a steel penstock from the Colgate Tunnel outlet portal that

tapers from a 14-foot-diamter pipe to a 12.5-foot-diameter pipe and bifurcates at the

New Colgate Powerhouse to two turbine shutoff valves.

The FERC has directed the Agency to separately retain an Independent Forensics Team (IFT) and

develop a Board of Consultants (BOC) to support the Project. The Consultant shall review and

incorporate IFT findings and BOC recommendations and requirements during all phases of the

Project. The Scope of Work and the BOC process, requirements, and schedule are dictated by the

regulations and the FERC, not the Agency, and in case of conflict, the regulatory requirements

shall prevail.

Selection will be based on best value to the Agency. Best value is later described in Section 11-

Evaluation Criteria. Proposers are advised to read all sections of this RFP prior to submitting a

proposal.

Issuance of this RFP does not constitute a commitment by the Agency to award a contract, pay

any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal, or procure any services.

RFP Colgate Penstock Rebuild

Professional Design Services

2. SCOPE OF WORK

Each proposer is requested to provide their proposed approach for meeting the following

required scope of work within the limits of the Project. Additionally, each proposer is requested

to provide a milestone schedule to complete the Project. The limits of the Project are defined as

all elements, from the tunnel downstream portal through the upstream flange of the turbine

shutoff valves in the New Colgate Powerhouse, necessary to safely re-water the Colgate Penstock

for return to service.

The Agency is also interested in any variations or enhancements that your firm believes may be

appropriate, with a focus on schedule acceleration to safely return to service.

Project Management

Consultant shall provide a dedicated Project Manager (PM) responsible for overall coordination,

oversight, and successful delivery of all work associated with the Project. The PM will serve as

the primary point of contact between the Consultant team and the Agency and shall be available

to meet face-to-face in Oregon House, CA as least once weekly until successful completion of the

Project.

Additionally, the PM shall be responsible for all aspects of BOC administration. For proposal

purposes, expect the BOC to convene biweekly meetings starting May 2026 through December

2026 and then convene monthly meetings through the end of the Project.

Consultant project management deliverables shall include, but are not limited to:

1. Weekly Meeting Agendas and Notes

2. Design Review Meeting Agendas and Notes

3. Project Management Plan

4. Risk Register

5. BOC Administration and Data Package Documents

a. Meeting Agendas

b. List of specific technical questions to be answered by the BOC

c. List of items to be reviewed and discussed with the BOC

d. A data package that includes the investigations, engineering analyses and reports,

design drawings and specifications to be reviewed by the BOC

e. A discussion of significant events in the investigation or design that have occurred

since the last BOC meeting

f. A list documenting all BOC recommendations, the current status and outcome of

those recommendations, and the BOC report in which the recommendations were

made. A separate list should provide the same tracking information for FERC

comments following review of the BOC report(s)

TASK 1 – As-Found Condition Assessment and Reporting

Conduct a thorough as-found assessment of all pertinent Agency owned assets within the scope

of limits of the Project, and prepare a detailed report(s) citing the following conditions:

RFP Colgate Penstock Rebuild

Professional Design Services

1. Identify immediate hazards to life, environment, and equipment. These hazards shall be

communicated to the Agency as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours following

the discovery. For each hazard, initial communication may be by email, followed by a

memorandum with recommended corrective actions.

2. Identify items that are in need of replacement. This includes two categories: 1. All

elements that are required to safely convey water through the Colgate Penstock, once

rebuilt. 2. All other supporting elements that are in need of repair (example: stairways).

3. Identify items that require additional study. These are items that cannot be visibly proven

as in need of replacement or in serviceable condition. Firms should analyze the cost

benefit of study vs. replacement. Minor components whose condition is uncertain should

be replaced if determining their condition requires extensive analysis. Studies should only

be conducted for high cost, long lead items that cannot be clearly identified as serviceable

or replaceable. Studies can be matured throughout the design phases, as needed.

4. Identify items that are fit for service. If items are identified as fit for service, note the

items and clearly call out required start up testing or special conditions.

Consultant deliverables shall include, but are not limited to:

1. Condition Assessment Inspection Plan

2. Safety Plan

3. Immediate Hazard Identification Memorandum(s), as needed

4. As-Found Condition Assessment Report

5. Class 4 Rough Order of Magnitude Opinion of Probable Construction Costs

TASK 2 – Design Charrette

Plan, organize, and facilitate a collaborative design charrette to support the project’s early‐stage

visioning and conceptual development. Activities include coordinating pre-work sessions with

stakeholders, preparing charrette materials (agendas, maps, constraints, criteria and design

prompts), and leading a structured, multi-day, in-person workshop. During the charrette, the

facilitator will guide participants through brainstorming, sketching, problem-solving, and

prioritization exercises aimed at generating shared design concepts and identifying key

opportunities and constraints. Following the session, the facilitator will compile and deliver a

summary document capturing major themes, preliminary design ideas, decisions made, and

recommended next steps. An Opinion of Probable Construction Costs shall be prepared for

planning purposes.

Consultant deliverables shall include, but are not limited to:

1. Meeting Agenda(s)

2. Charrette Workshop Materials

3. Meeting Notes

4. Charrette Summary Report

5. Class 3 Budgetary Opinion of Probable Construction Costs

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Bid Title:	RFP Colgate Penstock Rebuild Professional Design Services
Category:	Public Works
Status:	Open

RFP Colgate Penstock Rebuild Professional Design Services

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