RFP for Comprehensive Coordination and Arc Flash Study Assessment and Update of GWRS/Fountain Valley Power Distribution System 2026 (RFP-25-018)

ORANGE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RFP-25-018
FOR
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY
ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY
POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026
ISSUED: Thursday, May 21, 2026
PROPOSALS DUE:
Tuesday, July 7, 2026 by 10:00 AM PT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1. INTRODUCTION _____________________________________________________________________ 1
2. SOLICITATION SCHEDULE _________________________________________________________ 1
2.1. PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING _______________________________________________________ 2
2.2. QUESTIONS CONCERNING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ________________________ 2
2.3. DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS ____________________________________________________ 2
2.4. PRE-SUBMITTAL ACTIVITIES _____________________________________________________ 3
3. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION ______________________________________ 3
4. SCOPE OF SERVICES _______________________________________________________________ 4
5. GENERAL INFORMATION ___________________________________________________________ 4
5.1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ______________________________________________________ 4
6. ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL _________________________________________________________ 4
6.1 Title Page _________________________________________________________________________ 5
6.2 Cover letter _______________________________________________________________________ 5
6.3 Table of Contents _________________________________________________________________ 5
6.4 Experience and Record of Past erformance ______________________________________ 5
6.5 Project Team and Qualifications __________________________________________________ 6
6.6 Project Overview and Approach __________________________________________________ 7
6.7 Additional Services _______________________________________________________________ 7
6.8 Price Proposal ____________________________________________________________________ 7
6.9 OCWD Standard Agreement ______________________________________________________ 7
6.10 Statement of Insurance Compliance ______________________________________________ 8
6.11 Billing ____________________________________________________________________________ 8
6.12 Conflict of Interest ________________________________________________________________ 8
6.13 Equal Employment Opportunity And Affirmative Action Requirements ___________ 8
7. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS _________________________________________ 9
7.1. Proposal Format __________________________________________________________________ 9
7.2. Proposal Preparation Costs ______________________________________________________ 9
8. SELECTION PROCESS ______________________________________________________________ 9
9. SPECIAL CONDITIONS _____________________________________________________________ 10
9.1. RESERVATIONS _________________________________________________________________ 10
9.2. PUBLIC RECORDS ______________________________________________________________ 10
9.3. RIGHT TO CANCEL ______________________________________________________________ 10

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
9.4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION _____________________________________________________ 10
9.5. PUBLIC INFORMATION __________________________________________________________ 10
List of Exhibits:
Exhibit A: Scope of Services, Technical Specifications, and Cost Proposal Sheet
Exhibit A-1: Scope of Service
Exhibit A-2: Technical Specifications
Exhibit A-3: Cost Proposal Sheet
Exhibit B: Evaluation Criteria
Exhibit C: Services Agreement
List of Attachments:
Attachment No.1: RFP Submittal Checklist
TOC - iii

The Orange County Water District ("OCWD" or District) is seeking proposals from
qualified and experienced firms to perform a Comprehensive Coordination and Arc Flash
Study Assessment and Update Of GWRS/Fountain Valley Power Distribution System.
OCWD intends to evaluate the proposals received and enter into a 1-Year Professional
Services Agreement ("Agreement") with the qualified firm. The work is expected to
commence on September 10, 2026. The Agreement will be monitored closely for
acceptable services rendered throughout the Agreement term. OCWD will have the option
to terminate the contract in whole or in part during the Agreement term, for any reason or
no reason, without penalty, upon notice. The proposer will not be entitled to lost profits
or any other compensation not earned prior to the time of termination.
This Request for Proposal ("RFP") describes the required scope of services, the
information that must be included in the proposal, and the proposal selection process.
Proposers are encouraged to carefully review this RFP in its entirety prior to submitting
their proposals. Failure to submit information in accordance with these requirements and
procedures may be cause for disqualification.
1. INTRODUCTION
The OCWD is an internationally recognized leader in the water industry that was formed
in 1933 by the California State Legislature which entrusted OCWD to guard and protect
the region's groundwater basin and limited water supply. OCWD's mission is to provide
a reliable supply of high-quality water that is sourced in an environmentally responsible
manner to the more than 2.5 million residents and businesses within the 270 square mile
service area of Orange County, California that OCWD serves. OCWD manages three of
Southern California's greatest water supplies, this includes protecting rights to the Santa
Ana River, managing and replenishing the Orange County Groundwater Basin, and
operating and maintaining the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world's
largest advanced water purification system for potable water reuse. More information
regarding the OCWD can be found at www.ocwd.com.
2. SOLICITATION SCHEDULE
The solicitation schedule is summarized in the table below. OCWD reserves the right to
modify the schedule below at its discretion. Proper notification changes will be made to
interested proposers.
RFP Issued Thursday, May 21, 2026
Mandatory Pre-Proposal Meeting Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 9:00AM PT
Questions Due Date Tuesday, June 16, 2026 by 12:00 PM PT
Proposals Due Tuesday, July 7, 2026 by 10:00 AM PT
Agreement Award Date: August 2026
Orange County Water District
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF
GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026
RFP-25-018
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Page 1 of 11

2.1. PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING
The mandatory pre-proposal meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 9:00AM
PT, the meeting will be held in person at the District Office, 18700 Ward Street, Fountain
Valley, CA 92708. Firms interested in submitting proposals are required to attend the pre-
proposal meeting.
Meeting participants will be required to sign in. A copy of the sign-in sheet will be posted
on the OCWD website at, https://www.ocwd.com/working-with-us/rfp-contracts/, after the
pre-proposal meeting. Proposals will not be accepted from firms that do not attend the
mandatory pre-proposal meeting.
2.2. QUESTIONS CONCERNING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
All questions regarding the RFP must be submitted in writing before the deadline due
date of Tuesday, June 16, 2026 by 12:00 PM PT. All questions must be titled
"Question - RFP-25-018 COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH
STUDY ASSESMENT 2026". Responses to questions received from prospective
proposers will be formally documented in a Question and Answer (Q&A) table that will
be posted on the OCWD website: https://www.ocwd.com/working-with-us/rfp-contracts/.
The Q&A table will be updated regularly as questions are received from prospective
proposers. Questions received after the questions due date will not be considered.
Attention: Marcus Villalobos, Buyer
Email: procurement@ocwd.com
2.3. DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS
Three (3) hard copies and one (1) electronic flash drive copy of the proposal must be
received in a sealed envelope by OCWD no later than Tuesday, July 7, 2026 by 10:00
AM PT or such later time that OCWD may announce by an addendum at any time prior
to the proposal deadline. The envelope shall be plainly marked on the exterior "Proposal
for RFP-25-018 COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY
ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY POWER
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026" and with the name, company name, and address of the
proposer.
Proposals must be mailed or delivered in person or via courier services at the District
office listed below. To deliver submittal packages in person or via courier, please notify
the guard at the main gate for proposal drop off. Sealed envelopes will be timestamped
upon receipt at the receptionist desk.
Orange County Water District
Administration Office Building
Attention: Marcus Villalobos, Buyer
Address: 18700 Ward Street
Orange County Water District
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF
GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026
RFP-25-018
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Page 2 of 11

Fountain Valley, CA 92708
It is the Proposer's responsibility to ensure that proposals are received prior to the
submittal deadline. Proposal packages should also include all signed Acknowledgment
of Addendum forms that may be issued by OCWD as part of this RFP process, as further
described below. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered under any
circumstances. FAXED OR E-MAILED SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The
OCWD will not be responsible for the proper identification and handling of any proposals
submitted incorrectly. Only responses properly submitted to OCWD will be considered.
OCWD reserves the right to reject any and/or all responses received. There will be no
formal opening of the proposals.
2.4. PRE-SUBMITTAL ACTIVITIES
The District reserves the right to revise the RFP prior to the date the Proposals are due.
Addendums to the RFP shall be posted on the OCWD website:
https://www.ocwd.com/working-with-us/rfp-contracts/ for all interested Proposers. The
District reserves the right to extend the date by which the Proposals are due.
3. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION
OCWD operates critical water treatment and groundwater replenishment facilities,
including the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) located in Fountain Valley.
These facilities rely on a complex electrical distribution system that ranges from high-
voltage transmission (66 kV) down to low-voltage equipment used in daily operations.
Because the GWRS is a critical system that must run continuously, maintaining a safe
and reliable electrical infrastructure is essential to supporting the District's overall mission
of providing a dependable and high-quality water supply.
To ensure safety and compliance with industry standards such as NFPA 70E and IEEE
1584, OCWD is required to update its electrical coordination and arc flash hazard study
every five years. The District's last study was completed as part of the GWRS Final
Expansion project and is now nearing the end of its recommended timeframe. Since
electrical systems can change over time due to equipment upgrades, load changes, and
adjustments in protective devices, it is important that the study reflects current system
conditions. Keeping this analysis up to date helps ensure compliance with OSHA
requirements, reduces safety risks, and prepares the District for potential audits or
inspections.
The goal of this project is to award a qualified firm to perform an updated power system
coordination study and arc flash analysis for the Fountain Valley electrical distribution
system. This study will evaluate how well the system is operating, verify that protective
devices are properly coordinated, and determine accurate arc flash hazard levels. The
results will be used to identify any issues, recommend improvements, and update
equipment labels and safety guidelines. Overall, this project will help improve worker
safety, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure the continued reliability of OCWD's
electrical systems. (A .zip file of the previous study shall be provided upon email
Orange County Water District
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF
GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026
RFP-25-018
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Page 3 of 11

request to Procurement@ocwd.com with email subject header titled RFP-25-018
Request for Previous Study).
4. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The District is seeking a qualified and experienced firm to perform a comprehensive
power system short-circuit coordination study and arc flash hazard analysis for the
electrical distribution system at its Fountain Valley campus, including the Groundwater
Replenishment System (GWRS) facilities.
See Exhibit A-1, attached at the end of this RFP, for the Scope of Services, and Exhibit
A-2 for the Technical Specifications.
5. GENERAL INFORMATION
The District expects the selected firm to provide quality service in accordance with
industry standards. The firm must demonstrate experience with the type of anticipated
work and must have the ability to perform all services in a timely manner upon the
request(s) from the District or the District's authorized representative. All work shall
comply with the requirements of federal, state, and local laws, and District requirements.
Proposing firms must demonstrate that they possess the qualifications, experience, and
technical expertise necessary to successfully perform the services described in this RFP.
Firms shall have demonstrated experience in performing power system coordination
studies and arc flash hazard analyses for complex electrical distribution systems similar
in size and scope to the District's facilities.
Acceptable performance standards include, but are not limited to, dependability,
contractor safety, demonstrated experience with anticipated work with the ability to
perform all anticipated services in a timely manner upon receipt of request, expertise in
the power system analysis, adhering to IEEE 1584 and NFPA 70E standards.
5.1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
The selected firm is required to have at minimum the following qualifications: The
coordination and arc flash study should be performed by a qualified and licensed
Professional Engineer (P.E.) with expertise in power system analysis, adhering to IEEE
1584 and NFPA 70E standards. Key qualifications include proficiency in software like
ETAP, SKM, or EasyPower, experience with electrical field data collection, and knowledge
of protective device coordination.
6. ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL
To provide a degree of consistency in the review of the written proposals, firms are
required to include the following content in their proposals. The information required
below will be used to evaluate each proposal based on the evaluation criteria outlined in
this RFP. Proposals may be deemed nonresponsive if they do not respond to all areas
specified below.
Orange County Water District
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF
GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026
RFP-25-018
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Page 4 of 11

Proposals shall be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward and
concise description of how the proposal has satisfied all the requirements of this RFP.
Emphasis shall be on completeness and clarity of content with sufficient detail to allow
for accurate evaluation and comparative analysis. Excessive or irrelevant materials will
not be favorably received.
Please include the following in your proposal:
1. Copy of valid business license and registration with the state of California
2. Copy of the lead engineer's license
6.1 Title Page
The proposer should identify the RFP title, name and title of the firm's contact person,
address, telephone number, fax number, email address, and date of proposal submission.
6.2 Cover letter
A principal of the firm authorized to commit the firm to the requirements of the RFP must
sign the cover letter. The letter should identify a contact person (name, e-mail address,
and phone number) for future communication during the selection process. And shall also
discuss the Proposer's commitment to providing high quality services, describe the firm's
understanding and approach to the services, and its ability to perform the requirements
of this RFP. Include a brief background of the firm including history, types of services
provided, number of employees, number of offices and locations with staff size and
disciplines, and any other relevant information that may be useful in determining the firm's
qualifications to provide the services described in this RFP.
6.3 Table of Contents
The table of contents should include a clear and complete identification by section and
page number of the submitted materials.
6.4 Experience and Record of Past Performance.
Provide a minimum of three (3) references from other municipal, city, or county
governmental agencies for which the company has recently or is currently providing
Comprehensive Coordination and Arc Flash Study Assessment that is equivalent or
greater in scope as being required in this RFP. Indicate the scope of work, date, contract
amount, and the name, email address, and telephone number of the client contact. Also
provide a complete list of other public agencies in California utilizing your services over
the past five (5) years. Ongoing projects currently being performed by the proposer also
may be submitted for consideration. The District at its discretion may contact the
references for additional information. Failure to provide accurate contact information may
be cause for rejection of the proposal as being nonresponsive.
Orange County Water District
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF
GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026
RFP-25-018
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Page 5 of 11

6.5 Project Team and Qualifications
Provide an organizational chart that describes the structure of the project team,
including subconsultants. The project team description shall identify the following:
1. The Project Manager,
2. The names of readily-available key personnel that will be deployed for each task
and their contact information, and the primary office locations of each project
team member,
3. The role each team member will play in providing services under the Agreement,
and
4. A written assurance that the key individuals listed and identified will be
performing the work and will not be substituted with other personnel or
reassigned to another project without the District's prior approval. The proposal
shall clearly identify who will lead the execution of assigned tasks and the
respective personnel that will be assigned to them.
Provide a description of the experience, qualifications including required licenses and
certifications, area of expertise or specialization, and availability (including current
workload) of the project team members, including subconsultants/subcontractors, if any.
Describe other project commitments by project team members and the anticipated level
of involvement of each team member based on the abilities and expertise required for the
type of work desired.
Provide the resumes of all members of the project team, including subconsultants/
subcontractors, as an appendix. Each resume shall not exceed three (3) pages and shall
include name and title, education, years with the company, licenses and certifications
(issue and expiration dates), home office location, relevant experience within at least the
last five (5) years, and other required qualifications discussed in this RFP.
The identified Project Manager will be OWCD's main point of contact for all assigned
projects for the duration of the Agreement. The proposal shall include the Project
Manager's contact information, including phone and e-mail address.
Once an Agreement has been executed, the Consultant must request approval from the
District in advance of any new personnel being assigned to the project. The District
reserves the right to reject or remove personnel performing services at any time for the
duration of the Agreement.
Orange County Water District
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF
GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026
RFP-25-018
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Page 6 of 11

6.6 Project Overview and Approach
Present a narrative overview of the Proposer's understanding of the RFP requirements
and the overall approach and technical plan for accomplishing the work assignments.
Also discuss at a minimum the following:
* Ability to successfully complete work assignments within the District's required time
frame and, as necessary, on short notice,
* Approach to assignment of work within the firm and how team members will conduct
tasks and prepare anticipated deliverables,
* Describe the Proposer's project management approach and communications
protocol,
* Describe the Proposer's approach to quality assurance and control, as well as any
performance guarantees,
* Technical approach to assigned tasks, such as deployment strategies (how the
project will be implemented from mobilization to demobilization), and
* Identify current and reasonably foreseeable actual and possible constraints,
problems, and/or issues that could hinder the execution of services under the
contract, and suggest approaches to resolving or managing these constraints,
problems, and/or issues.
6.7 Additional Services
Include any comments, suggestions, or additions the Proposer may have regarding the
scope of work or any other aspects of the work that the Proposer feels would be helpful
to OCWD in selecting a firm for the services described in the RFP. Identify the potential
impact(s) or benefit(s) that these recommendations would have if accepted by OCWD.
Tasks above the minimum to complete the work described herein shall be clearly
identified as "optional" in the proposal.
6.8 Price Proposal
The price proposal shall contain all pricing information related to performing the scope of
services as described in this RFP. A summary of the total proposal costs must be
presented using the Cost Proposal Sheet in Exhibit A-3. It is expected that the indicated
rates will remain in effect for the duration of the Agreement unless otherwise specified
and approved by OCWD
6.9 OCWD Standard Agreement
Proposers shall provide a statement that the Proposer accepts OCWD's form of Services
Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit C. Proposers responding to this RFP must be
prepared to proceed with the Services Agreement in the form provided. Failure to comply
Orange County Water District
COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATION AND ARC FLASH STUDY ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE OF
GWRS/FOUNTAIN VALLEY POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM 2026
RFP-25-018
Thursday, May 21, 2026
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