Posting Language
Title
Authorize a contract for construction services to replace the existing headworks facility and add a new sludge receiving station at the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant for Austin Water with Matous Construction Ltd., in the amount of $20,382,000 plus a $2,038,200 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $22,420,200. Funding: $22,420,200 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.
Body
Lead Department
Austin Financial Services.
Managing Department
Austin Capital Delivery Services.
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.
Procurement Language:
Austin Financial Services issued an Invitation for Bids solicitation IFB 6100 CLMC1170 for the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant Project. The solicitation was issued on June 15, 2026, and closed on August 6, 2026. Of the two bids received, the bids submitted by the recommended contractor was the lowest responsive bids. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bids received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=144021.
MBE / WBE:
This contract will be awarded in compliance with the City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 4.94% MBE and 2.16% WBE participation.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
November 10, 2026 - To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission.
Additional Backup Information:
This request is for authority to execute a construction contract for the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant Project.
The Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant and Bird Observatory is located on a 1200-acre site that stretches along three and half miles of the Colorado River, approximately eight miles east of downtown Austin. The plant has grown into a nationally recognized and award-winning biosolids recycling facility and previously the recipient of a first-place award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its recycling program.
The plant was established in the 1950’s and receives and treats biosolids generated by Austin’s two regional wastewater treatment plants. The treatment process includes thickening, anerobic digestion, dewatering, composting, effluent ponds, and on-site irrigation. The treated sludge is recycled into a stable organic product marketed under the trade name Dillo Dirt™ that can be used safely as a fertilizer for City park facilities and sold to the general public as an EPA-certified soil conditioner.
The Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant headworks contains a screening process, which is the first step in the biosolid's treatment process. The existing headwork’s equipment has limited capacity and has exceeded its useful service life. The purpose of this project is to replace the headworks facility entirely and add a new sludge receiving station. The new headworks will increase screening capacity, provide odor control, replace the existing screens which are at the end of their useful life and the critical electrical infrastructure.
This item includes thirteen allowances:
• An allowance of $50,000 will be used to address Soil and/or Groundwater Contamination.
• An allowance of $300,000 will be used to address Portable Generators and Docking Station.
• An allowance of $20,000 will be used to address Co-Generation Building Hoist Replacement.
• An allowance of $300,000 will be used to address Security System.
• An allowance of $5,000 will be used to address Site Access (Security Badges).
• An allowance of $20,000 will be used to address MS-1 Maintenance.
• An allowance of $50,000 will be used to address Section 17600 PLC Training.
• An allowance of $20,000 will be used to address Section 17620 Ethernet Switches.
• An allowance of $50,000 will be used to address Section 17620 Communication Equipment Training.
• An allowance of $15,000 will be used to address Section 17640 Workstations & Computers.
• An allowance of $5,000 will be used to address Delivery Signage.
• An allowance of $50,000 will be used to address FEB LD Panels.
• An allowance of $1,000,000 will be used to address Modify Temporary Thickening System.
An allowance is an amount that is specified and included in the construction contract or specifications for a certain item(s) of work when details are not determined at the time of bidding.
This contract will include award of an alternate bid item for galvanized steel for canopy structural members. An alternate bid is a specified item of the construction work that is priced separately and may be awarded as part of the contract, if the bids come within the specified budget.
Due to the potential for unforeseen conditions during construction, a 10% contingency in funding has been included to allow for the expeditious processing of any change orders to cover any unforeseen construction costs associated with the project. By authorizing the additional contingency funding, Council is authorizing any change orders within the contingency amount.
There will be no impact to the public as all work will be done on City property that is closed to the public.
Any delay in execution could have impacts on Austin Water’s ability to process and treat biosolids pumped to the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant from Austin’s main wastewater treatment plants.
The contract allows 950 calendar days for completion of this project.
This project is located within zip code 78725 (District 2), within the City’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction.