Posting Language
Title
Authorize a contract for engineering services for the Pilot Knob Supply Water Transmission Main Project for Austin Capital Delivery Services with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $20,000,000. Funding: $20,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.
Body
Lead Department
Austin Financial Services.
Managing Department
Austin Capital Delivery Services.
Amount and Source of Funding
Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water.
Purchasing Language:
Austin Financial Services issued a Request for Qualifications solicitation RFQS 6100 CLMP384 for these services. The solicitation was issued on April 16, 2025, and closed on May 28, 2025. Of the five responses received, the recommended consultant submitted the best evaluated response. A complete solicitation package, including a log of responses 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=142367.
MBE / WBE:
This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 16.00% MBE and 3.00% WBE participation.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - 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:
October 15, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission.
Additional Backup Information:
This project is a 2021 Winter Storm Uri After Action Report recommendation. The proposed Pilot Knob Supply Water Transmission Main project will provide greater ability to serve Southeast Austin and supply water to the Pilot Knob Reservoir and Pump Station. With increasing projected growth in both the Central and South Pressure Zones, the ability to provide additional transmission capacity to the Pilot Knob Reservoir is needed to provide reliable service to Austin’s southeast service area.
The Pilot Knob Supply Water Transmission Main project will install approximately 76,000 linear feet of water transmission main from a water transmission main north of the Colorado River near Longhorn Dam to the Pilot Knob Reservoir. A routing study will be performed to determine the project alignment.
Construction of the transmission main may require lane closures or traffic detours, impacting public transportation. Any necessary water service outages will be communicated to allow customers sufficient notice and time to prepare. These outages are expected to be minimal in number and duration.
Delay or deferral of this contract will impact Austin Water’s ability to provide water distribution to new development in the service area, will have a negative effect on infrastructure resilience and stability, and increase operational risk.
This request allows for the development of an agreement with the selected firm. If the City is unsuccessful in negotiating a satisfactory agreement with the selected firm, negotiations will cease with that firm. Staff will return to Council so another qualified firm may be selected, authorizing new contract negotiations.
This project is located within Districts 2 and 3.