Posting Language
Title
Authorize a contract for engineering services for the Lime Sustainability and Water Treatment Process Evaluation Project for Austin Water with Hazen and Sawyer, D.P.C., in an amount not to exceed $1,100,000. Funding: $1,100,000 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 a Request for Qualifications solicitation RFQS CLMP387 for these services. The solicitation was issued on June 28, 2025, and closed on August 6, 2025. Of the six responses received, the recommended respondent 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=142729.
MBE / WBE:
This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). No goals were established for this solicitation; however, subconsulting opportunities were identified.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to 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 12, 2025 -Recommended by the Water and Wastewater Commission on a 7-0 vote with Vice Chair Commissioner Tunon and Commissioner Penn recusing and two absences.
Additional Backup Information:
As part of Austin Water’s ongoing efforts to enhance operational resilience, this study will evaluate existing water treatment processes and explore alternatives for long-term sustainability through a desktop evaluation and feasibility study of the existing treatment process and several alternatives. This study will include looking at reusing spent lime, and treatment options that do not use lime and will build on previous evaluations and explore innovative processes that may now be viable. The study is anticipated to take approximately 12 months.
The lime softening process requires large quantities of lime and produces significant lime residuals that must be dewatered and disposed off-site. With the current supply chain volatility, rising material costs, and storage and disposal space limitations, this study will help the utility analyze the long-term sustainability of the current water treatment processes.
If the study identifies a preferred alternative to the current treatment process, Austin Water will initiate a separate procurement and associated Request for Council Action for professional engineering services to develop a plan to implement the recommended changes in full compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements, including obtaining approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Historically the Davis, Ullrich, and Handcox water treatment plants utilize lime softening in the process of removing naturally-occurring calcium and magnesium in order to reduce hardness in the finished water creating consistent, high-quality drinking water for all Austin Water customers.
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.
If this contract is not approved, the City’s ability to sustainability provide high-quality drinking water over the long-term could be impacted.