OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF THE INTERNATIONAL OUTFALL INTERCEPTOR (IOI) NOGALES, ARIZONA

DRAFT SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

International Boundary and Water Commission, U.S. Section (USIBWC)
Operations, Maintenance, and Repair of the International Outfall Interceptor (IOI)
Nogales, Arizona

1. PURPOSE

This Sources Sought notice is issued solely for market research and information gathering in accordance with FAR Part 10. This is not a solicitation, does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ) or Request for Proposal (RFP), and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with responding to this notice.

The USIBWC is seeking to identify qualified contractors capable of performing Operations, Maintenance, and Repair (OMR) Services for the International Outfall Interceptor (IOI) located in Santa Cruz County, Rio Rico, Arizona, as specified in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) for the Nogales IOI system.

2. PROJECT BACKGROUND

The IOI conveys raw sewage originating from Nogales, Sonora (MX), Nogales, AZ, and Rio Rico, AZ to the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant (NIWTP). The pipeline spans approximately 46,600 linear feet and includes 110 manholes. The PWS describes a comprehensive scope including annual inspections, smoke testing, manhole cleaning, emergency response, CMMS operation, repairs, regulatory reporting, and cybersecurity requirements for associated systems.

The anticipated contract structure is a five‑year period of performance (Base Year plus four Option Years).

3. SCOPE OF REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

Interested contractors must demonstrate capability to perform, at a minimum:

Operations & Maintenance

• Annual CCTV/Sonar inspection of entire 46,600‑ft pipeline and 110 manholes
• Smoke testing twice per year
• Routine and as‑needed cleaning; sediment, debris, and obstruction removal
• Waste disposal in accordance with Federal, state, and local regulations
• Vegetation management
• Fats, Oils, Grease (FOG), odor, and corrosion control programs
• Flow and level monitoring (15‑minute intervals), data integration with CMMS/GIS
• Operation of an IOI‑dedicated Arizona Grade IV Certified Wastewater Collection Operator onsite
• Welding shut manholes for security (tack weld specification per PWS)
• Full implementation and operation of a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) meeting FISMA High, FedRAMP High, and NIST SP 800‑171 requirements for CUI/SCADA environments

Repairs and Emergency Response

• 24/7 monitoring and rapid emergency response
• SSO Response Plan with 60‑minute dispatch and full ADEQ compliance
• Rain‑event clean‑out within 48 hours
• Pipeline and manhole repairs within 24 hours of discovery or immediate bypass implementation
• Replacement of covers, ladders, joints, seals
• Infiltration/inflow monitoring and flood‑readiness planning

Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Requirements

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910/1926 compliance
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) coordination
• Hazardous materials evaluation and disposal (lead/asbestos, as applicable)
• Site security and coordination with DHS/CBP when required
• Compliance with applicable Public Laws, Federal standards, and building codes to the maximum extent practicable

4. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Interested firms must submit a capability statement (no more than 10 pages) addressing the following:

A. Company Information

• Name, address, UEI, CAGE code
• Point of Contact (name, title, phone, email)
• Business size/status under NAICS 221320 – Sewage Treatment Facilities
• Socioeconomic category (8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.)

B. Relevant Experience

• Demonstrated experience (within the past 5 years) performing O&M and emergency repair of wastewater collection systems of similar size, complexity, and regulatory sensitivity
• Experience with CMMS implementation for wastewater/collection systems
• Experience meeting NIST SP 800‑53 High, NIST SP 800‑171 Rev. 3, FIPS 140‑3, and FedRAMP High environments (if proposing cloud‑based CMMS)

C. Key Personnel

• Qualifications and certifications of proposed IOI Operator (Arizona Grade IV)
• Wastewater operations personnel and emergency response staffing capabilities

D. Technical Approach Overview

• Preliminary staffing approach
• Proposal for meeting the PWS inspection, testing, and reporting requirements
• Emergency response strategy (SSO, storm events, vulnerabilities beneath wash/creek areas)

E. Past Performance

• Contract numbers, periods of performance, dollar values, brief descriptions
• Points of contact for verification

F. Additional Input

Industry feedback is invited on:
• Availability of qualified firms
• Recommended contract type (Firm Fixed Price vs Hybrid CLIN structure)
• Potential barriers to competition
• Comments on CMMS cybersecurity requirements

5. RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

Responses should be submitted via email to:
Suzette.Smith@IBWC.gov and PhilipJohnson@ibwc.gov
Subject line: “Sources Sought – Nogales IOI OMR Services”

Deadline: 6/18/2026

No telephone inquiries will be accepted.

6. DISCLAIMER

This notice is issued for market research only, in accordance with FAR 10.002.
Responses do not constitute offers and will not be used to award a contract.
Respondents may be contacted for clarification or additional information.