Large Diameter Pipeline Inspection and Condition Assessment

The City of Tucson Water Department is seeking qualified firms to provide comprehensive on-call inspection and condition assessment services for its pipeline infrastructure. The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to identify experienced firms with the technology, equipment, technical expertise, resources, and proven methodologies necessary to evaluate the current condition of water distribution and transmission mains.

The inspection and assessment programs are a critical component of our asset management strategy, designed to:

1. Ensure long-term reliability, safety, and performance of our pipeline network.
2. Identify defects, deterioration, or potential failure risks before they compromise service.
3. Support data-driven decisions regarding maintenance, rehabilitation, or replacement.
4. Comply with regulatory requirements and industry best practices for pipeline integrity management.

The selected firm will be expected to perform inspection, data collection, and condition assessment using advanced technologies and methodologies appropriate for large-diameter and/or critical pipelines. The resulting data and analysis will form the basis for prioritizing capital improvements and optimizing operational performance.

This RFP outlines the scope of services, minimum qualifications, and proposal requirements. Respondents are invited to submit proposals that demonstrate their technical capabilities, project approach, and relevant experience in delivering inspection and condition assessment programs for complex pipeline systems.

Background

On February 5th, 1999, the City of Tucson suffered its single, largest water transmission line failure in its history, causing approximately 38 million gallons of water to be drained from its largest reservoir, most of which ran through a nearby neighborhood. This single catastrophic failure cost the city approximately $5,000,000 in property and collateral damage and resulted in the condemnation of 12 homes. In response to the City's commitment to implementing a condition assessment program, Tucson Water implemented its own “Pipeline Protection Program” (PPP), which is now managed under the Operational Reliability Condition Assessment (ORCA) division for Tucson Water.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 260103
• Department: Water Department
• Department Head: John Kmiec (Director)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-03-18T00:00:00.000Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-03-11T20:00:00.000Z — https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/24685466342183?p=TmZwukGfoxsICgf33f

Addenda

• Addendum #1 (released 2026-03-17T23:14:48.633Z) —

  Notice:  Due Date Extended 

  Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.

• Addendum #2 (released 2026-03-20T21:24:19.980Z) —

   Pricing page revision to include an additional table (related to 2.2)  Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.

Evaluation Criteria

• 1. FIRM EXPERIENCE ON SIMILAR PROJECTS AND PAST PERFORMANCE (30 pts) —

  (Section 1: Project Planning and Preparation & Section 3: Structural Evaluation and Data Integration details shall be included in all identified project experiences listed below)

   (Please only submit experiences for the inspection methods you are bidding)

   

  For each pipeline inspection method listed below (1 thru 8) -

  Identify at least three (3) comparable projects for which the firm/team provided professional services for pipeline inspections.

  For each comparable project identified, provide the following:

  1. 1. 1. Description of project (specify name and location)
        2. Project’s original contracted time frame.
        3. Project’s final contracted time frame.
        4. Project Owner
        5. Reference information (two names with telephone numbers per project)
  1. 1. Internal Visual, Sounding & Video Inspection (2.1)
     2. Electromagnetic (EM) Inspection (2.2)
     3. Acoustic Monitoring & Inspections (2.3)
     4. Vibroacoustic Inspections (2.4)
     5. Ultrasonic Testing (UT) (2.5)
     6. Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) (2.6)
     7. Condition Assessment of Joints & Linings (2.7)
     8. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) at Exposed Locations (2.8)

   

  9. Engineering Services for Large Diameter Pipelines (Section 6)

  Identify at least three comparable projects for which the firm/team provided professional services for pipeline inspections.

  For each comparable project identified, provide the following:

  1. 1. 1. Description of project (specify name and location)
        2. Project’s original contracted time frame.
        3. Project’s final contracted time frame.
        4. Project Owner
        5. Reference information (two names with telephone numbers per project)
• 2. Understanding of Pipeline Inspection & Condition Assessment Programs; Methodology of Approach (20 pts) —

   

  1. 1. Discuss the major issues your team has identified on this type of project and how you intend to address those issues.
     2. Describe your firm’s project management approach and team organization during phases of a Pipeline Inspection Program.
     3. Describe systems used for planning, scheduling, estimating and managing the program services.
     4. Describe your firm's method of Structural Evaluation Data Integration and Deliverables.
     5. Briefly describe the firm’s experience on quality control, dispute resolution, and safety management.
     6. Provide any special or unique knowledge that your firm utilizes.
     7. Describe special or unique knowledge, skills, or techniques relevant to project.
• 3. Price (20 pts) —

  RFP PRICING- FILL IN PRICING SHOWN IN TAB 7

• 4. Experience & Qualifications of Firm/Team (15 pts) —
  1. 1. Provide a general description of the firm/team providing professional services.
     2. Describe the firm/team organizational structure.
     3. Provide an Organizational Chart:
        1. Presenting key personnel
        2. Location of personnel (i.e. local office or otherwise)
        3. Present estimated project time commitments (as percentages)
           • Project Manager
           • Core project staff
     4. Provide professional licenses and certifications.
        1. Firm/Team licenses and certifications
     5. Describe firm/team experience with the following agency requirements:
        1. Compliance with AWWA Standards; C300-22, C301-14(R19), C303-24, C304-14(R24)
        2. Compliance with AWWA Manuals; M58, M77,
        3. Other critical considerations for pipeline inspection program work.
           • Confined space entry, inspection, video documentation and reporting.
     6. Provide a list of all current contracts of this nature with private and public entity’s in Arizona, including any contracts you have with the COT:
        1. List all projects awarded to your firm during the last two years.
           • For each project identify the following:
  1. Project description and award date (note if pending).
  2. Entity’s Project Manager (PM) or Project Point of Contact.
  3. Cost of Construction.
  4. Date of completion or estimated completion date if pending.

   

   

• 5. Experience of Key Personnel Assigned to this Project (15 pts) —
  1. 1. For each key person identified, list at least two comparable projects in which they have played a primary role. If a project selected for a key person is the same as one selected for the firm, provide just the project name and the role of the key person. For other projects, please provide:
        1. Description of project (specify name and location)
        2. Project’s original contracted time frame.
        3. Project’s final contracted time frame.
        4. Project Owner
        5. Reference information (two names with telephone numbers per project)

   

  1. 2. Provide Resumes for any proposed consultants and key personnel assigned to the project:

  Submit as a Separate Appendix

  1. 1. 1. Staff Names.
        2. Length of time with your firm.
        3. Project specific experience and qualifications (including years);
        4. Provide key personnel licenses and certifications.
        5. Provide office location for key personnel (i.e. local office or otherwise);
        6. Estimated time commitment for this solicited project.
        7. Number of projects currently committed to.

Submission Requirements

• Discounts —

  As stated in the Instructions to Offerors. Discounts, the price(s) herein can be discounted by _______%, if payment is made within ______ days. These payment terms shall apply to all purchases and to all payment methods.

• Cooperative Purchasing Program —

  Cooperative Purchasing allows other public agencies to piggyback on the City of Tucson’s contracts. Will your firm provide the City of Tucson, as the lead agency on this regional contract, a rebate in the form of a percentage of sales based upon the other agencies sales?

• If yes, please state the percentage rebate you will provide.
• Does your firm have a City of Tucson Business License?
• Please upload a copy of your business license.
• Forms to be Filled Out —

  Please ensure that all required information is included with your response.

  1. Response to Evaluation Criteria
  2. Pricing Proposal
  3. Offer and Acceptance Form
• Response to Evaluation Criteria (required) —

  Please upload your response to the Evaluation Criteria.

• Pricing Proposal (required) —

  Submit Pricing within Opengov Pricing Tab.

   

• Offer and Acceptance Form (required) —

  Please upload your signed Offer and Acceptance form.

• Does your response to this solicitation include a request to keep any portion confidential and withhold it from the public record? (required) —

  Please note: The City of Tucson is a public agency subject to public records laws. Therefore, all requests to withhold information from the public record must be accompanied by justification. Pricing will not be held confidential.

• Confidential Information (required) —

  If you answered yes, then you must use this field to identify the sections of your submittal that you are requesting be withheld from public record. 

  If sections are not identified as confidential in this field, your request to hold information confidential may not be accepted.

  Please note: The City of Tucson is a public agency subject to public records laws. Therefore, all requests to withhold information from the public record must be accompanied by justification. Pricing will not be held confidential.

• Is your firm submitting any exceptions for the City's consideration?  (required) —

  In accordance with Instructions to Offerors - Exceptions to Contract Provisions, any exceptions that an offeror wishes to submit for the City's consideration must be indicated here in order to be considered.

• Define the exceptions you are requesting. (required)
• Living Wage (required) —

  Will Living Wage Requirements be a part of the resulting contract?

• Will the resultant contract have Federal Funding? (required)
• Special Terms and Conditions (required) —

  Please select the required language that should be included under Special Terms and Conditions for this project. Please select all that apply.

• Insurance Requirements (required) —

  Please select the additional insurance coverages required for this project. Please select all that apply.

• Initial Term of Contract (required) —

  What is the initial term of the contract?

  Please use the following format: one (1)

  Even if you selected auto renewal, you need to add the initial term, i.e. one (1)

• Renewal Options (required) —

  Will renewal options be given with this contract?

  If you selected Auto Renewal, select No.

• Renewal Term (required) —

  What is the renewal term of the contract?

  Please use the following format: four (4)

  If no extension options will be given or you selected automatic renewals, please enter "N/A".

• Pricing (required) —

  Will you build the pricing table in OpenGov Procurement?

• Separate Pricing Document (required) —

  If you will be requesting the pricing to be provided by the vendor outside of the OpenGov system, have you attached the required document to this solicitation?

• Attachments (required) —

  Do you have any attachments?

Questions & Answers