Request for Proposal (RFP) for Professional Services to Develop a Comprehensive Sewer Rate Study

General work description:

The City of South San Francisco is seeking proposals from qualified professional firms to conduct a Comprehensive Sewer Rate Study, conduct the necessary property owner mailing and participate in the public hearing to adopt the proposed rates. The purpose of this study is to prepare a cost-of-service study, validate the appropriate rate structure, and recommend rates for the City that generate adequate revenue to cover:

• Current and future operations and maintenance costs based on established and anticipated regulations and industry best management practices; 
• Rate stabilization; 
• Capital Improvement project costs; 
• An adequate reserve fund; 
• Required debt coverage; and 
• Necessary studies to maintain an efficient and resilient utility. 

The primary objective is to ensure long-term revenue sufficiency, develop equitable cost-of-service allocations, and maintain full compliance with California Proposition 218.

The selected firm will develop a 20-year financial projection and model with a recommended not to exceed 5-year rate schedule. The selected firm shall provide the financial model in a format accessible to City staff, including adjustable inputs and variables to allow staff to evaluate and model future scenarios.

Project Details

• Reference ID: RFP-Sewer Rate
• Department: Public Works/Engineering Division
• Department Head: Matthew Ruble (Principal Engineer)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-05-19T22:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-05-23T00:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Knowledge and Understanding (40 pts) —

  Demonstrated understanding of the RFP objectives and work requirements. Identification of key issues. Methods of approach, work plan, and experience with similar projects related to type of services.

• Management Approach and Staffing Plan (20 pts) —

  Qualifications of project staff (particularly key personnel such as the project manager), key personnel’s level of involvement in performing related work and the team’s experience in maintaining schedule.

• Qualifications of the Proposer Firm (20 pts) —

  Experience with similar projects. Technical experience in performing work related to type of services; record of completing work on schedule; strength and stability of the firm; technical experience and strength and stability of proposed subconsultants; demonstrated communications quality and success; and assessments by client references as available.

• Presentation of a concise and responsive proposal (20 pts)

Submission Requirements

• Proposal Requirements (required) —

  Did you read through the RFP document located in the Attachments Tab?

• Proposal Forms to Submit With RFP Response
• IMPORTANT HARDCOPY INSTRUCTIONS (required) —

  PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. Proposer must confirm below.

  In addition to the electronic proposal submitted below in ProcureNow, proposer must submit five (5) hard copies of the Consultant’s proposal, and one (1) hard copy of a cost proposal submitted in a separate sealed envelope. The hard copies shall be MAILED ONLY WITH A POSTMARK date no later than the RFP Submission Deadline, Friday, May 29, 2026. Proposals shall be submitted in a sealed package clearly marked

  “Request for Proposal (RFP) for Professional Services to Develop a Comprehensive Sewer Rate Study” and addressed as follows:

  Jeffrey Chou
  Project Manager
  City of South San Francisco
  Engineering Division
  Public Works Department
  315 Maple Avenue
  South San Francisco, CA 94080

  Electronic Proposals received after the time and date specified are not allowed in ProcureNow.

  Hardcopies must be identical to electronic version. Submissions of a paper version that differs from the electronic version will result in disqualification.

• RFP Response (without Cost Proposal) (required) —

  These guidelines are provided for standardizing the preparation and submission of Proposals by all Consultants. The intent of these guidelines is to assist Consultants in preparation of their proposals, to simplify the review process, and to help assure consistency in format and content.

  Proposals submitted for review should not exceed thirty (30) pages for all materials excluding introductory letter, resumes and forms.

  Please upload your completed Response as described in the Proposal Requirements. Consultant to provide the breakdown of the total hours per task in the RFP response submission.

  Upload your response as 1 PDF Document.

• Cost Proposal (required) —

  Please upload your completed Cost Proposal as described in the Proposal Requirements. Consultant to provide the breakdown of the total hours per task in the RFP response submission. 

  Upload your response as 1 PDF Document. 

• Copy of a Rate Study and Proposition 218 Notification (required) —

  Provide a copy of a recent rate study completed by the Consultant that is similar in scope to the study proposed under this RFP. The submittal shall also include an example of a Proposition 218 notice distributed to property owners. 

  Upload your response as 1 PDF Document.

• How are you receiving proposals? (required)
• Bid Bond (required) —

  Will this solicitation require a bid bond?

• Electronic Pricing Table (required) —

  Would you like to have bidders respond to an electronic pricing table through ProcureNow?

  Choose this if:

  1. This is a quote for a finite set of goods or commodities
  2. This is a Construction Bid with a Bid Schedule
  3. Seeking services for hourly rate schedules
• Separate Fee Proposal Upload (required) —

  Will you want your bidder to separate a Price Proposal from the rest of the Response?

• Would you like to define the evaluation criteria now? (required) —

  (if you say yes, it will show you where you can define the criteria, if you say no, you'll have the opportunity to do it before the evaluation committee starts)