Public Notices
NOTICE OF HEARING
The Board of Trustees of the Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District (“District”) will now hold a public hearing March 25, 2026 at 6:00 pm at the District offices located at 8119 West 150 North Angola, Indiana. The purpose of the hearing is to receive comment on an ordinance modifying rates and charges for sanitary sewer service provided by the District. The rates and charges the District proposes are shown below and would be effective June 1, 2026. All users of the works and owners of property served or to be served and others interested shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed rates and charges.
Board of Trustees
Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District
3/4/2026
STEUBEN LAKES REGIONAL WASTE DISTRICT
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS & PROPOSALS (RFQ/P)
The Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District (the “District”) by and through its Board of Trustees (the “Board”) found that adopting and utilizing the authority provided under Indiana Code § 5-23 will enhance the District’s ability to deliver essential public infrastructure and services in an efficient, cost-effective, and timely manner. In accordance with IC § 5-23-1-1 the Board, as the legislative body of the District, adopted an ordinance authorizing the District to utilize the use of public-private agreements as provided therein for the design, construction, financing, lease, acquisition, improvement, renovation, ownership, management, operation, or transfer of any public facility or infrastructure used or to be used by the District in connection with its statutory duties.
The District, by and through the Board as its governing body, is issuing this Request for Qualifications & Proposals (“RFQ/P”) seeking statements of qualifications from qualified respondents for the development and construction of a public infrastructure Project (as defined below).
The project includes the removal and demolition of five existing blowers, equipment pads, piping and electrical gear at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (“WWTP”) and replacing with three new District supplied blowers along with required new piping, pipe supports, control valves, electrical gear and control wiring (“the Project”).
The only engineering work completed to date has been the sizing of the blowers and review of the submittals for the new blowers. The selected developer will be required to work along side the District’s engineer during the scoping period to develop the full scope of work for the installation of the new blowers.
The blowers are currently on order and are expected to be delivered on or about the last week of July, 2026. The documents available for viewing include:
- Engineer’s calculations
- Bower submittal package
- Excerpts form as built records drawings from the original WWTP construction (collectively, the “Contract Documents”).
Said documents can be shared electronically at no cost via electronic format (PDF). Following request for the Contract Documents by the respondent, Jones Petrie Rafinski, Corp. (referred to as “Engineer” or “JPR”) will provide appropriate file sharing permissions to view and download these documents. Respondents must request access to the Contract Documents by email to the following:
Steven W. Henschen, PE
Jones, Petrie, Rafinski Corp.
260-422-2522
shenschen@jpr1source.com
The Contract Documents are also available for public inspection at the following locations:
-JPR office located at 111 West Berry Streett, Fort Wayne, IN 46802.
-District office located at 8119 County Road 150 N, Angola, IN 46703
The District plans to enter into a public-private partnership under IC § 5-23 et seq with a selected respondent to complete the Project, including all required labor, materials, equipment, and construction services, within the defined budget and schedule. The chosen respondent must provide both a payment bond and a performance bond, each equal to no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Project’s final cost.
All respondents will be given fair and equal opportunity to participate in discussions and submit revisions to their proposals. However, during the period between the release of this RFQ/P and the formal notification of selection, respondents are prohibited from initiating contact with any Board members or District employees.
A non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting will be held for all potential respondents at 2:00 p.m. local time, on April 1, 2026 at the District’s office located at 8119 County Road 150 N, Angola, IN 46703. Site visits to the WWTP facility can be scheduled by coordinating with the Engineer
After developer selection and upon completion of the scoping period, the Engineer will prepare final drawings to a level required to obtain an IDEM construction permit. The developer will be expected to work with the engineer to develop a detailed scope of work during the design phase to ensure a complete fully functional blower system upon completion of the work
Responses to this RFQ/P must be submitted no later than April 15 at 10:00 a.m. by mail or hand delivery at 8119 County Road 150 N, Angola, IN 46703, or responses may be submitted electronically by contacting JPR to receive share file information.
PROPOSAL EVALUATION
The District has formed a committee (“Committee”) to review all received proposals received. Each proposal will be scored on a total possible score of 100 points. The following categories and points allocation will be used to evaluate the proposals:
| Category | Maximum Point Allocation (100 points) |
| Respondent’s Experience | 45 |
| Project Methodology | 20 |
| Financial Capability | 10 |
| Experience with Delivery Method | 5 |
| Scoping | 5 |
| Project Schedule | 5 |
| Additional Items | 10 |
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Experience
- Relevant Project Scope and Scale:
- Detail the respondent’s experience with projects of similar scope and scale, particularly in the replacement and installation of WWTP blowers, air piping and electrical gear .
- Describe the respondent’s experience executing the work while maintaining continuous operation of existing systems or facilities. Specifically, address:
- Methods used to minimize disruption to blowers system operations;
- Use of temporary piping, electrical connections or other interim measures; and
- Coordination with the owner during live system work.
- Project Team and Key Personnel:
- Identify the key team members who will be assigned to this project, including at minimum a project manager and superintendent. For each, provide:
- Name and title;
- Description of relevant experience, especially with pump station rehabilitation projects; and
- Identify the key team members who will be assigned to this project, including at minimum a project manager and superintendent. For each, provide:
- Confirmation of availability and capacity to perform the work.
- Include a project-specific organizational chart that outlines roles and responsibilities.
- Safety Program and Performance:
- Provide a narrative describing the respondent’s overall approach to jobsite safety, including:
- Safety protocols and training practices;
- Procedures for confined space entry and wastewater-related hazards; and
- Provide a narrative describing the respondent’s overall approach to jobsite safety, including:
- Any safety awards or recognition received.
Project Methodology
- Understanding of the Project Goals and Objective:
- Respondent shall demonstrate a clear understanding of the purpose, key objectives, and constraints of the Project. Explain how your proposed approach aligns with the Owner’s priorities related to quality, schedule, budget, safety, and long-term operability.
- Approach to Project Development and Construction:
- Describe respondent’s overall approach to planning, developing, and constructing the Project. Include:
- Construction methodologies you anticipate using;
- Capabilities for self-performing specific scopes of work; and
- Work anticipated to be subcontracted and how subcontractors will be selected and managed.
- A preliminary construction timeline or phasing approach, with the understanding that the final schedule will be established during the Scoping Period.
- Invoicing:
- Describe your approach to invoicing and pay applications:
- Types of cost data and backup documentation that will accompany each invoice; and
- Frequency and format of cost reporting.
- Describe your approach to invoicing and pay applications:
- Change Order Management:
- Explain your philosophy and process for identifying, documenting, and managing change orders. Include a description, if applicable, of any change orders executed on a previous types of projects and the circumstances that required the change.
- Project Controls and Communication Tools:
- Describe the tools, software, and management processes your team uses to monitor and control project schedule and costs.
- Methods for facilitating communication between field crews, project management, the District, and other stakeholders
Financial capacity
- Financial Strength and Creditworthiness:
- Demonstrate the respondent ’s financial capacity and stability to develop, construct, and deliver the Project on time and to the required standards. Provide documentation and information regarding the same.
- Bonding Capacity:
- Demonstrate the respondent ’s ability to obtain performance and payment bonds in the amounts required for the Project.
Experience with Delivery Method
- Relevant BOT Project Experience:
- Describe the respondent ’s prior experience with Build-Operate-Transfer (“BOT”) or similar alternative project delivery methods (e.g., Design-Build-Operate, Public-Private Partnership). Include a summary of the scope, structure, and operational responsibilities for each project.
- Representative BOT Projects:
- Provide detailed descriptions of BOT projects the respondent has successfully completed or is currently managing.
- Team Experience with BOT Structures:
- Identify key individuals within your organization who have direct experience with BOT or alternative delivery projects. Provide their roles, relevant project experience, and specific responsibilities in previous BOT engagements.
- Lessons Learned from BOT Delivery:
- Discuss lessons respondent has learned from past BOT projects that will inform your approach to this Project. Include any improvements made to your project delivery, operational strategies, or financial structuring as a result.
Scoping
- Scoping Period Fee Request:
- If the respondent intends to request a Scoping Period Fee, provide the following:
- The total amount requested;
- A justification for the requested fee, including a high-level breakdown of anticipated labor, overhead, and other costs incurred during the Scoping Period; and
- If the respondent intends to request a Scoping Period Fee, provide the following:
- Acknowledgment that the Scoping Period Fee, if approved, will not be invoiced until the conclusion of the Scoping Period and will not be paid unless the project proceeds to Notice to Proceed.
- Approach to the Scoping Period
- Describe respondent’s proposed approach to participating in the Scoping Period, including:
- How you will allocate internal resources during this phase;
- The disciplines and personnel who will be involved;
- Describe respondent’s proposed approach to participating in the Scoping Period, including:
- How you will coordinate with the District and Engineer to refine scope, pricing, and schedule; and
- Any anticipated challenges and your strategy to address them
- Commitment to Scope Finalization:
- Explain respondent’s commitment to working collaboratively with the District to finalize the scope, budget, and schedule during the Scoping Period. Include examples from past projects where a similar pre-construction or early collaboration phase was used to refine project delivery.
Project Schedule
- Preliminary Project Schedule:
- Provide a preliminary project schedule that outlines major construction phases, critical path items, and key milestones (e.g., mobilization, procurement, , system shutdowns, substantial completion, commissioning). The final schedule will be confirmed during the Scoping Period.
- Schedule Management Approach:
- Describe the respondent ’s approach to managing and maintaining the project schedule.
- Availability of Resources:
- Confirm the availability of the proposed team and field crew for the duration of the Project. Describe any competing commitments that could affect the schedule and how your firm intends to mitigate potential staffing conflicts.
- Handling Schedule Constraints and Permitting Delays:
- Describe how your team will accommodate external schedule constraints, including permitting, coordination with utilities, or seasonal construction limitations. Include examples of how you’ve adapted to similar constraints in past projects.
- Interface with Operational Requirements:
- For projects involving live systems (e.g., sewer pump stations), explain how you will coordinate scheduling with the District’s operational staff to minimize service disruption and meet required shutdown windows or bypass durations.
Additional Items
The respondent is encouraged to provide any further information that may assist the District in fully understanding the qualifications, capabilities, and unique strengths of the proposing team. This may include descriptions of innovative methods or technologies the respondent plans to utilize that have not been covered elsewhere in the proposal, any specialized expertise or strategic partnerships that add value to the Project, notable awards or industry recognitions received, or relevant case studies that demonstrate successful project outcomes. While the submission of such additional information is optional, the District reserves the right to consider this material in the evaluation process at its sole discretion.
SELECTION TIMING AND PROJECT TIMELINE
The expected schedule for selecting a developer and finalizing a public-private partnership agreement for the Project’s development and construction is as follows:
| Project Item | Date |
| RFQ/P Available for Proposals | March 23, 2026 |
| RFQ/P Pre-Proposal Meeting | April 1, 2026 |
| RFQ/P Submission Due Date | April 15, 2026 |
| RFQ/P Scoring Complete | April 22, 2026 |
| Scoping Period Begins | April 23, 2026 |
| Scoping Period Ends | May 27, 2026 |
| Finalize GMP Budget & Agreement | June 24, 2026 |
| Anticipated Notice to Proceed | June 25, 2026 |
| Anticipated Final Completion | October 31, 2026 |
If needed, the Engineer will issue written addenda to the RFQ/P documents to provide interpretations, additional instructions, clarifications, or revisions. These addenda will become an official part of the RFQ/P package. Only responses issued in such addenda shall be considered official and binding.
The final Project scope will be established during the scoping period referenced in the timeline above (the “Scoping Period”). This phase is expected to be highly focused and fast-moving, with a target to finalize a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) agreement by May 27, 2026. The ultimate construction schedule will be developed during this period, as it depends on several milestones set by the District. Consequently, the selected respondent must be fully available, transparent with information, and actively collaborate with all stakeholders throughout the Scoping Period to finalize the Project’s scope, schedule, and budget. All data, materials, and documentation gathered or created during this phase will be the exclusive property of the District. By submitting a proposal, respondents waive any rights to this information, which the District may use at its discretion.
Upon conclusion of the Scoping Period, the Committee may recommend awarding the development and construction agreement to the respondent whose GMP, schedule, and value breakdown are deemed most favorable and acceptable. The District shall weigh the proposed price and financing terms in relation to all other factors at the District’s sole discretion.
The District reserves the right to engage in discussions with the respondent to clarify its submission and ensure a complete understanding of the respondent’s compliance with the requirements outlined herein. Additionally, the District reserves the right to enter into negotiations with respondents to obtain the best and final offers, in accordance with I.C. 5-23-5-7.
Notwithstanding the above, the District reserves the right, under IC 5-23-5-8, to end this RFQ/P process at any time without awarding an agreement to any respondent.
posted 3/24/2026