Pittsburgh Water Achieves Next Milestone in Ambitious Water Reliability Plan

Solicitations for $164 million in construction contracts are now open for bids

Pittsburgh, PA- Pittsburgh Water is seeking qualified contractors to bid on the next phase of its expansive Water Reliability Plan'sconstruction projects. This phase includes the Aspinwall Pump Station, the Bruecken Pump Station, and the Clearwell Bypass Project and is a critical component to completing the replacement of the century-old 44-million-gallon drinking water Clearwell at the Pittsburgh Water Treatment Plant.

Construction will begin in 2025 and is anticipated to be completed in 2029. The estimated total project budget is a $164 million investment in Pittsburgh's water system. The project is forecasted to generate more than 1300 jobs and stimulate an economic output of nearly $300 million throughout our region.

"Contractor selection for this next slate of complex construction projects is extremely important in establishing a lasting partnership that will advance our Water Reliability Plan to completion," said Pittsburgh Water CEO Will Pickering. "We invite the region's most talented teams to submit a bid to lead the implementation of our historic investments,." he said.

All contract documents are now available to the public on Pittsburgh Water's procurement platform. All three construction projects are being bid under one contract for each trade specialty, including general, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, totaling four contracts. The mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on December 12, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in person at the Pittsburgh Water offices at 1200 Penn Avenue, followed by a mandatory site visit to the Water Treatment Plant. To submit a proposal, contractors interested in this project are required to have a representative attend. All bids are due by February 13, 2025.

The Water Reliability Plan is well underway in its directive to modernize Pittsburgh's water system through a series of strategic, once-in-a-generation investments in infrastructure and facility projects. To date, Pittsburgh Water has completed lining and cover work at the covered Highland Reservoir, restoration of two large-diameter water mains in Highland Park, and is halfway finished installing the large-diameter water mains and replacement pump station in Highland Park. The Clearwell Replacement and the Aspinwall and Fox Chapel Interim Feed projects are currently in design.

"We are thrilled to meet this milestone for our Water Reliability Plan," said Pittsburgh Water's Chief Engineering Officer, Rachael Beam. "Upgrading our pump stations and installing the Clearwell bypass will deliver on our mission of providing safe and reliable water service to our customers and prepare the water system to support the replacement of the Clearwell," she said.

Project Background

The sequential construction included in this phase of the Water Reliability Plan must be completed while maintaining water supply, chemical feeds, and operations at all facilities. All three sites will include utility work, paving, surface restoration, and demolition.

The Aspinwall Pump Station Project will include replacing existing pumps, motors, switchgear, and piping; constructing a new chemical building; demolishing the existing fluoride building; making stormwater improvements; and making structural improvements to the historic building.

The Bruecken Pump Station project will include constructing a new three-story building to house the new pumps, equipment, and large-diameter piping. New lighting, process controls, security, HVAC, plumbing, and fire suppression work will occur at both pump station sites.

The Clearwell Bypass Project consists of installing new 144-inch and 84-inch diameter pipes along the south embankment of the existing Clearwell, construction of an overflow structure and three bypass vaults, and connections to the existing inlet and outlet gatehouses.

Working with Pittsburgh Water

Pittsburgh Water's contractor partnerships are essential for completing these specialized, long-term construction initiatives. This is a unique opportunity to construct a critical component of Pittsburgh's water system, and help lay the infrastructure to supply safe, reliable drinking water for generations to come.

Pittsburgh Water's robust Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) will require 10-25% of the contracts to include diverse firms. MWDBE firms are encouraged to submit bids as prime contractors or attend the pre-proposal meeting and site visit on December 12 to team up with prime contractors. In 2023, Pittsburgh Water awarded $37 million of its engineering and construction contracts to 61 diverse firms. To learn more about Pittsburgh Water's SDP, schedule an office hours callwith Emily Pontarelli.Questions regarding the solicitation should be directed to Pittsburgh Water's procurement team through Bonfire.

Invitations for Bids can be found on Pittsburgh Water's Bonfire Portal. Questions regarding the contracts are due to Pittsburgh Water's procurement team by January 30, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. For more information about this project and the Water Reliability Plan, visit pgh2o.com/WRP.