Site work and paving for a mixed-use development in Corpus Christi, Texas. Completed plans call for site work for a road / highway; water / sewer project; and sidewalk / parking lot.

https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2024/10/04/city-of-corpus-christi-desalination-plant-kiewit-set-to-begin-talks-with-firm/75194874007/ Corpus Christi city officials have landed on their pick for a company that would design and build what may be the region's first seawater desalination plant -- and negotiations could soon be underway. Staff is expected to begin discussions with Westlake, Texas-based Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., according to a news release issued Friday afternoon. It is the same company that constructed the seawater desalination facility in Carlsbad, California, Corpus Christi City Manager Peter Zanoni told the Caller-Times. A subsidiary of the Omaha, Nebraska-based Kiewit Corporation, the firm scored the highest among the three qualifying businesses that had been in consideration by the city to take on the project, according to the city's email. The city of Corpus Christi's proposed Inner Harbor desalination plant is illustrated in this conceptual rendering. In the news release, officials described scores as being assigned via "best value selection (combination of price, qualifications, experience, and approach.)" "(Kiewit) is one of the largest construction and engineering organizations in North America," the email states. "Locally, Kiewit employs over 1,600 personnel at their 400-acre fabrication and laydown yard in Ingleside, Texas." The other two companies that submitted proposals were Corpus Christi Desalination Partners (Acciona/Mastec) and Corpus Christi Desalination Team (CDMSmith/PLW Waterworks), according to the release. The plant -- proposed to be built at the city's Inner Harbor site, located off Nueces Bay Boulevard and West Broadway Street -- would be designed to generate 30 million gallons of treated water per day. Earlier this year, the project in total was estimated to cost about $757.5 million, with the city accepting state-approved low-interest loans to help cover the cost. The plans have been a controversial enterprise. Supporters have said additional water is needed for a growing population and economy, while opponents have questioned potential environmental impacts and the site's proximity to a neighborhood. Get the Think Texas newsletter in your inbox. Your weekly fix of Texas history, nostalgia, myths and more. Delivery: Varies Your Email The controversy Critics have suggested the project be put on hold, pending resolution of several issues. There has been dispute over potential environmental harm. Opponents have asserted there are not adequate mitigation measures to protect the bay, while city officials have said concerns have been studied and addressed. Some of the environmental permits that would allow for operations of a desalination plant have not been secured. Although the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality awarded a water rights permit for the project about two years ago, a discharge permit has not been approved and opponents have said they plan to challenge it by requesting a contested case hearing. Zanoni expressed confidence a permit would ultimately be granted, adding that "with projects this complex, it's standard practice to begin design well before permits are fully issued." The Inner Harbor location -- adjacent to the historically Black Hillcrest subdivision -- has also been the subject of a civil rights complaint to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The status of the case was unclear late Friday. HUD representatives did not immediately provide an update at press time. The Coastal Action Network issued a news release Friday afternoon in response to the new development in the project, describing the city as moving "full steam ahead with construction plans for the plant, despite numerous regulatory and legal hurdles that remain in place." In the news release, Hillcrest Residents Association Treasurer Monna Lytle said the city's announcement of a design-build finalist was, in part, "premature." "Desalination is not only a disaster in the making designed to benefit multi-billion dollar fossil fuel companies, it is yet another chapter in the city's long history of subjecting its African American residents to segregation, disinvestment and exploitation," she wrote in a statement. City officials have denied accusations of discrimination. Moving forward A preliminary $10 million contract for the first phase of the project would include facilities planning and conceptual design work, as well as a pilot program for the plant, Zanoni said. The second phase contract -- totaling about $128 million -- would be more focused on design work, which would help determine an updated construction cost in mid- to late 2025, he added. Design and construction work is expected to take about three years, he said. Part of Kiewit's appeal was the proximity of its local facilities, where it's possible material may be fabricated and stored "to mitigate price escalations in the future," Zanoni said. If an agreement cannot be brokered with Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., "the City will terminate negotiations in writing and commence negotiations with the next highest ranked proposer," according to the news release. "This process will continue until a contract is reached," the email states. "A notice to proceed is anticipated in early December 2024." News of impending negotiations falls shortly after recent projections that the city may enter Stage 3 drought in about two months. Stage 3 drought is declared when the combined capacities of Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir drop below 20%. It will take more than a year to reach 60% work on the design of the desalination plant, Zanoni said. "In the water situation we're in today, every day really matters," he said. "That's why we strategically said, 'Let's move forward with this now,' and we'll work with our state and federal environmental agencies to prove our case." ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ https://news.cctexas.com/news/inner-harbor-desalination-project-moving-forward CORPUS CHRISTI, TX-- The City of Corpus Christi Inner Harbor Desalination Project is a step closer to becoming a reality with the selection of a finalist for the design-build firm. On October 2nd, the Evaluation Committee completed its review of the three City Council-approved proposers and selected Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. as the top scoring proposer for delivery of the 30 million gallon per day Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Treatment Plant Project. Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., based in Westlake, Texas, was created by Kiewit Corporation in 1969 for the delivery of complex water/wastewater treatment projects. Kiewit Corporation is a privately held United States construction company based in Omaha, Nebraska, founded in 1884. As the Number 2 ranked organization on Engineering News Report's Top 400 Contractors by construction revenue, it is one of the largest construction and engineering organizations in North America. Locally, Kiewit employs over 1,600 personnel at their 400-acre fabrication and laydown yard in Ingleside, Texas. The table below reflects the ranking of the five-member evaluation committee, from first to third, with additional information below on the merits of the preferred proposer. The evaluation committee complied with Texas Government Code Chapter 2269's requirements for a best value selection (combination of price, qualifications, experience, and approach). Table: Evaluation Committee Scoring of Request for Proposals Responses Table Desal * Cost proposal evaluation was based on fractional project cost components (planning/conceptual design, general conditions of construction, and anticipated construction fee). Cost Proposal score is not indicative of anticipated final project cost. All three teams were determined to be qualified to deliver the project and presented compelling approaches based on their strengths, as demonstrated in their written proposals and interviews. Key attributes of the top-scoring proposer's team include: Detailed plan to maintain a positive relationship with the Hillcrest and Westside communities during the project's construction. Compelling vision and approach to manage risks and complete the project on schedule. Best approach for working with the Port of Corpus Christi Authority on marine construction requirements and with AEP Texas, Inc. on electrical system integration. Cohesive team with prior desalination delivery experience to start efforts efficiently. Given that all three teams are qualified and can deliver the project, the ranking process establishes the order for negotiations. In accordance with Texas Government Code Chapter 2269, the City will commence negotiations with the top-scoring proposer, Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. If the City is unable to reach an agreement with Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., the City will terminate negotiations in writing and commence negotiations with the next highest ranked proposer. This process will continue until a contract is reached. A notice to proceed is anticipated in early December 2024. City Council approved the procurement of a design-builder for the Project at its January 25, 2024, meeting. City Council also accepted the SWIFT (State Water Implementation Fund for Texas) II loan for continued project planning and design and approved the submission of an application for SWIFT III for the balance of the project for design and construction at this meeting. On June 25, 2024, City Council passed a resolution approving the short-list of proposers and authorizing the execution of a contract with the top scoring proposer. No further City Council action is anticipated before the execution of the guaranteed maximum price for construction of the project, estimated to be in late 2025. All three firms have been contacted regarding the evaluation committee's determination. This same information is being shared with federal, state, and local partners. CCW will continue to provide updates as we move through the negotiation and contract finalization process. For more information visit the Inner Harbor Desalination Project website at https://www.desal.cctexas.com. For media inquiries, contact Public Information Manager Robert Gonzales at 361-826-3233 or robertg8@cctexas.com _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ https://www.constructiondive.com/news/kiewit-corpus-christi-desalination-plant/729806/ Award: Desalination plant Value: Project expected to cost at least $750 million, contract under negotiation Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Client: City of Corpus Christi Corpus Christi picked Kiewit Infrastructure South Co. to design and build the city’s first seawater desalination plant in order to create a drought-proof water supply for its growing population, according to an Oct. 4 news release from the city. The Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Treatment Plant project aims to relieve water scarcity for Corpus Christi Water customers across seven counties in the area, according to the project website, and will produce up to 30 million gallons of water per day. Currently, Corpus Christi’s four surface water sources depend solely on rainfall. Last year, Texas lawmakers agreed on a $1 billion plan for new water projects and to repair aging infrastructure, though the cost to fully address the state’s water needs is much higher. Texas is dealing with leaky pipes and old treatment plants stressed by a dwindling water supply, more demand and extreme weather such as persisting droughts, according to the Texas Tribune. Texas is not alone in upgrading its water systems: A slew of major AEC firms have reported strong demand for water infrastructure projects in recent earnings calls. Desalination is growing in popularity amid worsening water scarcity, but it remains a less common treatment method. Processing saltwater for drinking water is relatively costly and requires significant energy, and the process disturbs the environment both when the plant takes in water and when it discharges brine, according to E&E News. Progressive design-build The chosen firm is a subsidiary of Omaha, Nebraska-based Kiewit Corp., created in 1969 to specialize in complex water and wastewater treatment projects. Kiewit beat out two other competitors for the contract: Corpus Christi Desalination Partners, made up of Acciona and MasTec, and Corpus Christi Desalination Team, composed of CDM Smith and Ferrovial-owned PLW Waterworks. The city will now start negotiations with Kiewit for the progressive design-build contract, according to the release. If the parties can’t come to an agreement, the city will move to the next-highest ranked bidder, Corpus Christi Desalination Partners. A notice to proceed is anticipated in early December, per the release. In July, the Texas Water Development Board approved the city’s application for $535.1 million in multi-year financing through the 2024 State Water Implementation Fund for Texas program for project planning, acquisition, design and construction. Design and construction work are anticipated to start in 2025, with project completion set for 2028, according to the project website. ___________________________________ https://govmarketnews.com/texas-invests-more-than-3-billion-in-water-wastewater-projects/ $535.1 million to build a seawater desalination plant. The plant will be designed to produce potable water and will be fully integrated into the city’s regional water system, with an initial capacity of 20 million gallons per day and the option to expand to 30 million gallons per day in the future. ___________________________________ The City of Corpus Christi ("the City") will use a two-step progressive design-build procurement process pursuant to Texas Government Code Title 10, General Government, Subtitle F, State and Local Contracts and Fund Management, Chapters 2251, 2252, and 2269 to select a design-build contractor (the "Design-Builder") to deliver the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination project, consisting of (1) the planning, design and construction of a reverse osmosis water treatment plant with an installed facility production capacity of 30 MGD (the "Plant"); (2) design and construction of certain offsite ancillary facilities including the access roadway improvements and the product water integration pipeline; (3) marine design and construction of the seawater intake and concentrate diffuser and discharge; (4) short-term management, operation and maintenance of the Plant; (5) design and construction of the means for treatment and disposal for Concentrate and other water treatment by-products generated by the Plant; and (6) design and construction of the electrical substation (collectively, the "Contract Services"). At its sole discretion, the City may also conduct interviews to address questions or otherwise clarify Respondent qualifications prior to establishing a shortlist. In the second step of the procurement process, the City will issue the RFP to the shortlisted Respondents (thereafter the "Proposers"). Only shortlisted Proposers will be eligible to receive the RFP and submit a Proposal for the Project. The RFP will request both a technical proposal response and a cost proposal response, with significant weight provided to the technical proposal. The cost proposal will focus on items that will facilitate contract negotiation and project delivery such as, but not limited to, general conditions costs, construction phase Design-Builder fee, and the price to perform the Phase 1A detailed facility design services. The criteria for evaluating RFP responses will be presented in the RFP. It is the policy of the City of Corpus Christi that maximum opportunity is afforded to Minorities, low-income persons and Minority/Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (M/DBE) to participate in the performance of contracts awarded by the City of Corpus Christi in support of Equal Employment Opportunity goals and objectives. In accordance with such policy, the City has established goals, as stated herein, both for Minority participation and for Minority Business Enterprises. The goals for the Project are 45% Minority labor participation and 15% Minority or Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation for Construction Work performed pursuant to the DB Agreement. The Design-Builder is expected to exercise good faith efforts to achieve these goals. If federal funding is obtained and this requirement is altered, those changes will be outlined in the RFP. Issue RFP to Proposers July 8, 2024 Site visit and one-on-one meetings August 5 to 8, 2024 Proposals Submission Date September 9, 2024, no later than 2 pm CT. Interviews October 1 and 2, 2024 City completes Proposal evaluation October 7, 2024 Preferred Proposer announced October 15, 2024 Start negotiations with preferred Proposer October 16, 2024 Complete negotiations with preferred Proposer December 3, 2024 Design-Build Agreement execution - (end Procurement) December 2024