Renovation of a water / sewer project in Branford, Connecticut. Conceptual plans call for the renovation of a water / sewer project.

The purpose of this Open Request for Proposal ("RFP") is to solicit Proposals for the Branford Water Pollution Control Facility Resiliency Project Phase II project Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design. PROJECT DESCRIPTION/SCOPEOF WORK: With guidance from the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Extension Professionals ("SRC EPs"), the selected Company is expected to provide high quality Services to an Awardee of the Long Island Sound Planning Support Program throughout the CT portion of the Long Island Sound Coastal boundary (within Connecticut). The selected Company will use their experience to provide the Awardee with Services for a sustainability and resilience focused project that will impact communities within or partially within the Long Island Sound Coastal boundary. The Services should help foster a sustainable and resilient Long Island Sound and the end products supported through this program should advance a community's efforts to anticipate, absorb, accommodate, and recover from the effects of natural disturbances (e.g., sea level rise, storms and other extreme events, and human impacts), while promoting social, environmental, and/or economic well-being for all communities. The Services must advance the Long Island Sound Partnership Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. The Services should also follow the SRC Resilience Planning Guide adopted and adapted from Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation Resilient Connecticut Planning Framework (2020) by assisting the Awardee with considering the applicable decision support criteria questions. All Candidate Projects in CT that entail the development of actions included by Sustainable CT (e.g., Create a Watershed Management Plan, Implement Low Impact Development, Assess Climate Vulnerability), must follow Sustainable CT's Action guidance. Services are anticipated to be provided for up to 2 years, though the scope and duration of a Purchase Order ("PO") will be determined by the specific project's needs. The University of Connecticut is committed to providing a professionally inclusive environment within which small and minority businesses are encouraged to participate in the procurement experience. As such, we encourage participation by Small (SBE) businesses, Minority-Owned (MBE) businesses, Woman-Owned (WBE) businesses, and businesses owned by persons with a disability (DisBE), certified as such by the Connecticut's Department of Administrative Services Supplier Diversity Division. The Town of Branford is seeking support to advance the conceptual design and feasibility phase of its Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) Resiliency Project. The WPCF, which treats an average of 3.5 million gallons of sewage per day, is highly vulnerable to current 1% flood events and future sea level rise. Located adjacent to the Branford River--which flows directly into Long Island Sound--the facility is recognized as a critical community asset, essential to protecting public health, water quality, and local economic stability (Figure 1). Building on a Phase I assessment completed in 2023, which identified climate vulnerability at the WPCF and over 50 associated pump stations, the Town is now prepared to move into Phase II: Feasibility Study and Conceptual Design. This phase will focus on the WPCF itself, evaluating a range of wet- and dry-floodproofing strategies, as well as nature-based and hybrid approaches to mitigate flood risk. The Town seeks assistance in identifying appropriate design standards (e.g., today's base flood elevations, Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, and projected 2050/2080 sea level rise scenarios), developing conceptual alternatives, and preparing preliminary cost estimates. The project will also assess funding opportunities and provide guidance to ensure that outcomes align with future funding eligibility. The Town is committed to a phased approach--data collection, conceptual design, preliminary design, and construction--while maintaining a focus on feasibility, implementability, and financeability. A chosen alternative is intended to lead Branford to Phase III - Preliminary Design of the project. The eventual implementation of this project will safeguard the WPCF against sea level rise risks, ensure continuity of wastewater treatment services, and strengthen Branford's ability to anticipate, absorb, and recover from flooding and extreme weather events. Question Deadline 10/29/2025 at 2:00 PM ET All Requests for Information ("RFI") questions are to be online. No phone calls or RFI questions emailed directly to the Procurement Agent will be accepted. The University reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Bids/Proposals within ninety (90) calendar days of the Bid/Proposal due date and time and the Company agrees that it may not modify, withdraw, or cancel its Bid/Proposal and that its Cost Proposal will be firm for ninety (90) calendar days of the Bid/Proposal due date and time. Should there be reasons why the contract cannot be awarded within this specified period, this time may be extended by mutual agreement between the University and the Company. The University reserves the right to reject any and all Bids/Proposals and again solicit for Bids/Proposals, or to otherwise proceed as permitted under Connecticut General Statute 10a-151b. The University reserves the right to waive any informalities, irregularities, or technical defects in the Bids/Proposals, if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the University, provided the reasons for any such waiver are stated in writing by the University and made a part of the contract file. The method of Contractor Selection has not been Determined at this time.