The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico (USIBWC) has posted the solicitation for the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) Rehabilitation and Expansion Progressive Design-Build on SAM.gov.
The project includes essential rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and expansion from 25 million gallons per day (MGD) to 50 MGD with additional capacity to treat daily peak flows up to 75 MGD reliably for temporary periods and still meet permit compliance.
This project contributes toward implementing the binational agreement known as Minute No. 328, “Sanitation Infrastructure Projects in San Diego, California – Tijuana, Baja California for Immediate Implementation and for Future Development.”
The project is also issued in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and funded through the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Under Minute 328, a 50 MGD wastewater treatment plant, in combination with wastewater infrastructure improvements in Mexico, is necessary to eliminate 90 percent of untreated flows reaching the coast.
“Our commitment to advance the improvements necessary to improve water quality is a priority. Many actions are currently underway, such as plant repairs, community outreach, compliance coordination, congressional and administration briefings, among others to ensure solutions are advancing and we are transparent and accountable,” said Dr. Maria-Elena Giner, USIBWC Commissioner. “We recognize the cost will exceed the current available funding. We will structure the contract to proceed in phases as funding becomes available.”
The work consists of designing the rehabilitation and full expansion required for the project through the collaborative Progressive Design-Build delivery method.
This delivery method will allow the team to progress through design and work towards a firm-fixed price for construction which is anticipated to be phased to meet the project goals based on available funding. Construction packages are intended to be issued concurrent with design to start construction early.
The solicitation posting is available on SAM.gov under Notice ID 191BWC24R0001 at:
https://bit.ly/3t8ZN5a. The SBIWTP expansion is a major element of the Minute 328 projects, which also include constructing a new treatment plant in Mexico and rehabilitating and replacing aging sewer lines and pump stations in Tijuana.
Congress appropriated $300 million for the EPA for infrastructure to address transborder pollution through USMCA implementing legislation.
In addition, President Biden’s emergency funding supplemental request includes an additional $310 million for this project.
Story courtesy of the International Boundary and Water Commission United States and Mexico.
