TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 21, 2026
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement for Contract 25-RFP-06, FERC Relicensing for Lockport Powerhouse, with HDR Engineering, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $701,857.00, Account 101-66000-612430, Requisition 1645218
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc., for the relicensing of the Lockport Powerhouse with the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC).
The purpose of this proposal is to obtain the services of a consultant to manage and complete all activities necessary for the relicensing of the Lockport Powerhouse, also known as FERC Project 2866. These services will include agency coordination, conducting studies, preparing and submitting applications, and performing all related tasks.
On December 3, 2025, request for proposal 25-RFP-06 was advertised. On January 30, 2026, the District received three (3) proposals from the following vendors: Black & Veatch Corporation, HDR Engineering, Inc., and Kleinschmidt Associates.
A committee comprised of staff from the Maintenance and Operations and Procurement and Materials Management Departments evaluated the proposals. The evaluation criteria utilized by the committee included understanding of the project, approach to the work, technical competence, financial stability, cost of services, compliance with insurance requirements, and submission of all necessary licenses and permits.
Following the initial evaluation, all three (3) proposers were invited to participate in interviews held on March 18 and 19, 2026. On April 13, 2026, each proposer was sent a solicitation for an unqualified “best and final” offer. The “best and final” offers were submitted to the Director of Procurement and Materials Management on April 27, 2026.
Based on the evaluation of the proposal, interview, and pricing, HDR Engineering, Inc. was selected for the project. Having been involved with more than 100 hydropower FERC licensing and relicensing projects over the past 10 years, HDR Engineering, Inc. possesses a wealth of experience and highly qualified individual team members.
The Affirmative Action Ordinance, Revised Appendix D and Appendix V, were not included in this RFP because the highly specialized nature of the services does not provide practical opportunities for subcontracting.
Inasmuch as HDR Engineering, Inc. possesses a high degree of professional skill, it is recommended that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement per Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act, in an amount not to exceed $701,857.00.
Funds in the amount of $131,900.00 for the 2026 expenditure are available in Account 101-66000-612430. The estimated expenditures for 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031 are $195,313.00, $59,000.00, $215,644.00, $50,000.00, and $50,000.00, respectively, and are contingent upon the Board of Commissioner’s approval of the District’s budget for those years.
Requested, Edward J. Staudacher, Acting Director of Maintenance and Operations, JBS:BML:MM:JR
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Precious Brady-Davis, Chairperson, Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for May 21, 2026
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