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The Flood Diversion Board of Authority has authorized the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) that invites respondents to submit their qualifications to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the Public-Private Partnership (P3) portion of the FM Area Diversion Project in the United States.

In late June, we reported that the Moorhead City Council, in Minnesota (USA), approved a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for the Fargo-Moorhead flood prevention PPP project. This was anticipated since, in February, the USACE added the FM Area Diversion Project to its 2016 work plan. Congress has assigned US$5 million this year for the project, which has a total investment of US$1.8 billion.

The project will utilize a split delivery approach. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will use traditional design-bid-build methods for construction of the Southern Embankment and the Diversion Authority will use a P3 approach for the Diversion Channel.

The project involves the development of a diversion channel and associated infrastructure work package (DCAI WP). It consists of a 58 km long and 460 m wide diversion channel, 2 aqueducts, 2 river inlets, various local drainage inlets, the channel outfall, 4 railroad bridges, 4 interstate highway bridges, and 10 county road bridges, as well as associated environmental mitigation and recreational features. The goal is to reduce flood risk associated with a long history of frequent flooding on local streams in the area.

Qualifications documents must be submitted by interested firms by 4 p.m. (Central Time) September 7, 2016.

Darrell Vanyo, Chair of the Flood Diversion Board of Authority said:

“The RFQ process helps us ensure we have well-qualified companies we can work with, that provide the level of quality and value we desire. This is a very complex project and we are going to be reviewing the submittals very carefully before we begin the final procurement stage. The final stage will ultimately result in a significant contract with the right P3 firm.”

Tim Mahoney, Mayor of Fargo, said:

“Given the level of interest we saw in the Project during the Industry Days, I’m confident we will have many excellent firms submitting their qualifications. This is an exciting project because it’s the first P3 project the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has ever participated in. The Diversion Project will set the new standard for how large public works projects are completed around the country.”

You can read the RFQ document here.