FGUA launches progressive design-build for Seven Springs filter replacement
Florida Governmental Utility Authority, Florida · Meeting date: October 15, 2026 · Published: October 16, 2026
The Florida Governmental Utility Authority has approved a $208,179.60 phase-one progressive design-build agreement with U.S. Water Services Corporation for pressure-filter replacement at the Seven Springs Water Treatment Plant in Pasco County. The first phase will develop the project to 60% design and establish a guaranteed maximum price for construction.
Key points
- U.S. Water Services will complete phase-one design, pricing, coordination and preconstruction work for the Seven Springs WTP pressure-filter replacement by 1 July 2027.
- Phase two cannot proceed until FGUA staff return to the board with a negotiated guaranteed maximum price and seek approval of a contract amendment.
- Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects received a separate $10,408.98 work authorization for capital-project administration during phase one.
- The board also indicated that FGUA's procurement policy should be updated to set out the competitive-proposal design-build method permitted under Florida law.
Full report
The Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) has moved the Seven Springs Water Treatment Plant pressure-filter replacement into progressive design-build, approving U.S. Water Services Corporation for phase-one work on the Pasco County scheme.
The board approved a $208,179.60 lump-sum agreement for phase one of the project, designated PSP29, at its 15 October meeting. U.S. Water Services will provide design, pricing, coordination and other preconstruction services needed to bring the replacement project to 60% design. The phase is scheduled for completion by 1 July 2027.
The delivery model leaves the construction commitment for a later board decision. Staff said the phase-two price will be developed on an open-book basis, with FGUA able to review U.S. Water Services' pricing proposals, profit assumptions, subcontractor proposals and supplier proposals. Once the 60% design is complete and a guaranteed maximum price has been negotiated, staff will return for approval of a contract-price amendment authorising phase two.
The board separately approved $10,408.98 for Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects to provide capital-project administration services during the first phase.
The Seven Springs approval came as FGUA discussed widening the practical use of design-build procurement. Utility counsel outlined two approaches allowed under Florida statute: the qualifications-based method historically used by FGUA, and a competitive-proposal process that can incorporate price in the final evaluation.
Under the latter approach, FGUA would first develop a design-criteria package and prequalify at least three design-build firms on qualifications, availability and experience. It would then seek competitive proposals from those firms, assessing price alongside technical, design and other qualifications.
No formal action was required on the procurement discussion, but board members supported bringing back amendments to make the competitive-proposal process clearer in FGUA's procurement policy. Speakers also discussed how criteria and evaluation methods could be adapted for progressive design-build, including the potential weighting of price components in selecting a design-builder.
The policy work is relevant to a utility whose capital improvement programme totals $98.6 million across its systems for the year. At the same meeting, the board approved Accenture's annual CIP administration fee and staffing plan, including $1.78 million for smaller renewal, replacement and routine projects and $3.14 million for larger projects. The stated CIP administration fee remains 5% of total CIP funding.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: Board Meeting, Florida Governmental Utility Authority