Met Council awards $20.4m upgrade contract for St. Croix Valley WRRF

Met Council awards $20.4m upgrade contract for St. Croix Valley WRRFRice Lake Construction Group has secured a $20.4 million contract for major asset preservation and safety improvements at the Minnesota facility, marking the first major construction at the plant since it was built in the early 1990s.

The Metropolitan Council approved a $20,396,800 contract for upgrades to the St. Croix Valley WRRF, which serves Bayport, Oak Park Heights, and Stillwater.

The project scope includes process equipment, HVAC, electrical systems, and gravity thickener repairs, extending the facility's lifespan by approximately 30 years.

Rice Lake Construction Group was selected as the lowest responsive bidder after a competing $18.7 million bid was rejected as non-responsive.

The Metropolitan Council's Environment Committee approved a $20.4 million contract on August 25, 2026, for comprehensive upgrades to the St. Croix Valley Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) in Minnesota. The contract, awarded to Rice Lake Construction Group for an amount not to exceed $20,396,800, marks the first major construction at the facility since it was built in 1993 and 1994. The plant serves the cities of Bayport, Oak Park Heights, and Stillwater. Principal engineer Li Zhang detailed the scope of the project, which focuses on asset preservation and safety improvements required to ensure the plant's continued reliable operation. Specific elements include process equipment upgrades, HVAC and electrical improvements, gravity thickener repairs, fiber upgrades, road reconstruction, and the installation of carbon vessels and safety gates. In response to a question from Council Member Carter regarding the project's long-term impact, Zhang confirmed that the improvements are expected to extend the facility's lifecycle by roughly 30 years. The procurement process, which began with an invitation for bids in April 2026, yielded two proposals. Bid amounts ranged from $18.7 million to $20.4 million. A procurement representative noted that the lower bid of $18,762,797 was rejected as non-responsive, leading to the selection of Rice Lake Construction Group as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The project also carries a 9% Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business (MCUB) goal, established by the Office of Civil Rights and Small Business Programs. The committee unanimously approved the contract award, advancing the region's capital investment strategy amid anticipated population and development growth in the Stillwater area.