ALCOSAN revives on-call engineering shortlist to accelerate sewer and plant projects

ALCOSAN revives on-call engineering shortlist to accelerate sewer and plant projectsThe Pittsburgh-area wastewater utility has selected 11 firms from a pool of 31 applicants to handle a backlog of smaller infrastructure upgrades, alongside advancing a contract for its regionalized infrastructure inspection program.

ALCOSAN's Professional Services Committee approved an 11-firm shortlist for on-call engineering, the utility's first such procurement since 2018.

The shortlist will be used to issue task orders for sanitary sewer rehabilitation, inflow and infiltration reduction, and smaller-scale treatment plant projects.

The committee also approved a $253,800 service authorization to WRA for construction management on Contract 1840, covering the inspection of regionalized trunk sewers and pump stations.

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) is moving to clear a backlog of smaller wastewater infrastructure projects by establishing a new shortlist for on-call engineering services, the utility's first procurement of this type in eight years. During a July 9, 2026, Professional Services Committee meeting, officials approved a shortlist of 11 engineering firms to support various ongoing treatment and conveyance projects. According to staff, ALCOSAN issued a request for qualifications in March 2026 and evaluated 31 submittals before narrowing the field. Director of Engineering and Construction Kim Kennedy noted that the utility has "a bunch of projects in the queue waiting to move forward" under the new on-call structure. "We haven't done this since 2018. So this really will allow us to get smaller projects off the ground and moving," Kennedy said. Anticipated work includes sanitary sewer rehabilitation, inflow and infiltration projects, and several smaller-sized plant upgrades. The 11 approved firms are Colliers Engineering & Design, Cosmos Technologies, Gannett Fleming, GHD, HRG, JMT, ms Consultants, Mott MacDonald, Remington & Vernick Engineers (RVE), Sci-Tek Consultants, and WRA. As specific scopes of work are developed for individual task orders, ALCOSAN will solicit proposals from a further narrowed selection of these shortlisted companies. In a separate action advancing its municipal regionalization program, the committee recommended approval of a $253,800 service authorization to WRA for construction management and inspection services on Contract 1840. The contract focuses on inspecting and assessing the condition of regionalized trunk sewers, pump stations, and tanks recently transferred to ALCOSAN from participating municipalities. Staff noted that all three firms on ALCOSAN's existing on-call construction management shortlist were solicited for the work, but only WRA submitted a proposal. Bids for the physical inspection work under Contract 1840 were opened in early July and are currently under review.