In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR), establishing enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) for six PFAS compounds, including a limit of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for both PFOA and PFOS. Under this regulation, the City of Bakersfield (City) is required to achieve full regulatory compliance by April 26, 2029. The City owns approximately 65 active domestic water wells, which are operated by California Water Service, that supply potable water to the City’s drinking water distribution system. The City is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit qualifications from experienced engineering firms to provide design services for PFAS treatment at 9 well sites. These sites selected were identified through preliminary sampling that indicated concentrations of PFAS exceeding the MCL established by the EPA. The primary objective of this RFQ is to select one or more qualified engineering consultants to support the City in planning and implementing a PFAS Treatment Program. The selected consultant(s) will be responsible for evaluating each well site for suitable treatment media and designing PFAS treatment systems that comply with current EPA MCL limits. The PFAS Treatment Program is divided into two phases, with Phase 1 covering four well sites and Phase 2 covering five. Each site will require a separate treatment design. This RFQ pertains solely to Phase 1. The City reserves the right to award Phase 2 work to the selected Phase 1 Consultant, contingent upon satisfactory performance. Existing treatment systems are present at some sites for constituents such as arsenic, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP). The type, configuration, and capacity of these systems vary by location and should be considered in the proposed PFAS treatment design
