DEP Seeks Designers for Rain Gardens in Parks and at Street Ends

The Department of Environmental Protection is looking for design firms to plan green infrastructure in city parks and at publicly owned street ends, in a bid to keep stormwater out of an overloaded sewer system. An optional pre-proposal conference is set for Wednesday, Oct. 28, and proposals are due Nov. 18.

A city notice published Oct. 21 describes three task-order design contracts, labeled GI-PSE 1, 2 and 3.

The problem DEP is trying to solve

According to the notice, about a third of the city is served by a combined sewer system, where rain and sewage share the same pipes.

During storms, rainfall reaches the surrounding waterways with limited treatment, which the notice says contributes to water quality problems. Put less politely: heavy rain still sends dirty water into the harbor.

What the designers would draw up

The contracts call for an extensive system of green infrastructure to capture and manage runoff from paved surfaces in parks and at street ends.

Listed options include bioretention systems, permeable pavement, synthetic turf, wetlands, green roofs and underground detention or retention systems, alone or in combination.

The notice says the work is meant to meet Consent Order requirements, meaning the city is doing this under a legal agreement, not just out of civic virtue.

How firms can respond

The solicitation, PIN 82627P0002, is a competitive sealed proposal released through PASSPort, the city’s procurement portal. Proposals are due Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m.

What the notice does not say

The notice gives no dollar value for the contracts and does not name which parks or street ends are in line for work.

It also does not say when construction, as opposed to design, might begin.

Details as filed. Verify times and locations before attending.