09-02-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

NOTICE OF INTENT_FINAL 2015 09 02.DOCX 4 Project Goals The purpose of the Project is to reduce flood risk, flood damages, and flood protection costs related to flooding in the Fargo-Moorhead area and to accomplish the following goals:  Reduce flood risk associated with a long history of frequent flooding on local streams, including the Red River of the North, Sheyenne, Wild Rice, Maple, Rush, and Lower Rush Rivers passing through or into the metro area.  Qualify substantial portions of the metropolitan area for 100-year flood accreditation by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the National Flood Insurance Program, including currently known anticipated future floodplain map revisions.  Reduce flood risk for floods exceeding the 1% event (100-year flood or greater) by lowering the predicted flood stage at the Fargo gauge to 40 feet during the 0.2% event (500-year flood). PPP Delivery Goals The goals of the Diversion Authority in employing a PPP delivery approach include benefitting from: (i) innovative design, construction, and financing that results in cost savings and schedule improvements; and (ii) risk assignment, including long-term operation and maintenance by the PPP Developer. It is expected that the PPP Agreement will provide cost and schedule certainty upon contract execution, and provide a high-quality product that will benefit the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area for generations. Current Project Status The Project has achieved the following major milestones: 1. Report of the USACE Chief of Engineers submitted to Congress: December 19, 2011 2. Record of Decision (ROD) signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works): March 3, 2012 3. Congressional Authorization: Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, Public Law 113-121 The Diversion Authority is anticipating successful resolution of the following three (3) enabling outcomes before advancing the PPP procurement process beyond this NOI: 1. Determination of Adequacy on the Minnesota Environmental Impact Statement (MnEIS) from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR); 2. Lifting of the Preliminary Injunction issued by the US District Court for the District of Minnesota – Civil File No. 0:13-cv-02262-JRT-LIB; and 3. Appropriation of federal funds and designation as a USACE new construction start. Proposed Procurement Process Prior to the start of the procurement process, the Diversion Authority intends to have one or more Industry Forums, which will be publicly advertised and open to interested parties. The Diversion Authority will provide updated information regarding the scope and the procurement schedule, and will be available for questions. The Diversion Authority is going to undertake a fair and transparent procurement, leveraging industry best practice, which is expected to include a two phase procurement with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) phase followed by a Request for Proposal (RFP) phase.