DWR's Division of Engineering has been named the International Partnering Institute’s 11th annual Partnering Champion Award recipient for 2020.
Design-Build Projects

View of the Salton Sea, August 28, 2012. DWR/2012
Design-Build is a method of project delivery that brings designers and contractors together early in the design phase of a project. The Department clearly defines the technical requirements and performance specifications they expect for a project, and the Design-Build Entity works together to satisfy those requirements. The Department uses the flexibility Design-Build offers to reduce project costs, expedite project completion, maximize the value received per dollar spent in a variety of situations, and design features not achievable through using traditional design-bid-build method.
Authorizing Legislation
In 2016, the Department obtained legislative authority in Public Contract Code (PCC) §10187 et seq. to use Design-Build method of project delivery, including a best value procurement method for the purpose of projects at the Salton Sea.Design-Build Procurement Process
The Department will use a two-phase, best-value procurement process to select a Design-Build Entity to deliver the Project. In developing the Project using the Design-Build process, the Department hopes to benefit from the knowledge and experience of the Submitters in minimizing cost and maximizing performance.
The first phase of the Procurement process begins with the issuance of an RFQ and ends with the creation of a short-list of the most qualified Submitters. The purpose of the RFQ is to solicit information that demonstrates the qualifications of the Design-Build Entity for the proposed Project. The Department will evaluate all Statements of Qualifications received to identify Design-Build Entities most qualified to successfully deliver the Project. Up to five of the most qualified Design-Build Entities will be short-listed and invited to participate in the Request for Proposal phase.
Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project

Aerial View of New River, December 5, 2014. DWR/2014
The Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) Project is part of the 10-year Plan for implementing projects around the Salton Sea to develop an environment with suitable habitat for maintaining aquatic and avian wildlife, and create areas to minimize fine particle duct emissions. The SCH Project area encompasses approximately 3,770 acres of exposed lake bed at the mouth of the New River, located at the southwest end of the Salton Sea. For more information, visit the Salton Sea page.
The Department will use a two-phase, best-value procurement process to select a Design-Build Entity to deliver the Project. In developing the Project using the Design-Build process, the Department hopes to benefit from the knowledge and experience of the Submitters in minimizing cost and maximizing performance.
The first phase of the Procurement process begins with the issuance of an RFQ and ends with the creation of a short-list of the most qualified Submitters. The purpose of the RFQ is to solicit information that demonstrates the qualifications of the Design-Build Entity for the proposed Project. The Department will evaluate all Statements of Qualifications received to identify Design-Build Entities most qualified to successfully deliver the Project. Up to five of the most qualified Design-Build Entities will be short-listed and invited to participate in the Request for Proposal phase.
The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the SCH project was advertised in eProcure on December 14, 2018.
The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) was due on April 15, 2019.
Announcement of Short-List Selection
The California Department of Water Resources has selected three firms to be short-listed Submitters for the Salton Sea Species Conservation Design-Build Project, Reference No. DB201801.
The short-listed Submitters are alphabetically listed below:
- Flatiron West, Inc.
- Group OHL North America*
- Kiewit Infrastructure West
August 5, 2020
DWR Selects Design-Build Contractor for SCH Project
The Department of Water Resources has completed the evaluation of proposals for the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project and Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. has been selected as the best-value design-build entity. Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. and DWR are in the process of finalizing the contract.
Design and construction of the SCH Project is expected to begin in Fall 2020.
-------------------------------------------
October 31, 2019
Request for Project Proposals
The request for Proposals (RFP) for the SCH Project was issued on October 31, 2019. The Proposal submittals are due on May 29, 2020.
The Department expects to award a Design-Build Contract for the Project to the Proposer offering the best value, as determined by the Department at its sole discretion.
- Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project EIS EIR (July 2013)
- Notice of Determination - NOD for Final EIS EIR (May 2014)
- Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project CEQA Addendum (September 2017)
- Notice of Determination for CEQA Addendum (November 2017)
- US Army Corps of Engineers Individual Permit 404 with Figures (December, 2013)
- US Army Corps of Engineers Letter of Permission - Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project (EIS) (March, 2017)
- Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board - Water Quality Certificate Permit 401 (January, 2014)
- US Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service - Biological Opinion - Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project (March, 2013)
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (October, 2016)
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife - Memorandum of Understanding for California Endangered Species Act (July 2019)
- Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan (May, 2015)
- Habitat Mitigation and Monitoring Plan for the Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project (November, 2012)
- Temporary Impacts Restoration Plan for the Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project (October, 2013)
- Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat - Desert Pupfish Adaptive Management and Monitoring Plan (February, 2017)
- Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat - Desert Pupfish Inoculation Plan (February, 2017)
- Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat - Desert Pupfish Protection and Relocation Plan (February, 2017)
- Cultural Resources Monitoring and Post-Review Discovery Plan (February 2017)
- Letter to US Army Corps of Engineers Referencing Revegetation Activities- Salton Sea Species Conservation Habitat Project (March, 2017)
- Salton Sea SCH Project Paleontological Resources Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (July 2019)
Contact
Department of Water Resources
Division of Engineering, #6
Attn: Design-Build
Reference No. DB201801
715 P Street, 4th Floor
Sacramento, California 95814
Design-Build Announcements
The Department of Water Resources has completed the evaluation of proposals for the Species Conservation Habitat (SCH) project and Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. has been selected as the best-value design-build entity. Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. and DWR are in the process of finalizing the contract. Design and construction of the SCH Project is ...
With the goals of zero accidents and claims, on time, within budget, and meeting quality objectives, DWR’s Collaborative Partnering Program is a vital tool for improving the success of its construction projects.
On November 1, we met our objective to repair and reconstruct the main Lake Oroville spillway to handle flows of up to 100,000 cubic feet per second.