The Water and Wastewater Commission on Oct. 15 voted to authorize a rotation list of 12 engineering contracts for small-scale water and wastewater pipeline projects with a combined not-to-exceed value of $26,000,000, to be funded from Austin Water's capital budget.

Commissioners discussed the selection process before the vote. Charles Slower of Austin Water described the procurement steps: the city issues a request for qualifications (RFQ) typically posted for about "4 or so weeks," a multidisciplinary panel (about five reviewers from multiple departments) independently scores submittals, Capital Contracting facilitates the process, and panelists then reconcile scores and recommend firms. Slower said there were 35 applicants for this rotation list and that Capital Contracting screens out nonresponsive submittals that do not meet MBE/DBE or other submission requirements.

Kevin Koehler, Austin Water division manager, added that rotation-list selections generally do not include interviews; interviews are used for standalone RFQs when scores fall within three points.

Commissioner Ortiz moved to approve the rotation list; Commissioner Maxwell Gaines seconded. The motion passed with a unanimous vote among participating commissioners; Commissioners Pandarangi and Reyes recused themselves from item 3. The meeting record notes the item was voted "unanimous with Commissioner Pandurangi and Reyes abstaining or recusing themselves." The commission recorded the tally as yes: 7, recused: 2 (names recorded as Commissioners Pandarangi and Reyes).

Other formal actions taken during the Oct. 15 meeting included: approval of the prior meeting minutes (motion and second recorded; minutes passed unanimously); adoption of the consent agenda (items 2 and 4) unanimously; a change to the regular November meeting date (moving the November meeting from 11/19/2025 to 11/12/2025 at 4:00 p.m.), approved unanimously; and approval of the 2026 Water and Wastewater Commission meeting schedule, including two July meetings and a decision to keep meetings at 4:00 p.m., approved unanimously.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the RFQ and selection-panel qualifications. Slower explained panels are typically drawn from several city departments, often with subject-matter experts in engineering. He said Capital Contracting and staff review submittals for responsiveness and MBE requirements before the panel evaluation. "It is also a diverse selection panel," Slower said. Koehler confirmed that Capital Contracting helps ensure correct personnel are on the review panel and that subject-matter experts are included.

The motion language for item 3 in the meeting record: "Recommend approval to authorize a rotation list of a set of 12 contracts for engineering services for the 2025 small scale water and wastewater pipeline engineering services rotation list, for a total contract amount not to exceed $26,000,000, divided among the firms; funding in the amount of $26,000,000 is available in the capital budget of Austin Water." The record notes that Commissioner Ortiz made the motion and Commissioner Maxwell Gaines seconded.

No additional amendments to the motion were recorded. Commissioners who recused themselves did not participate in the items discussion or vote. Staff said the rotation list will be used to assign small-scale pipeline design tasks consistent with city procurement rules and that contracts will be divided among the selected firms under the not-to-exceed total amount.

The meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.