Water Utilities Technical Assistance Program (WUTAP)

The primary goal of WUTAP is to provide eligible water and wastewater utilities with financial, managerial and technical capabilities necessary to apply for financial assistance from the TWDB. The technical assistance will be provided, through contracts between the provider and TWDB, by experts in the field that have been pre-qualified by TWDB.

1. What is technical assistance?

Technical assistance, in regard to this program, is assistance provided to water and wastewater systems to help build their managerial and technical capabilities related to applying for financial assistance from the TWDB.

2. Why does TWDB offer a technical assistance program?

TWDB has made it a priority to offer technical assistance programs for several reasons, but the primary reason is that many systems have shown the need for this assistance due to limited resources, lack of knowledge and high turnover of staff. Some of the benefits that can be realized from receiving technical assistance include:

• Sustainable Operations - Assessing the current operational status of the system is the first step to ensuring the system has the capability of meeting its service goals and requirements and identifying needs for the future.
• Sound Fiscal Management - Having a current, comprehensive understanding of your budget and the short-, medium- and long-term forecasting of future budgets puts utilities in a position to be sustainable financially. This includes reviewing your current financial health, identifying future needs and assessing the rates you charge customers.
• Financial Assistance Applications - Applying for funding from the TWDB and other agencies/organizations can be seen as a daunting and resource intensive task. Having a good foundation of information, and knowledge of funding program availability and requirements can go a long way to make the process more manageable.

3. WUTAP

Eligible Applicants

All water and wastewater systems in Texas are eligible for this program, as long as they desire to seek funding from TWDB in the future.

Benefits and Terms

• Up to $150,000 worth of services dependent upon the needs of the system.
  • Final products of the program include:
    • Approvable Water Conservation Plans
    • Successful submission of Project Information Forms/Abridged Applications
    • Successful submission of Financial Assistance Applications for invited entities
    • Summary reports with recommendations for financial management controls and operating processes.
    • Completed rate study
    • Completed training regarding Disadvantaged Business Enterprises requirements including submission of documentation for federal reporting purposes.

Program Requirements

There is no financial match required by the system

Participation from the system's staff (operations, managerial, administration and governing body) are key to the successful implementation of the program.

How to participate in WUTAP

For Contractors - Firms interested in being contractors for WUTAP projects need to reply to the WUTAP Request for Qualifications (RFQ) posted on the State of Texas Electronic State Business Daily website. A link to the RFQ is also posted on the TWDB Stakeholder Opportunities webpage. Firms that submit their Statement of Qualifications, in accordance with the RFQ, and meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on a list of qualified contractors. The systems participating in WUTAP will be matched with a contractor to work with from the list of qualified contractors. A contract will be drawn up and executed between the TWDB and the contractor. Statements of Qualifications will be accepted from November 30, 2023 through January 29, 2024 . Questions about the RFQ should be sent to bid-room@twdb.texas.gov with a copy to Veronica.Holmes@twdb.texas.gov.

For Water and Wastewater systems - Systems interested in participating in WUTAP must submit an application. The application will be posted on this webpage on November 17, 2023 and will be accepted through January 31, 2024. When the application period ends, the applications will be scored and ranked based on criteria that can be found below. Systems selected to participated will be matched with a qualified contractor based on the types of services needed and a Memorandum of Agreement between the system and the TWDB will be executed.

Once the initial round has been completed entities can submit applications to participate in the program. Entities will be selected based on needs and as funding is available.

• Application for Entities
• Prioritization Criteria

4. What is in the WUTAP Scope of Work?

The WUTAP Scope of Work includes several different tasks, which will be assigned to technical assistance providers based on the needs of the participant systems. These tasks include:

• Asset Management Evaluation
• Preparation of a Rate Study
• Review of Existing Organizational Operations Procedures
• Review of Existing Financial Statement/Budgeting Procedures
• Development of Water Conservation Plans
• Completion of Project Information Forms/Financial Assistance Applications

More information on the WUTAP Scope of Work can be found in the Request for Qualifications for this program.

5. Where can I get more information?

WUTAP Overview of Request for Qualifications and Application Process

Questions may directed to WUTAP Team