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, regarding 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, if 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 State Revolving Fund procurement 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) that will be posted on the State of Texas Electronic State Business Daily website. A link to the RFQ will also be 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 developed and executed between TWDB and the contractor. Statements of Qualifications will be accepted until December 9, 2025.

For Water and Wastewater systems - Systems interested in participating in WUTAP must submit an application. See below for instructions on submitting an application. The applications received will be scored and ranked based on criteria that can be found below. Systems selected to participate will be matched with a qualified contractor based on the types of services needed. A Memorandum of Agreement between the system and the TWDB will be executed.

Eligible entities can submit applications at any time. Entities will be selected based on needs and as funding is available.

Methods to submit an application to be a WUTAP participant system:

1. (Preferred Method) – Submit a Microsoft Forms application, which can be found here: Microsoft Forms WUTAP Participant System Application
2. Fill out a PDF version of the application and submit to WUTAP. The PDF version of the application can be found here:WUTAP Participant System Application PDF
3. 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:

• Completion of Project Information Forms/Financial Assistance Applications
• Assessment of Project Needs and Viability
• Preparation of a Rate Study
• Review of Existing Organizational Operations Procedures
• Review of Existing Financial Statement/Budgeting Procedures
• Development of Water Conservation Plans

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?

Questions may directed to WUTAP Team