BALTIMORE, MD — Baltimore City’s Architectural and Engineering Awards Commission this afternoon approved a bid by PA Consulting Group to negotiate for a contract to conduct an efficiency study of the City’s water and wastewater treatment plants.

Contract negotiations will now be conducted by the Division of Contract Administration, part of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW). Once a contract agreement is reached, the pact goes to the City’s Board of Estimates for final approval.

PA Consulting’s bid was submitted in response to a request in May by the DPW which owns and operates the water and wastewater treatment plants. PA Consulting’s bid was reviewed in October by five senior officials from DPW, one from the City’s Law office, one from the Mayor’s office, and two from Baltimore County, which uses the City’s water and sewer treatment services.

Among other criteria, the group ranked PA Consulting’s proposal on experience in conducting such studies, treatment plant operations and maintenance, improving operational efficiencies, and availability of key staff, among other things. One other company, Veolia, submitted a proposal.

PA is a global company based in London. Its expertise extends not only to water and energy, but also government and public services, manufacturing, and telecommunications.