CDM Smith Wins $49.1M Design-Build Contract to Supply Water to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 

Twentynine Palms, California – CDM Smith is pleased to announce the firm was recently awarded a $49.1 million firm-fixed price, design-build construc­tion contract with Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest in Twentynine Palms, California. The 3-million gallon per day reverse osmosis, closed circuit desali­na­tion water treatment plant will supply drinking water to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, the Marine Corps’ largest combined combat training facility in the world.  

In addition to construc­tion of a zero-liquid discharge plant, the project scope also includes two new 1,000-foot deep groundwater production wells to source water from a nearby aquifer, two miles of water trans­mis­sion lines, evaporation ponds, mechanical and electrical utilities, SCADA systems (as part of the United States Department of Defense cyber­se­cu­rity contract require­ments), site improve­ments, access roads, and admin­is­tra­tive buildings. 

In what client service leader Jenna Lockstedt called a “textbook effort of preparation and teamwork,” this project win was a culmination of a 20-month pursuit with help from across the firm’s technical and sales units as well as the regional southern California project team. The local team’s in-depth knowledge of projects with similar size and scope helped to solidify CDM Smith’s place as a market leader in water/wastewater projects for the United States Department of Defense. The firm’s experience working with the Colorado River (Region 7) Regional Water Quality Control Board and on remote sites in the desert—often in extreme temper­a­tures and occasional high winds—also served as key differ­en­tia­tors. 

Collab­o­ra­tive design-build delivery will allow for full and integrated commu­ni­ca­tion between designers and construc­tors. This will allow the project team to make real-time decisions to overcome known project challenges, including envi­ron­men­tal mitigation measures like protection of native desert tortoises, and compliance with tribal reservation restric­tions. 

Project completion is scheduled for September of 2021. 

CDM Smith provides lasting and integrated solutions in water, environment, trans­porta­tion, energy and facilities to public and private clients worldwide. As a full-service engineering and construc­tion firm, we deliver exceptional client service, quality results and enduring value across the entire project life cycle.