News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation awards $1.98M contract for Yuma Desalting Plant support services

Media Contact: Ed Virden , (928) 343-8109

For Release: February 06, 2009

Acting Commissioner of Reclamation J. William McDonald today announced the award of a $1.98 million contract to KCorp Technology Services, Inc. (KTS) to provide a range of operation and maintenance support services for Reclamation's Yuma Desalting Plant (YDP) and associated facilities.

The contract was awarded for a base period of one year, but includes the option for four additional years, at approximately $2 million per year. "This contract award will ensure the services needed to maintain the plant at a state where it would be ready to meet future performance demands are performed," McDonald said.

Under the contract, awarded pursuant to the Small Business Administration's 8(a) program, KTS, a Native American firm from Anchorage, Alaska, will perform contract management, planning, supervision, administration and other required activities.

Located just west of Yuma, Ariz., the desalting plant was built to treat saline agricultural drainage water from the Wellton-Mohawk Valley. The treated water would be used to help meet the United States' Colorado River water delivery obligation to Mexico. The plant last ran during a 90-day test period in 2007. It has primarily been in "ready-reserve" status since March 1993 because the U.S. has been able to meet its water delivery obligation to Mexico without operating the plant.

The YDP is the largest reverse osmosis plant in the United States. If operated at full capacity, it could desalt more than one million gallons of Colorado River water per day. Additional information about the plant is available at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/yuma/facilities/ydp/yao_ydp.html

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Yuma Desalting Plant