MMSD Selection Process for the 2028 Operations and Maintenance Contract

For more than 25 years, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has used a private company to operate and maintain the regional wastewater facilities. MMSD began using private operators in the late 1990s and has continued that approach through successive long-term contracts. MMSD has approximately 250 employees and is responsible for the governance and management of the regional wastewater utility, including regulatory compliance, capital and financial planning, contract oversight, and public communication. The contracted operator, with approximately 230 employees, is responsible for plant operations and maintenance, but MMSD retains overall accountability for system performance and long-term planning. As the current agreement with Veolia Water nears its end on February 28, 2028, MMSD has begun selecting the firm to provide operations and maintenance services under the next 10-year contract. 

That process began with a Request for Qualifications issued in June 2024 to identify firms with the experience and capacity to perform this work. Through that process, MMSD identified Veolia Water, Jacobs Solutions, and Inframark as pre-qualified firms. In summer 2025, Inframark decided not to pursue the contract. MMSD then issued a Request for Proposals on September 30, 2025, and proposals were due on January 31, 2026. 

The Request for Proposal documents can be viewed here. 

The proposals are under review and will be scored by an Ad Hoc Operations and Maintenance Contract Selection Committee made up of five former MMSD commissioners: Kathy Ehley, Dennis Grzezinski, Kris Martinsek, John Swan III, and Michael A. West.  The Ad Hoc Committee review includes each proposer’s approach to operations, maintenance, staffing, safety, emergency response, and regional partnership. 

Negotiations are occurring during this process. 

Documents for the Ad Hoc Committee meetings are available here: MMSD Commission Meeting Documents 

Upcoming Meeting Dates/Times:

• 6/12/2026; 9:00 a.m.  Public Hearing (Tentatively scheduled)   
• 6/22/2026; 9:00 a.m. Ad Hoc Meeting   
• 8/17/2026; 9:00 a.m. Ad Hoc Public Meeting and recommendation to Commission 
• 9/14/2026; 9:00 a.m. Commission Committee discussion and referral 
• 9/28/2026; 9:00 a.m. Final Commission Action