Denver Water serves a population of over 1 million people in the Denver metropolitan area. While not facing an immediate water shortage, long-range projections indicate a need for an additional 100,000 acre-feet per year in the next 50 years. Efficient use of present supplies will be necessary to meet future water needs. Denver is located in a semi-arid area, and receives an average of 15 inches of precipitation per year. Half of the annual water production is presently being used to water landscapes. Studies show that the average landscape is over-watered by 20-30%. Customers with automatic irrigation systems tend to be the most inefficient. Denver Water decided to seek partners in the private sector, looking for innovative ideas that could make landscape irrigation more efficient. A solicitation was developed, looking for long-term reliable water savings. Improving irrigation efficiency is a major goal in meeting future water needs, which helped prompt Denver Water's Irrigation Efficiency Request for Proposals (RFP). Another goal of the RFP was to encourage a change in landscaping styles to those that required less water than traditional lawns. This RFP was left as open as possible, to encourage a variety of responses. Proposals could be products, services or a combination of the two. Firms submitting proposals for Denver Water's Irrigation Efficiency Program were asked to bring together a total package designed to reduce waste in landscape irrigation or to lower watering needs for landscapes. Proposals were to be specific as to how savings were to be achieved, how savings would be implemented and at what cost. Proposals were to include a plan implementation, including methods for monitoring and maintaining savings. A key aspect of any proposal was the verification plan, or how water savings were to be determined and assured over time. Bidders were asked to submit plans for water savings, including a plan to adjust the savings calculation for the impacts of weather. Request for Proposals were sent out to over 100 firms, ranging from irrigation companies, energy service companies, inventors and consultants. Pre-proposal meetings were held to answer questions. To date, over a dozen proposals have been received and were evaluated by a proposal review committee made up of both Denver Water staff and outside experts with a variety of backgrounds. If approved by the committee, contracts were negotiated with the companies. Includes figures.