REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, PE, Public Utilities Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
PATRICIA DIEP, Supervising Engineering Technician
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement with Michael K. Nunley & Associates, Inc., for the design, bidding, and construction support services of the Reclamation Well Pipeline and Associated Site Improvements project at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility for an amount not to exceed $426,045, inclusive of a contingency in an amount not to exceed $55,570 (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant services agreement (Agreement) with Michael K. Nunley & Associates, Inc. (MKN), for an amount not to exceed $426,045, inclusive of a contingency in an amount not to exceed $55,570, for the Reclamation Well Pipeline and Associated Site Improvements (Project); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The heightened awareness of recycled water benefits has created an increase in demands that may exceed the production capacity of the Tertiary Treatment and Disinfection Facility (TTDF). This Project will connect the existing Houghton Pipeline to the existing Recycled Water Pipeline at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (RWRF) to allow reclaimed water to supplement recycled water production by the TTDF. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) requires consultant services to design the Improvements and support the Project in its bidding and construction phases.
BACKGROUND
In December 2014, the City of Fresno broke ground on an ambitious three-phased water recycling facility. Phase I would provide 5 million gallons per day (mgd) of recycled water, Phase II would add 10 mgd, and Phase III would add another 15 mgd for a total of 30 mgd. Phase I of the TTDF was completed in July 2016. The TTDF has the capacity to produce up to 5 mgd of recycled water, compliant with the California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 22. Title 22 compliant water can be used for landscape and irrigation, without restrictions. Currently the City of Fresno is delivering recycled water to four customers, consisting of one large farm, two cemeteries, and Roeding Park. In the near future, the City of Fresno will be delivering recycled water to four new customers consisting of one cemetery, Fink White Park, Fulton Street landscaping area, and City Hall. Due to the typical landscape and irrigation practices, there may be times when peak hourly recycled water demand will exceed the production capacity of the TTDF.
To meet the growing demands for recycled water, the City may supplement recycled water production by the TTDF with reclaimed water. Reclaimed water is undisinfected secondary effluent from the RWRF that is discharged to the percolation ponds, undergoes Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) as the water percolates into the underlying aquifer, then is extracted through existing reclamation wells. Studies performed in 2010 and 2011 by the Cities of Fresno and Dinuba, in cooperation with the US Bureau of Reclamation, demonstrated the reclaimed water met the regulatory requirements of Title 22, similar to that of recycled water produced by the TTDF. In 2015, the City obtained approval from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to amend the Waste Discharge Requirements to include the SAT as a means of filtration and disinfection.
The RWRF currently discharges approximately 68 mgd of undisinfected secondary effluent to the percolation ponds, a portion of which later may be extracted by reclamation wells and delivered to Fresno Irrigation District (FID) through the Houghton Pipeline. The purpose of this Project is to construct a new 0.65 mile pipeline to connect the existing Houghton Pipeline which is fed by the reclamation wells and tie it to the existing Southwest Recycled Water Distribution system, thereby allowing reclaimed water to supplement the recycled water produced by the TTDF during times of high demand.
In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1, and Administrative Order 6-19 (AO 6-19), DPU conducted a competitive process for selecting a consultant to provide the requested professional services for the Project. On March 18, 2022, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website. Four Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) were received by the deadline of April 18, 2022. A selection committee, consisting of representatives from DPU, evaluated the SOQs and ranked the consultants. As allowed for in AO 6-19, the RFQ was structured for the prospective consultants to provide detailed information regarding experience of their teams and project approach. Upon review of the qualifications and analysis of the proposed fees, MKN was selected as the consultant providing the best value based on the totality of the evaluation.
A standardized agreement has been used, without modification, in accordance with Administrative Order 4-4. MKN’s Certificates of Insurance have been approved by the City’s Risk Management Division. Upon approval by the City Council, the agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or his designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this agreement is not a “project” as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was implemented as MKN is a local business pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109(b).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding for the services is included in the Wastewater Management Division’s five year Capital Improvement Program budget within the Sewer Enterprise Fund 40501.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Consultant Services Agreement
Attachment 2 - Project Vicinity Map