REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 18, 2015
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: STEPHEN A. HOGG, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Wastewater Management Division
BY: KEVIN L. NORGAARD, PE, Supervising Professional Engineer
Department of Public Utilities - Wastewater Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Award a Professional Services contract to Parsons Water and Infrastructure, Inc., a Delaware corporation, in the amount of $168,459 with a contingency of $10,000 to provide a feasibility study to construct an Airport Satellite Recycled Water Facility and associated sewer pump station and piping (Council District 4).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
The Department of Public Utilities is recommending Council award a contract to Parsons Water and Infrastructure for the feasibility study to construct the Airport Satellite Recycled Water Facility and associated sewer pump station and piping.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities, Wastewater Management Division is seeking to award a professional engineering contract for the feasibility study and location options for an airport area satellite recycled water facility. These services include evaluation of facility flow capacity requirements, existing wastewater flow characteristics and modifications to existing sewer system, site recommendations, potential recycled water users, economic evaluations, CEQA/NEPA requirements and potential funding sources. Staff recommends that the City Council award a contract in the amount of $168,459 with a contingency of $10,000 to Parsons Water and Infrastructure, Inc.
BACKGROUND
This project is associated with two Master Plans, the Recycled Water Master Plan (RWMP) adopted in 2013 and the Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) based on the current General Plan. Both master plans identify a need in the area southeast of Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FYI) for recycled water and sewer system capacity upgrades.
The City has adopted the Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and the RWMP. One key goal of these plans is to provide 25,000 acre-feet per year of potable water offsets by 2025. The usage of recycled water to offset potable water will conserve valuable drinking water resources. The Department of Public Utilities is also required by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board to adequately treat wastewater and manage the groundwater quality beneath the percolation ponds located at the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility. The groundwater quality in the area around the Regional Facility is directly impacted by the quality and quantity of water being percolated into the ground through the surrounding percolation ponds. Advanced treatment and direct nonpotable reuse of advanced treated water reduces the loading of the percolation ponds and reduces potential impacts to the quality of the groundwater. The RWMP provides a roadmap for recycled water implementation which includes private users and the use of recycled water in recharge basins throughout the City of Fresno.
Per the SSMP, the sewer trunk line in Clovis Avenue is currently at capacity and nearing capacities further downstream. Industries in this area are interested in expanding operations but are limited by sewer capacity.
The City is interested in conducting a feasibility study to evaluate the production of recycled water from the City sewer system near the airport, which is located in Clovis Avenue near the Gallo Winery. This type of facility would scalp water from the major trunk line, treat the water to meet Title 22 requirements and then distribute recycled water to users while returning the solids back to the sewer system. A facility like this would not only offset potable water usage at places like Airways Golf Course and Industries in the area but will reduce the capacity issues being encountered in the sewer system.
There are two ultimate goals for the feasibility study; first determine the type of facility necessary to relieve future capacity issues in the sewer system. Second is to determine if there are adequate recycled water demand and groundwater recharge capabilities in the vicinity southeast of FYI.
Award of this contract will enable the consultant to perform various studies in the area reported above. These studies will evaluate facility flow capacity requirements, existing wastewater flow characteristics and modifications to existing sewer system, site recommendations, potential recycled water users, economic evaluations, CEQA/NEPA requirements and potential funding sources.
Following Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4 Article 1 and Administrative Order 6-19 on September 5, 2013, the DPU emailed more than 75 potentially qualified engineering firms a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and posted it on the City's bids on line website. Six Statements of Qualifications were received. Interviews of the five most qualified firms were conducted by a panel of six. Parsons Water and Infrastructure, Inc. was selected as most qualified and best value to the City, and was asked to submit a level of effort and scope. The department chose to proceed with Parsons Water and Infrastructure, Inc. as the firm with the most beneficial qualification, scope and level of effort for the City. Staff negotiated a consultant services fee of $168,459 with a contingency of $10,000 for professional engineering services and recommends that the City Council award a contract in that amount to Parsons Water and Infrastructure, Inc. The City Attorney has approved this contract as to form. Upon approval by the City Council, the agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities or designee, who has been delegated this authority by the City Manager.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this Professional Services contract does not qualify as a "project" as provided by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
In compliance with AO-6-19 and Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109, which provide for local preference for all projects not funded by State or Federal government primary preference did not apply because there were less than three local firms providing the highly specific consulting services requested.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project has no fiscal impact to the General Fund and is located in Council District 4. This project is identified in the five year capital improvement plan. Funds in the amount of $180,000 for the design of this project are budgeted in the 2015 Sewer Enterprise Fund No. 40501. The fiscal impact of this contract will be $178,459.
Attachment:
Contract