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
CHARLES MASTERS, Engineer II
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement in the total amount of not to exceed $117,902 with Michael K. Nunley & Associates, Inc., for the design of booster pump replacements at Pump Stations 89A, 133 and 150 (Council District 6)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant services agreement in the total amount of not to exceed $117,902 with Michael K. Nunley & Associates, Inc. (MKN), for the design of booster pump replacements at Pump Stations (PS) 89A, 133 and 150; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PS 89A, PS133, and PS150 contain public water supply wells with deaeration vessels designed to remove entrained air from the groundwater prior to discharging into the water system. The entrained air is not a public health hazard but can be unaesthetic in appearance. From the deaeration tanks, booster pumps push the treated water into the distribution system. Various water system improvements have increased the average operating pressure and the existing booster pumps at PS89A, PS133, and PS150 cannot overcome the higher system pressure. This has prevented these pump stations from serving groundwater to the system. The consultant will assess the current electrical and mechanical needs at each site to appropriately size and design the replacement booster pumps.
BACKGROUND
The City utilizes a combination of surface water and groundwater to serve potable drinking water into the water system. When the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility (NESWTF) is operating pressures in the distribution system are higher then when the system is supplied only by municipal wells. Prior to the construction of the NESWTF, the City utilized multiple well sites that contained entrained air in the raw groundwater. Typically, the air remains dissolved in solution under the high pressures of the aquifer but may be released once pumped out of the ground and equilibrated with distribution system pressures. The entrained air does not present a health risk but may be unaesthetic in appearance (similar to carbonated water) at the customer’s facet. To remove the entrained air, the City installed deaeration vessels at multiple wells sites, including at PS89A, PS133, and PS150. The deaeration vessels are equipped with spraying nozzles to dissipate the entrained air and the treated water is drawn from the bottom of the vessel. Thereafter, a booster pump is used to discharge the treated water into the distribution system. While the booster pumps at PS89A, PS133, and PS150 were sufficient to serve the deaerated water to the distribution under the previously lower operating system pressure, those booster pumps are no longer sufficient to serve water under the higher operating system pressure. This project is the first of several to design and install new booster pumps at critical pump stations to continue to meet the needs of the public during periods of high water demand.
Consultant qualifications were requested of the DPU Shortlist for Well Site Improvement and Wellhead Treatment Design (Shortlist) consultants. The Shortlist was established by first soliciting Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from qualified engineering consulting firms then selecting the most qualified firms for placement on the Shortlist. On January 28, 2022, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website. Seven (7) SOQs were received by the deadline of February 25, 2022, from which four (4) firms were selected for placement on the Shortlist by a selection committee consisting of DPU representatives. Subsequently, an RFQ for this Project was advertised to the four selected firms on the Shortlist on March 29, 2022. Two SOQs were received by the deadline of April 15, 2022, which provided detailed information regarding each firm’s specific approach to this Project and their relevant experience. Upon review of the qualifications and analysis of the proposed fees, MKN was selected as the consultant providing the best value for this Project based on the totality of the evaluation.
A standardized agreement has been used, without modification, in accordance with Administrative Order 4-4, which the City Attorney has reviewed and approved to form. The 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 contract does not qualify as a “project” for the purpose of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented as all proposing firms are local businesses pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109(b).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Project is funded in the Water Division’s five-year Capital Improvement Program budget within the Water Enterprise Fund 40101.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Consultant Services Agreement
Attachment 2 - Vicinity Map