REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: NICHOLAS D. MASCIA, PE, Assistant City Manager
Interim-Director-Capital Projects Department
PAUL AMICO, PE, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: CasSIE L. SCHOLZ, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Utilities Project Management Division
JOSE VALENZUELA, Project Manager
Capital Projects Department, Utilities Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Award a Product Purchase Contract to UGSI Chemical Feed, Inc. of Vineland, New Jersey in the amount of $356,036.00, for two Dry Polymer Batching Systems (Bid File No. 12700057) (District 6)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council award a Product Purchase Contract to UGSI Chemical Feed, Inc., for two Dry Polymer Batching Systems for the Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility (NESWTF) in the total amount of $356,036.00, and authorize the Purchasing Manager to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The existing NESWTF polymer batching systems have reached the end of their useful service life and require replacement. The City of Fresno issued a formal bid for a Product Purchase Contract for two Dry Polymer Batching Systems. Following a competitive bidding process, UGSI Chemical Feed, Inc. was deemed to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the amount of $356,036.00.
BACKGROUND
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) operates and maintains three surface water treatment facilities and more than 260 municipal groundwater wells to meet the City’s water customers’ demands. The NESWTF has a treatment capacity of 30 million gallons per day, and is the primary source of drinking water for Northeast Fresno. Surface water enters the NESWTF from the Friant-Kern Canal Pipeline, and is mixed with dry polymer at the start of the treatment process. The polymer initiates the flocculation process in untreated water, causing fine particles to clump together when agitated and create larger, heavier particles. The heavier particles are then easily removed, and the water continues to the next phase of the treatment process.
The two polymer batching systems located in the chemical storage building at the NESWTF have been in operation since the commissioning of the treatment facility in 2004, require frequent repairs, and have reached the end of their useful service life. The City intends to procure two new Dry Polymer Batching Systems via this Product Purchase Contract, to be installed by DPU Water Division staff.
A Notice of Inviting Bids was advertised on Planet Bids on September 11, 2026. Planet Bids automatically notified 2,945 prospective bidders, of which four downloaded the project documents. Two sealed bid proposals were received and publicly opened on October 6, 2026 with bids ranging from $356,036.00 to $489,044.29. UGSI Chemical Feed, Inc., was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder with a bid in the amount of $356,036.00. The bid will expire within 90 days of bid opening on January 4, 2027.
Staff recommends that the City Council award a Product Purchase Contract in the amount of $356,036.00 to UGSI Chemical Feed, Inc., of Vineland, New Jersey as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Purchasing Manager to execute all documents on behalf of the City.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the Sample Product Purchase Contract as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The procurement and delivery of two Dry Polymer Batching Systems is not a project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was applied but did not change the outcome of the bid.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project is located within Council District 6. Funding for this project is included in the Fiscal Year 2027 Capital Improvement Budget within the Water Enterprise Fund. There is no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation & Fiscal Impact Statement
Sample Product Purchase Contract
Vicinity Map
Location Map