REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DENIX D. ANBIAH, PE, 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
KIMBERLY SANDOVAL, Engineer II
Capital Projects Department, Utilities Project Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Award a Construction Contract to Dawson-Mauldin LLC of Selma, California, in the amount of $1,653,460 for the construction of the Well Site Improvements at Pump Station 156 Project (Bid File 12601612) (Council District 2)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council award a Construction Contract in the amount of $1,653,460 to Dawson-Mauldin LLC, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for construction of the Well Site Improvements at Pump Station 156 Project, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A groundwater production well is required at Pump Station (PS) 156 to meet service demands due to local development. The well and pump have been constructed and site improvements are now required to complete PS 156 and commission it for service. The Capital Projects Department seeks to award the Well Site Improvements at PS 156 Project (Project) in the amount of $1,653,460 to Dawson-Mauldin LLC following a competitive bidding process that identified them as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Funding for the Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Budget within the Water Capacity Fee Fund.
BACKGROUND
The Department of Public Utilities operates and maintains more than 260 municipal water supply wells and 3 surface water treatment facilities to meet the City’s water customers’ demands. The production wells provide between 40 and 50 percent of the water supply when surface water supplies are available, and may need to provide up to 100 percent of the water demands in dry years when surface water allocations are limited. As the community and water system grows, new wells are required to keep pace with additional water system demands and provide reliable service. Completion of PS 156 is necessary to serve increased demands resulting from development in the surrounding area.
On April 30, 2014, after successful completion of groundwater monitoring investigations, the City purchased property for PS 156. On June 26, 2017, the City entered into a Construction Contract with Zim Industries Inc. to drill the new water production well on the property. On October 23, 2018, the City entered into a contract with Star Pump Company to install the pump assembly. The design for the Project was completed by City staff and includes site piping, equipment building, electrical power, instrumentation and controls, and perimeter fencing. The Project will complete the pump station and allow the City to bring the well into operation.
The Capital Projects Department solicited construction services for the Project through the formal bidding process. A Notice Inviting Bids was published on the City’s website on March 20, 2026. Project plans and specifications were distributed to seventeen (17) prospective bidders and two (2) Building Exchanges. Four (4) bid proposals were received and revealed in a public opening on April 21, 2026, with bids ranging from $1,222,806.08 to $2,711,951.13. Harris Development, Corp. of Clovis, California, was the lowest bidder in the amount of $1,222,806.08, but ultimately withdrew their bid proposal, thus establishing Dawson-Mauldin LLC as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder with a bid in the amount of $1,653,460. Bids are set to expire on June 24, 2026. If the bids are rejected or allowed to expire, the Project must undergo the rebidding process resulting in schedule delays.
Staff recommends that the City Council award a Construction Contract in the amount of $1,653,460 to Dawson-Mauldin LLC as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Project and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City. The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the contract documents as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
A Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) was adopted for the PS 156 Project and filed with the Fresno County Clerk’s Office on February 8, 2016. An analysis was performed pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15162 to determine whether subsequent environmental review is required for the Project. Based on the analysis the following findings were made to support the determination that no subsequent environmental review is required:
1. No substantial changes are proposed in the Project which will require major revisions of the previous MND due to involvement of new significant environmental effects, or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects. Specifically, this item will implement site piping, equipment building, electrical power, instrumentation and controls, and perimeter fencing; all of which was considered and analyzed in the MND.
2. No substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the Project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous MND due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects, or substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects.
3. There is no new information of substantial importance, which was not known or could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time of adoption of the previous MND that shows any of the following:
a. The Project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous MND;
b. Significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous MND;
c. Mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible, and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project;
d. Mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous MND would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment.
Based upon these findings, it has been determined that no further environmental documentation is required for this Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Dawson-Mauldin LLC of Selma, California is a local business located within 25 miles of City Hall, as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Project is located in Council District 2 and will not impact the General Fund. Funds for the Project are included in Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Budget within the Water Capacity Fee Fund.
Attachments:
Procurement Evaluation
Sample Contract