REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, PE, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SARAH AGUILA, Supervising Engineering Technician
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the cleaning of Digester #1 and cleaning and rehabilitation of Digester #12 at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Bid File 12302079) (Council District 3):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301(d)/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award a construction contract to F.D. Thomas, of Central Point, Oregon, in the amount of $1,200,010.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council of the City of Fresno (City) adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301(d)/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; award a construction contract to F.D. Thomas as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the amount of $1,200,010 for the cleaning of Digester #1 and cleaning and rehabilitation of Digester #12 at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Project); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Periodic cleaning and rehabilitation of the 13 mesophilic anaerobic digesters at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Facility) is required to keep the Facility functioning within regulatory requirements. This Project will allow for the cleaning, coating, and sealing of the interior surfaces of the digesters with an elastomeric polyurethane material. The Department of Public Utilities, Wastewater Management Division (WMD), is seeking to award the Project to F.D. Thomas in the amount of $1,200,010. The bid will expire on July 19, 2023.
BACKGROUND
The Facility treats approximately 68 million gallons per day of wastewater conveyed from the Fresno-Clovis area. The Facility operates 13 mesophilic anaerobic digesters to eliminate pathogens and volatile organic compounds from the biosolids generated throughout the treatment process. The digesters range in size from 860,000 to 1,870,000 gallons. Over the period of approximately 7 years, these digesters accumulate undesirable debris associated with the treatment process.
Following routine maintenance and inspections of Digesters #1 and #12, seepage stains and visible concrete surface cracks were discovered. This Project includes the routine cleaning and dewatering of both digesters, and removal and replacement of the existing interior coating in Digester #12, which has exceeded its life expectancy.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published on April 19, 2023, and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website. The plans and specifications, inclusive of the City’s adopted Community Workforce Agreement (PLA) requirements, were distributed to twenty-four prospective bidders and posted at nine Building Exchanges. Two sealed bid proposals were received and publicly opened on May 16, 2023. F.D. Thomas was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with the bid amount of $1,200,010. The bid will expire within 64 days of bid opening, on July 19, 2023.
The staff determination was posted on the City’s Planet Bids website on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Staff recommends that the City Council award a construction contract to F.D. Thomas, in the amount of $1,200,010, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Their bid price is 7.7% below the Engineer’s Estimate of $1,300,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed an environmental assessment of this Project and has determined it falls within the Categorical Exemption set forth in Section 15301(d)/Class 1 (Restoration or Rehabilitation). The Project entails the restoration of existing utility facilities involving no expansion of capacity. Furthermore, the staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to this Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented as none of the bidders were local.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding for this Project is included within the Wastewater Management Division’s Sewer Enterprise Fund. The Project is located in Council District 3.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Notice of Exemption
Attachment 2 - Bid Evaluation and Fiscal Impact Statement
Attachment 3 - Sample Contract
Attachment 4 - Vicinity Map