REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: KEVIN NORGAARD, PE, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
PETER MARACCINI, PE, PHD, Licensed Engineer Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Replacement of Variable Frequency Drives at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Bid File 12400495) (Council District 3):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Class 2, Section 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Approve the award of a purchase contract to Allied Electric of Fresno, California, for the purchase of two (2) Allen-Bradley PF755TL 800 HP ND Type 1 Variable Frequency Drives in the amount of $383,311.25.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Class 2, Section 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for the Replacement of Variable Frequency Drives (Project); award a purchase contract to Allied Electric of Fresno, California, for the purchase of two (2) Allen-Bradley PF755TL 800 HP ND Type 1 Variable Frequency Drives for the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (RWRF), in the amount of $383,311.25; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The existing Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s) at the RWRF are no longer reliable. In the last five years, the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Wastewater Management Division (WMD) has been experiencing VFD output section failures at the rate of two per year and costs to send the existing VFD’s out for repair have increased. In addition, the existing VFD pumps become less efficient as time progresses. After a competitive bidding process, the Department of Public Utilities is seeking to award a purchase contract to Allied Electric, in the amount of $383,311.25. The bid expires on February 10, 2024.
BACKGROUND
The VFD’s are used at the RWRF to supply power and vary the speed of the raw sewage pump motors to accommodate the varying wastewater flows into the facility. The current, 700 Series, VFD’s were retrofitted to an 18-pulse style in 2013 and have been reliable until the last 5 years, they have been experiencing failures at the rate of two per year. It costs approximately $47,500 every time a section is sent out for repair. In addition, support for the 700 Series VFD’s is scheduled to end in 2025. The new style VFD is a 6-pulse technology with low harmonic output that should prove to be much more robust, reliable, and will be supported for years to come.
The Notice Inviting Bids was advertised and published in the Fresno Business Journal, Planet Bids, and posted on the City’s website on October 13, 2023. Three (3) building exchanges received the Notice Inviting Bids. Project specifications were distributed to 29 prospective bidders. Three (3) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on November 7, 2023, with bids ranging from $383,311.25 to $545,781.00, with Allied Electric determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The expiration date of the bids is February 10, 2024. If the bids are rejected or expire the project must be rebid which will result in a delay of approximately 120 days.
Staff recommends that the City Council award a purchase contract to Allied Electric, of Fresno, California in the amount of $383,311.25, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign and execute the standard purchase contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by City Council in September 2021, does not apply to this contract because this is for a purchase contract.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved this item as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff have performed an environmental assessment for the Project and have determined it is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction), which exempts the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. The purchase and installation of new VFDs at the RWRF will not expand the use of the existing facility, nor will it relocate any existing facilities or structures. The Project is merely the purchase and installation of two new Allen-Bradley VFDs to replace the existing VFD that are no longer reliable at the RWRF. The VFDs are used to power the raw sewage pump motors and vary the speed to accommodate the varying wastewater flows in the facility. The new VFDs will be installed in the same location and will have the same purpose and capacity as those being replaced. As such, replacement work for the variable frequency drives is exempt under Section 15302/Class 2. Furthermore, 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 because Allied Electric, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, is a local business as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project has no impact on the General Fund and is located in Council District 3. Funding is included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Improvement Budget within the Wastewater Management Division’s Sewer Enterprise Fund 40501.
Attachments: Environmental Assessment
Bid Evaluation and Fiscal Impact Statement
Sample Product Purchase Contract
Vicinity Map