REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: DEJAN PAVIC, PE, Projects Administrator
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc., to provide project management and engineering design services for the Sidestream Treatment System at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility for an amount not to exceed $4,505,160 (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant services agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc., in the amount of $4,095,600 plus a contingency of $409,560, for a total amount not to exceed $4,505,160, to provide project management and engineering design services for the Sidestream Treatment System at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (RWRF); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City has a land-based disposal permit operating under the Waste Discharge Permit (WDR) at the RWRF. In 2018, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board amended the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Joaquin River Basin to incorporate a Salt and Nutrient Management Plan, laying out the groundwork for monitoring salts and nitrate throughout the Central Valley. RWRF facility upgrades are needed to meet these anticipated nitrate targets. The City Department of Public Utilities (DPU) requires consultant services to provide project management and engineering design services for Sidestream Treatment System at the RWRF to conduct a pilot project for the ANITATM Mox system, carry out final design of the treatment system, provide engineering support services during bidding and construction, provide periodic updates to, and answer questions by, regulatory agencies, and provide Project Management services (Project). The consultant will also be required to complete an environmental assessment and acquire all related permits.
BACKGROUND
The RWRF is a secondary treatment plant with an annual rated capacity of 91.5 million gallons per day (mgd) and a maximum month rated capacity of 101 mgd. The City has a land-based disposal permit operating under WDR R5-2018-0080. In 2018, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board amended the Water Quality Control Plan for the San Joaquin River Basin to incorporate a Salt and Nutrient Management Plan (SNMP). The SNMP lays the groundwork for monitoring salts and nitrate throughout the Central Valley. As a result, the City is anticipating a new WDR that will limit effluent nitrate concentrations to 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l) of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), with an action plan requirement of maximum effluent nitrate concentrations of 7.5 mg/l of NO3-N. RWRF facility upgrades are needed to meet these anticipated nitrate targets. The DPU has recently completed a feasibility study to evaluate nitrate contributions in the effluent discharges of the RWRF. To develop an approach for meeting anticipated nitrate goals, a Nitrate Assessment and Treatment Evaluation Study (NATES) was completed in August 2020. The NATES evaluated nitrate removal treatment alternatives and developed a Basis of Design Report (BODR). Three proprietary de-ammonification technologies were evaluated for use. The BODR recommends that the proprietary ANITATM Mox sidestream treatment system manufactured by Kruger (a subsidiary of Viola Water Technologies) be incorporated into the RWRF. The ANITATM Mox process for de-ammonification of the centrate is a single-stage nitrogen removal process based on a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) platform. The process is specifically designed for treatment of waste streams with high ammonia concentrations and can achieve ammonia removals up to 80-90 percent. While the BODR specified additional RWRF design recommendations, the City’s initial phase of work will include design of the Sidestream Treatment System only for removal of nitrates from the dewatering operations waste centrate. The remaining work identified in the BODR will be included in future work activities.
The DPU now requires consultant services to provide project management and engineering design services for Sidestream Treatment System Project. The City requested Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from qualified engineering firms (Consultants) to conduct a pilot project for the ANITATM Mox system, carry out final design of the treatment system, provide engineering support services during bidding and construction, provide periodic updates to, and answer questions by, regulatory agencies, and provide Project Management services for the Project. Construction Management will be provided by the City.
Additionally, there is a large Struvite problem at the RWRF. Struvite is a phosphate based mineral crystal that in combination with ammonia and magnesium forms large persistent crystals in plant piping and associated equipment. The City is requesting the Consultant conduct an investigation of the Struvite problem at the RWRF and provide a report that identifies effective treatment methodologies to eliminate and abatement the occurrence of Struvite.
The Consultant shall also conduct an environmental assessment and prepare applicable documentation, inclusive of all related activities for environmental clearance of the Sidestream Treatment System Project. The City anticipates preparation of an initial study (IS) with a resulting negative declaration (ND)/mitigated negative declaration (MND) in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) [Public Resources Code 21000 et seq.] and the CEQA Guidelines [California Code of Regulations, Section 15000 et seq.].
In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1, and Administrative Order 6-19, the DPU conducted a competitive process in soliciting qualified Consultants to provide professional services for the Sidestream Treatment System Project. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for consulting services was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website on March 25, 2022. The DPU received an SOQ from one interested consultant. A selection committee comprised of representatives from the DPU’s Utilities Planning & Engineering Division and Wastewater Division evaluated the submitted SOQ and on April 29, 2022, determined that the consultant meets the SOQ/RFQ criteria prepared by DPU. Upon completing a fee negotiation process with the consultant submitting the one SOQ, Carollo Engineers, Inc., was selected to provide the professional services for the Sidestream Treatment System Project.
A standard Consultant Services Agreement has been used, without modification, in accordance with Administrative Order 4-4. The Consultant’s Certificates of Insurance have been approved by the City’s Risk Management Division. Upon approval by City Council, the consultant services agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this contract is not a “project” as defined by 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. Funding for these services is included in the Wastewater Division’s Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Improvement Program budget within the Wastewater Enterprise Fund 40501.
Attachment:
Attachment 1 - Consultant Services Agreement