REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: ANTHONY WHITE, MBA, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
JOSEPH DE GEORGE, MS, MBA, PMP Project Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement with BSK Associates for an annual amount not to exceed $1,200,000 per year for two years with three single year optional extensions, plus annual Consumer Price Index adjustments, to provide testing services for potable and non-potable water analysis; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City (Bid File 12501235). (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant services agreement with BSK Associates, a California corporation (Consultant), for an annual amount not to exceed $1,200,000 per year for two years with three single year optional extensions, plus annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustments after the initial two year term, to provide testing services for potable and non-potable water analysis (Project) for the City of Fresno (City), and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the Agreement on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City seeks to award a consultant services agreement to support the water quality testing and analysis program required under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations and the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR). The Consultant will assist the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) in providing water quality analysis and reporting on the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of over 21,000 water samples annually from both potable and non-potable service delivery points to ensure the continued safety and compliance of the City's water treatment processes and to maintain compliance with state and federal regulations.
BACKGROUND
The City’s water system consists of a network of over 1,800 miles of pipelines that distribute drinking water to over 540,000 residents through approximately 143,800 service connections. The City’s drinking water supply is provided through a combination of surface water from the Sierra Nevada mountains and groundwater, and the DPU also produces and distributes recycled water for non-potable uses. Drinking water production infrastructure includes three surface water treatment facilities and over 250 groundwater wells, and the recycled water is produced at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
To meet state and federal regulations, the DPU submits over 21,000 water samples annually to certified laboratories for testing and analysis. These samples are collected from both potable and non-potable sources and analyzed for physical, chemical, and microbiological properties to ensure that the water is safe for public consumption or its intended use.
In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1 and Administrative Order 6-19, DPU conducted a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to select a consultant to provide the requisite professional services. The RFQ was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website on December 17, 2024. Three (3) Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) were received by the submission deadline of January 24, 2025. A selection committee, consisting of representatives from DPU’s Water Division and Utilities Planning & Engineering evaluated the SOQs and, upon review of the qualifications and the proposed fees, selected BSK Associates.
Staff recommend approving a consultant services agreement to BSK Associates for a total amount not to exceed $1,200,000 per year plus annual CPI adjustments after the initial two year term. Funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2025 operations budget within the Water Division’s Enterprise Fund 4000-4001.
The consultant service agreement was approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office. Upon approval by the City Council, the consultant service agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the approval of this action is not a “project” for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented as all of the submissions were from a local business pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109(b).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Project is a Citywide project and funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2025 operations budget within the Water Division’s Enterprise Fund 4000-4001.
Attachment:
Consultant Services Agreement