REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: PAUL AMICO, PE, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Administration
DEBBIE KHOUNSAVATH, Planner II
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the preparation and recertification of a Risk and Resilience Assessment and Emergency Response Plan for the City of Fresno’s water system infrastructure (Bid File 12500985):
1. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting 33rd Amendment of the Annual Appropriations Resolution 2024-122 to appropriate $597,000 in the Water Enterprise Fund for the America Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Recertification and Emergency Preparedness and Security Program Support Project. (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
2. Approve a Consultant Services Agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation, a Delaware corporation, for AWIA Recertification and Emergency Preparedness and Security Program Support, for a three-year term in the amount not to exceed $597,000.00, with two optional one-year term extensions.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council adopt the 33rd Amendment of the Annual Appropriations Resolution (AAR) 2024-122 to appropriate $597,000 in the Water Enterprise Fund for the AWIA Recertification and Emergency Preparedness and Security Program Support (Project); award a Consultant Services Agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation (Consultant), for an amount not to exceed $597,000 to provide professional services for an initial three-year term with the option to extend for two one-year terms; 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’s water service area covers nearly 114 square miles and serves more than 550,000 residential customers and 35,000 commercial and industrial customers. American Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) was signed into law by Congress on October 23, 2018 (S.3021, Law 115-270), and the regulation requires community water systems serving a population greater than 3,300 to prepare and certify a water system infrastructure risk and resilience assessment and an emergency response plan. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) desires to contract with the Consultant to provide professional services for AWIA recertifications and provide professional consulting services in the areas of emergency preparedness, continuity of operations, and physical and cyber security, with the goal of continuing to mature and enhance DPU’s capabilities in these areas, so future recertifications can be performed by in-house staff.
BACKGROUND
The City has a water service area that covers nearly 114 square miles and serves more than 550,000 residential customers and 35,000 commercial and industrial customers. AWIA was signed into law by Congress on October 23, 2018 (S.3021, Law 115-270), and the regulation requires community water systems serving a population greater than 3,300 to prepare and certify a water system infrastructure risk and resilience assessment and an emergency response plan. DPU desires to contract with the Consultant to provide professional services for AWIA recertifications and provide professional consulting services in the areas of emergency preparedness, continuity of operations, and physical and cyber security, with the goal of continuing to mature and enhance DPU’s capabilities in these areas, so future recertifications can be performed by in-house staff. DPU certified the drinking water system risk and resilience assessment (RRA) and submitted documentation to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the March 31, 2025 deadline, and DPU needs to update of the drinking water system emergency response plan (ERP) no later than September 30, 2025. The Consultant will review the RRA and recommend any enhancements for the next recertification in 2030 and will take the lead on updating the ERP and recertifying it by the September 30, 2025 deadline.
In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1 and Administrative Order 6-19, the Department of Public Utilities 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 October 21, 2024. Five (5) Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) were received by the extended submission deadline of December 6, 2024. A selection committee, consisting of representatives from the Department of Public Utilities and Office of the Mayor & City Manager/Emergency Preparedness Administration evaluated the SOQs, and upon review of the qualifications and the proposed fees, selected Black & Veatch Corporation. Staff recommends approving a consultant services agreement with the Consultant for a total amount not to exceed $597,000 to provide professional services for a three-year period, with two optional one-year term extensions. Approval of the amendment to the AAR will establish funds for the Project within the Water Division’s Enterprise Fund 400-4001.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed the proposed agreement and approved as to form. 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 agreement is not a “Project” for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented per Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109(b)(3), as staff believes there are fewer than three local firms providing the specific consulting service within the area of expertise for the subject matter of work.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund. Approval of the amendment to the AAR will establish funds for the Project within the Water Division’s Enterprise Fund 400-4001. The Project is a Citywide project.
Attachments:
33rd Amendment of the Annual Appropriations Resolution (AAR) 2024-122
Consultant Services Agreement