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
CHARLES MASTERS, EIT, Engineer II
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility remote racking systems (Council District 3):
1. ***Resolution - Adopt a Resolution authorizing the purchase and installation of remote racking upgrades for circuit breakers at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility from Wesco International, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $900,637, without advertised competitive bidding.(Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
2. Award a sole source purchase agreement to Wesco International, Inc., in the amount of $900,637, to provide necessary safety upgrades to 59 medium voltage circuit breakers at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends City Council adopt a resolution suspending competitive bidding under the sole source exception; award a purchase agreement to Wesco International, Inc. (Wesco), in the amount of $900,637 to provide and install necessary safety upgrades to 59 medium voltage circuit breakers at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (RWRF); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the contract on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The RWRF requires remote racking technology upgrades to 59 medium voltage circuit breakers to eliminate the risk of electrocution to maintenance workers. The upgrades will allow electricians to engage and disengage circuit breakers from a safe distance prior to maintenance. The manufacturer of the existing circuit breakers is Eaton Corporation, who is also the sole provider of the necessary upgrade components. Wesco is the exclusive distributor of Eaton Corporation products in this region. Staff recommends that City Council award a sole source purchase agreement with Wesco in the amount of $900,637 to furnish and install the upgrades.
BACKGROUND
The RWRF is a secondary wastewater treatment facility that processes an average of 60 million gallons per day (MGD). Throughout the facility, most electrical equipment operates on a medium voltage (V) ranging from 600V to 12,470V. Currently, when RWRF staff need to perform maintenance on the circuit breakers, they must physically disengage and engage electricity through the breaker, a process referred to as unracking and racking. When performing these tasks they are exposed to the risk of lethal electrocution via arc flash, a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground. The results of an arc flash are often violent and when a human is in close proximity, serious injury and even death can occur. The development of unique and specialized remote racking technology eliminates this risk by allowing equipment to be racked and unracked remotely thereby eliminating safety risks. This technology is available as an upgrade to the existing compatible circuit breakers.
Eaton Corporation is the sole provider of remote racking upgrades that are compatible with the medium voltage circuit breakers used at the RWRF. The RWRF staff contacted Eaton Corporation to obtain a quote for remote racking upgrades to 59 existing medium voltage circuit breakers. A price quote of $900,637 was provided to the City on March 24, 2023, with the purchase to be conducted through Wesco as the exclusive provider of Eaton Corporation products in this region. This quote will expire July 31, 2023 and at that time labor and material costs will increase.
The City’s Information Services Department has reviewed the proposal to ensure that there are no cybersecurity concerns with respect to this project and have given approval.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The procurement and installation of remote racking systems is not a project as defined by Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this is a sole source purchase.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funds for this project are included in the Wastewater Division’s 5-year Capital Improvement budget within the Wastewater Enterprise Fund 40501. This project is located within Council District 3.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Attachment 2 - Wesco Purchase Agreement