REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: ANITA LUERA, Supervising Engineering Technician
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement with Kleinfelder, Inc., to provide hydrogeological services for the drilling and construction of a new municipal production well at Pump Station 372 in an amount not to exceed $58,415 (Council District 3).
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant services agreement with Kleinfelder, Inc, (Kleinfelder) in the amount of $48,415 plus a contingency of $10,000, for a total amount not to exceed $58,415, to provide hydrogeological services for the drilling and construction of a new municipal production well at Pump Station 372 (PS 372); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A construction contract for the drilling of a new municipal production well at PS 372 will be presented before City Council on May 26, 2022. Construction of the new well will require consultant services to provide hydrogeological support and construction oversight. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Water Division, conducted a competitive process in soliciting the required consultant services and selected Kleinfelder to provide support and oversight for drilling and construction of the new well. The new municipal production well at PS 372 will ensure appropriate levels of service are maintained for new development in the area. Approval of the proposed services is necessary to avoid the loss of funds allocated to the project this fiscal year and delays in the construction of the new well.
BACKGROUND
The DPU, Water Division, maintains a water supply network consisting of more than 260 municipal groundwater production wells. The construction of new wells for this network is required to meet increased demands, replace wells that have reached the end of their service life, or to assist in remediating water quality issues. The proposed well at PS 372, located at 3709 South Northpointe Drive, will serve to supply increased demands resulting from recent development in the area.
The property for PS 372 was previously acquired as a condition of approval for the adjacent development. A monitoring well was recently constructed at the project site and water quality was approved. Further action in completing the pump station includes the drilling and construction of a new groundwater production well. Subsequently, the construction of well site improvements will follow, and future construction of wellhead treatment facilities should it become necessary. The construction contract for drilling the new production well will be presented before Council on May 26, 2022. Construction of the new well will require consultant services to provide hydrogeological support and construction oversight. Approval of the proposed services will allow the construction contract to proceed without delay.
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 hydrogeological support services on an as-needed basis. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for consulting services was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website on October 13, 2021. Email notifications containing details of the RFQ were sent to 36 potential candidates. The DPU received a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) from eight interested consultants. A selection committee comprised of representatives from the DPU’s Utilities Planning & Engineering Division evaluated the SOQs and, on December 1, 2021, selected four consultants to be placed on a shortlist. The shortlist will allow the DPU to obtain hydrogeological support services as needed and will remain in effect for a period of three years. Upon completing a fee negotiation process with the consultants on the shortlist, Kleinfelder was selected to provide support and oversight for construction of the new municipal groundwater production well at PS 372. Funding for these services is included in the Water Division’s Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Improvement Program budget within Water Enterprise Fund 40101. With the close of the Fiscal Year approaching, it is desired to move forward with approval of the proposed consultant services to avoid loss of current fiscal year allocated funds.
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 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this consultant services agreement 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 Water Division’s Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Improvement Program budget within Water Enterprise Fund 40101. Future construction obligations to complete PS 372 include well site improvements which are requested in Fiscal Year 2023. PS 372 is located in Council District 3.
Attachment:
Attachment 1 - Consultant Services Agreement