REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 25, 2016
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: ROSA LAU-STAGGS, Wastewater Manager-Environmental Services
Department of Public Utilities - Wastewater Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a product purchase contract with Agilent Technologies, Inc., for an inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry for Wastewater Management Division Laboratory Services in the amount of $111,486.88 for the testing of low level heavy metals on environmental samples such as water, wastewater, groundwater, soils, sludge, and biosolids. (Bid File No. 3473).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Approve a product purchase contract with Agilent Technologies, Inc., for an inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (“Device”) for Wastewater Management Division Laboratory Services in the amount of $111,486.88 for the testing of low level heavy metals on environmental samples and authorize the Director of Public Utilities or designee to execute the purchase on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Wastewater Management Division Laboratory Services is a State accredited laboratory for the testing of environmental samples such as water, wastewater, groundwater, soils, sludge, and biosolids. The Laboratory uses the Device to test for heavy metals present in environmental samples at a sensitivity of parts per trillion as required by the State Implementation Plan, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and other regulatory agencies. The Device will replace an existing PerkinElmer instrument currently in use that is no longer achieving the required sensitivity, and is no longer supported by the manufacturer.
BACKGROUND
The Wastewater Management Division Laboratory Services is a State accredited laboratory that performs testing of environmental samples to meet monitoring and reporting requirements of the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility, the North Fresno Wastewater Treatment Facility, and the National Pretreatment Program. Monitoring and Reporting Programs, as prescribed by regulatory agencies, require that testing be done by a laboratory accredited by State or Federal oversight. The Laboratory utilizes multiple instruments to analyze organic or inorganic constituents to meet reporting requirements and for operational process control.
The Wastewater Management Division Laboratory receives over 11,000 environmental samples to be tested for multiple constituents for process control, regulatory reporting requirements, and enforcement activities under the National Pretreatment Program. The Laboratory tests for heavy metals as part of these requirements and activities averaging 1,800 samples and 28,000 individual metals per year using this instrument alone.
The Wastewater Management Division is requesting replacement of the existing Device which was purchased in 2007. The current instrument has had the mass-flow controller for the nebulizer gas replaced, and it is currently unable to adjust the argon gas flow to the nebulizer which is critical for reliable results.
On June 8, 2016, Purchasing Division released Bid File Number 3473 with specifications for the product purchase contract of the Device with bids opening June 16, 2016. Ten (10) vendors received FAX Notice Inviting Bids and nine (9) technical specifications were distributed to prospective bidders. The City received three (3) bidders that will expire August 19, 2016. The bidders were:
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
Thermo Electron North America, LLC.
Submittals from the three bidders were evaluated. Agilent Technologies, Inc., was selected as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Agilent Technologies, Inc.’s Device is the instrument of choice to determine low levels of heavy metals in environmental samples, specifically to the parts per billion or parts per trillion levels. Environmental regulations, specifically those related to water and wastewater require analytical instruments and procedures able to detect heavy metals at very low levels which can be done with this instrument.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This purchase does not meet the definition of a project under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because no local businesses submitted a bid
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $111,488.88 are available in the FY 2017 Wastewater Enterprise Fund and will be allocated to purchase this instrument.
Attachments:
Bid Specifications for ICP-MS. Technical Specifications
Evaluation of Bid Proposals and Fiscal Impact Statement