REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May 11, 2017
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: BRIAN S. SPINDOR, PE, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: KEVIN L. NORGAARD, PE, Supervising Professional Engineer
Department of Public Utilities - Utility Engineering Planning
SUBJECT
Title
Award a professional engineering services contract for $57,000 with a $2,000 contingency to Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt Consulting Engineers Incorporated of Long Beach, California for the design of a conditioned digester gas pipeline to the eastern property line at the Fresno/Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Council approve the agreement award to Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt Consulting Engineers Inc., (Stearns), a design contract necessary to divert conditioned digester gas from the digester gas conditioning system to the eastern property line of the Wastewater Reclamation Facility (RWRF).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno wastewater treatment system includes an anaerobic digestion process that produces digester gas. Analysis of projected population and industry growth in the City indicate an increase in gas production which will exceed the beneficial utilization capacity at the wastewater Facility. The design and installation of this pipeline will provide the Facility an additional beneficial disposal option for the gas in lieu of burning it in the waste gas flare.
BACKGROUND
The Facility has successfully operated an anaerobic digestion process for approximately sixty-years. The gas generated by the anaerobic digestion process is currently conditioned to near pipeline quality and made available for use in the Facility power generating turbines, hot water boiler, or both. There are instances when for operational convenience these two options are not available and the digester gas must be flared (wasted) to atmosphere. The wasting of digester gas wastes a valuable naturally renewable resource that contributes to local air quality issues and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Providing an additional point of use will reduce this “wasting”. Making the cleaned digester gas available to industries interested in relocating to the property on the east side of the treatment plant will provide redundant beneficial disposal options. These uses could include providing process heat, space conditioning, or to heat water. The Facility’s current air permit limits the amount of digester gas that can be burned in the flare. Any digester gas burned in the flare in excess of the permit must be compensated with the purchase of emission offsets.
The work under this contract has been specifically divided into two pieces with a go/no go decision point. The consultant will generate a schematic design study that will evaluate options for the routing and cost estimates. After routing selection the design will be completed and then the consultant will provide support during pipeline construction.
Following Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1 and Administrative Order 6-19, the Department of Public Utilities notified in excess of one hundred consulting firms requesting a statement of qualification and project proposals. The Department received eight qualifications. Five separate consultants were interviewed on February 29, 2016. After reviewing the qualifications and information presented in the interview process it was decided Stearns was the most qualified to provide the services required for the conditioned digester gas pipeline design. A consultant services agreement has been negotiated in the amount of $57,000 and $2,000 contingency.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines (CEQA) Section 15378 the award of these contracts does not qualify as a “project” for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because staff believes the number of local consultant businesses is less than three.
FISCAL IMPACT
This consultant services contract has no impact to the General Fund and is located in Council District 3. This project has been identified in the Wastewater Management Division capital improvement plan. The funds for the design have been budgeted and are available in the Sewer Enterprise Fund 40501 project number TC00160.
Attachments:
Consultant Agreement
Vicinity Map