REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 24, 2017
FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director
Department of Public Utilities
THROUGH: MICHAEL CARBAJAL, Planning Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
BY: LITO G. BUCU, Supervising Engineering Technician
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant agreement in the amount of $123,950 with Aegis Groundwater Consulting, LLC., for quality control and inspection services for new municipal groundwater well construction. (County Island and Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant agreement in the amount of $123,950 with Aegis Groundwater Consulting, LLC., for specialty quality control and inspection services for new municipal groundwater well construction, and authorize the Director of Public Utilities or designee to execute the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Water Division seeks Council approval to award a consultant services agreement to Aegis Groundwater Consulting, LLC., for specialty quality control and inspection services for new municipal groundwater well construction at Pump Stations (PS) 051A, 060A, 156, 210A, and 241-2.
BACKGROUND
The Water Division maintains a network of more than 260 municipal water supply wells that provides approximately 88% of the City’s potable water. The construction of new wells for this network is required to meet increased demands, replace wells that have reached the end of their useful life, or to assist in remediating water quality issues. The proposed wells at PS 051A, 060A, 210A, and 241-2 are necessary to offset water production losses resulting from both recent and future destruction of multiple outdated wells in the area. PS 156 is located within a City of Fresno Urban Growth Management Area. The proposed well at this location will serve to supply increased demands following recent development in this area. A contract for drilling and development of the proposed new wells was previously awarded by the City Council. This consultant agreement will be to retain a certified hydrogeologist to observe the construction of the wells for quality assurance and quality control purposes. DPU does not have certified hydrogeologists on staff to provide this service.
In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1, and Administrative Order 6-19, DPU conducted a competitive process to select a consultant for quality control and inspection services for new municipal groundwater well construction at PS 051A, 060A, 210A, and 241-2. Announcements were published on May 24, 2017, in the Business Journal and posted to the City’s PlanetBids Online site. The request for qualifications (RFQ) required that consultants provide a statement of qualifications (SOQ) by June 21, 2017, and the Water Division received six timely SOQs. The SOQs were evaluated by a selection committee consisting of representatives from the DPU Utilities Planning & Engineering Section. Upon completion of the evaluation of qualifications submitted, and the scope and fee negotiation process, Aegis Groundwater Consulting, LLC, was selected as best meeting the City’s needs for the program.
The services required by this agreement will be completed in approximately 303 calendar days from the authorization to proceed. The contract is not to exceed $123,950, paid on a time and materials basis.
A standardized consultant service agreement has been used in accordance with Administrative Order 4-4, and the consultant’s Certificates of Insurance have been approved by the City’s Risk Management Division. Upon approval by the City Council, the 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 approval of the agreement does not qualify as a “project” for the purpose of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Three local firms submitted SOQ in response to the RFQ and all three were determined to have expertise in providing services in the hydrogeology field. Pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109, Local Preference in Contracts for Consultant Services and Other Contracts, Local Preference was implemented and a local firm was selected to provide the requested services.
FISCAL IMPACT
The projects, which are located citywide, will not impact the General Fund. Funds for Consultant services for the construction of PS 051A, 060A, 210A, and 241-2 are included in Water Division’s Fiscal Year 2018 Capital Improvement Program budget within the Water Enterprise Fund (40101). Funds for consultant services for the construction of PS 156 are included in the Water Division’s Fiscal Year 2018 Capital Improvement Program budget within the Urban Growth Management Water Supply Fund (40122). The construction of replacement water wells was included in the water rate model used to create the five-year utility rate plan and subsequently adopted by City Council on February 26, 2015. No additional funding is required for this project.
Attachments:
Consultant Agreement
Vicinity Map