REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Interim Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, PE, Public Utilities Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SARAH AGUILA, Supervising Engineering Technician
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the replacement of pump and motor controllers in the Dewatering and Headworks Buildings at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Bid File 9602) (District 3):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award a construction contract to Telstar Instruments, in the amount of $579,142.00.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines for the Remote Input/Output Upgrade of Dewatering Programmable Logic Controller #4 and Headworks Programmable Logic Controller #6 (Project); award a construction contract for the Project to Telstar Instruments, in the amount of $579,142.00; and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign and execute all documents on the behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is seeking to award a construction contract for the Project to Telstar Instruments, in the amount of $579,142. Award of the contract will ensure continuous operation of the vital wastewater treatment equipment at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (Facility). Approval of the contract is necessary at this time as the extension of bids expires on March 23, 2022.
BACKGROUND
The programmable logic controllers (PLC) in the Dewatering and Headworks buildings are vital to the wastewater treatment processes at the Facility. They serve to keep programming and machinery continuously operational amongst which are the sludge centrifuges and belt filter presses in the Dewatering building and raw sewage pumps, bar screens, and augers in the Headworks buildings. The PLC’s and software program are outdated and must be upgraded to ensure continuous operation at optimal capacity. The Project consists of replacement of the PLC’s and upgrade of the existing software program.
Upon preparation and approval of specifications, a Notice Inviting Bids was published on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website. Additionally, six Building Exchanges were provided Notice Inviting Bids and specifications for informing prospective bidders. Two (2) sealed bid proposals were received and publicly opened on December 21, 2021.
The bid proposals received in the amounts of $504,761.39 and $579,142.00, were submitted by Spark Power and Telstar Instruments, respectively. The apparent low bidder, Spark Power, was declared non-responsive upon failing to submit a complete bid proposal. Thereafter, Telstar Instruments was established as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder with a bid 1.5% below the engineer’s estimate. The time lapse in establishing Telstar Instruments as the lowest and responsible bidder resulted in the need to request an extension of bid which expires on March 23, 2022.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff have performed a preliminary environmental assessment for this Project and, in accordance with the requirements of the CEQA Guidelines, have determined it is consistent with Section 15301/Class 1 Categorical Exemption (Existing Facilities). The Project entails upgrades to electronic components and software with no expansion of existing use. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because the apparent lowest responsive and responsible bidder was declared non-responsive.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. The Project is located in Council District 3. Funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2022 capital improvement budget within the Wastewater Management Division’s Sewer Enterprise Fund 40501.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Bid Evaluation and Fiscal Impact Statement
Attachment 2 - Vicinity Map