DATE: March 26, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Water Utilities Department
TITLE: AWARD OF CONTRACTS FOR THE LA SALINA WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SECONDARY DIGESTER INTERIOR RECOATING PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION
title
Staff recommends that the City Council award a public works agreement to MC Painting, in the amount of $374,425, for the La Salina Wastewater Treatment Plant Secondary Digester Interior Recoating Project; approve Amendment 2 with Butier Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $15,738, for additional construction management and inspection services for a total contract amount of $355,925; authorize the City Engineer to approve Change Orders up to 10 percent of the contract value; and authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the agreement and amendment upon receipt of all supporting documents.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The La Salina Wastewater Treatment Plant (LSWWTP) has been in operation since 1949 and throughout the years has had several expansions and improvements to keep up with increasing flows and necessary rehabilitations. In 2014, the City evaluated alternatives and determined that decommissioning LSWWTP would be in the best interest for the City. Decommissioning is expected to occur in approximately five years. Until the LSWWTP is decommissioned, the City must complete critical rehabilitations at the Plant to continue operating properly, to meet regulatory and permitting requirements, and to protect the health and safety of the community and operations staff.
On September 14, 2022, the City Council awarded a contract to GSE Construction Co. for cleaning the Primary and Secondary Digesters and completing digester piping improvements. A contract was also awarded at that time to Butier Engineering, Inc., for providing construction management and inspection services for the project. Following the digester cleanings, a condition assessment was performed for each digester. Deficiencies found within the Primary Digester were repaired through a change order to the construction contract with GSE Construction Co., authorized by the City Council on November 1, 2023. The Primary Digester repairs are complete and the digester has been placed back into operation.
The structural assessment of the secondary digester completed in September 2024 found widespread delamination of the existing protective coating on the interior of the tank with moderate deterioration of exposed concrete surfaces. To extend the service life of the secondary digester to the expected date of decommissioning, concrete surface defects will need to be repaired and the interior roof and upper 10-feet of the concrete walls will need to be recoated.
Staff prepared contract documents for the recoating and concrete repairs in-house and has worked closely with LSWWTP personnel to coordinate the work. The LSWWTP Secondary Digester Interior Recoating Project was advertised for bids on December 31, 2024.
On January 28, 2025, four bids were received and formally opened for the project. The apparent low bidder is MC Painting with a bid in the amount of $374,425. Staff has reviewed the bid documents submitted by MC Painting and confirmed that the bid, bid bond, and references comply with City standards.
In addition, staff is recommending the approval of Amendment 2 with Butier Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $15,738, for additional construction management and inspection services for the extended contract time needed during the Secondary Digester condition assessment and evaluation of repair options.
FISCAL IMPACT
The construction contract with MC Painting, in the amount of $374,425 and Amendment 2 with Butier Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $15,738, will be charged to the La Salina Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Account 909122700722 which has a current available balance of $1.79M; therefore, sufficient funds are available.
Table 1 shows a summary of the current available balance in the La Salina Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Account, as well as the estimated cost for construction, construction management and inspection services, plus contingency up to 10 percent of the contract cost that may be authorized by the City Engineer for change orders per City Council Policy 300-01.
Table 1
|
La Salina Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Project |
|
Current Available Balance |
$1,793,235 |
|
909122700722.5703.10600 |
|
Construction Contract (MC Painting) |
374,425 |
|
Construction Contingency (10%) |
37,443 |
|
909122700722.5305.10600 |
|
Construction Management & Inspection Contract Amendment 2 (Butier) |
15,738 |
|
Total Estimated Costs |
$ 427,606 |
|
Remaining Balance |
$1,365,629 |
Funding for this project comes from the Sewer Fixed Asset Replacement Fund 722, which is primarily funded by sewer service and flow fees.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
The Utilities Commission approved staff’s recommendation at its scheduled meeting on March 18, 2025.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form. The public works agreement must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder who submits a responsive bid. The Public Contract Code defines “responsible bidder” as a bidder who has demonstrated the attributes of trustworthiness as well as quality, fitness, capacity and experience to satisfactorily perform a public works contract.
end
Prepared by: Mabel Uyeda, Principal Water Engineer
Reviewed by: Michael Gossman, Assistant City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Bid Tabulation
3. PWA
4. Amendment 2