DATE: October 11, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution Approving Addendums No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, Accepting the Bid Protest, and Awarding a Contract to Blocka Construction, Inc., for the Water Pollution Control Facility Switchgear Rehabilitation Project No. 07656, in an Amount Not-to Exceed $13,169,800, and Appropriating Additional Funds in the Amount of $2,669,635
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That Council adopts the attached resolution (Attachment II):
1. Approving Addendums No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, providing minor revisions to the project plans and specifications, accepting the bid protest of Mountain Cascade, Inc. (Mountain Cascade), and awarding a contract to Blocka Construction, Inc. (Blocka) for the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) Switchgear Rehabilitation Project No. 07656, in an amount not-to-exceed $13,169,800; and
2. Appropriating additional funds in the amount of $2,669,635 from the Sewer System Replacement Fund (Fund 611).
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SUMMARY
The WPCF treats an annual average flow of approximately eleven million gallons per day (MGD) and meets current requirements to discharge treated effluent to the deep waters of the San Francisco Bay. Originally installed in 1982, the existing main switchgear (MSB), is a key component of the power distribution system at the WPCF. The MSB along with several related 480-volt motor control centers (MCCs) and 480-volt distribution panelboards have provided power and controls to vital plant facilities for nearly forty years. These include the headworks screening and pumping facilities, grit and scum removal through the vacuators, the primary treatment process, the secondary treatment process (west trickling filter), the anerobic digesters, the fats, oils and grease (FOG) receiving station, the site waste pump station, site lighting, and various buildings including the Operations Control House and the Administration Building. Concern over continued reliability of the switchgear due to obsolescence and availability of parts, as well as the current condition and continued deterioration from corrosive atmospheres, prompted staff to request that the electrical system be evaluated as part of the WPCF Phase II Facilities Plan. The Phase II Facilities Plan, completed in June of 2020, serves as a comprehensive planning document for the WPCF infrastructure needs for the next twenty-five years. An evaluation of the Old Cogeneration Building housing the switchgear, as well as the switchgear itself was performed as part of the planning effort. The evaluation recommended replacing the existing MSB, several existing aged MCCs, and an existing 12-kV to 480-volt transformer that is severely corroded and at risk of failure, as well as retrofitting the existing old Cogeneration Building to house the new electrical equipment.
On August 30, 2022, three (3) bids were received, ranging from $9,936,440 to $11,452,000. Anvil Builders, Inc. (Anvil) submitted the low bid of $9,936,440, which was 18.6% below the Engineer’s estimate of $12,200,000. Mountain Cascade submitted the second low bid of $10,345,136. Blocka submitted the third lowest bid of $11,452,000.
On September 6, 2022, a bid protest was submitted by Mountain Cascade alleging that the low bidder did not demonstrate the required experience and qualifications for the electrical subcontractor required by the project specifications. Upon review of the bids, staff determined that bids submitted by Anvil and Mountain Cascade were both non-responsive because both contractors failed to demonstrate the required project experience. Therefore, staff recommends that the construction contract be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Blocka.
Staff is requesting Council’s approval of Addendums No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, which provided minor revisions to clarify the plans and specifications and awarding the construction contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Blocka, in the amount not-to-exceed $13,169,800, including Administrative Change Orders.
Furthermore, staff is requesting appropriation of additional funds in the amount of $2,669,635 from the Sewer System Replacement Fund (Fund 611).
This project is categorically exempt from environmental review under Section 15301(c) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing facilities.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I Staff Report
Attachment II Resolution