FROM: Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Kathy Millea, Director of Engineering
SUBJECT:
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HEADWORKS PHASE 3 CABLE REPLACEMENT AT PLANT NO. 2, PROJECT NO. FR2-0026
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Find that Headworks Phase 3 Cable Replacement at Plant No. 2, Project No. FR2-0026, is exempt from CEQA under the Class 1 categorical exemptions set forth in California Code of Regulations Section 15301 and authorize staff to file a Notice of Exemption with the OC Clerk-Recorder;
B. Receive and file Bid Tabulation and Recommendation for Headworks Phase 3 Cable Replacement at Plant No. 2, Project No. FR2-0026;
C. Award a Construction Contract to ACS Engineering Inc. for Headworks Phase 3 Cable Replacement at Plant No. 2, Project No. FR2-0026; for a total amount not to exceed $575,360; and
D. Approve a contingency of $115,072 (20%).
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BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) headworks provides vital preliminary treatment to all incoming wastewater by removing trash and debris that would otherwise damage downstream treatment equipment. The Plant No. 2 Headworks was constructed in 2012 under Project No. P2-66, Headworks at Plant No. 2.
Electrical cables provide the energy to pumps, fans, augers, meters, and other equipment to make this process function correctly. These cables are routed through underground ducts that are sometimes subject to wet conditions. Any deterioration of the cable insulation can result in short circuit or ground fault conditions, which puts the associated equipment out of service.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Comply with California Public Contract Code Section 20103.8, award construction contract to lowest responsive, responsible bidder
• 24/7/365 treatment plant reliability
PROBLEM
Over the past few years, OC San began to discover faulty 480-volt cables in the headworks area and created projects to replace the faulty cables. FR2-0026 is the third project, succeeding projects MP-509 and FR2-0024, to replace faulty cables. Unfortunately, cables continue to fail, taking their associated equipment out of service. Since Project No. FR2-0024 was completed in December 2021, OC San identified 11 more faulty circuits with damaged power and control cables in the headworks area. Critical equipment, such as Grit Basin No. 4, Headworks Biotower No. 4, 5, and 7 are currently out of service due to this problem.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Award a construction contract for Headworks Phase 3 Cable Replacement at Plant No. 2, Project No. FR2-0026. This project will furnish and replace damaged power and control cables for 11 faulty circuits to restore full functionalities of impacted equipment.
Even though Project No. FR2-0026 captured every known faulty cable in the headworks area, additional cables may fail while this project is still in construction. Because this has happened in the past to projects MP-509 and FR2-0024 and because it is more cost effective to replace them under this contract rather than initiate a new contract, staff is requesting a contingency of 20% to accommodate additional work that may arise if additional cables are found to be defective.
TIMING CONCERNS
Eleven pieces of critical headworks equipment cannot be fully utilized until the damaged cables are replaced. The reliability of the headworks will continue to be compromised.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
The failed equipment would remain out of service which would greatly reduce treatment reliability.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
N/A
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OC San advertised Project No. FR2-0026 for bids on October 26th, 2022 and seven sealed bids were received on December 14th, 2022. A summary of the bid opening follows:
|
Engineer’s Estimate |
$ 629,000 |
|
Bidder |
Amount of Bid |
|
ACS Engineering Inc. |
$ 575,360 |
|
Big Sky Electric, Inc. |
$ 622,900 |
|
Mass. Electric Construction Co. |
$ 642,454 |
|
Inter-Pacific, Inc. |
$ 777,000 |
|
Shimmick Construction Company, Inc. |
$ 809,000 |
|
KDC, Inc. |
$ 1,022,200 |
|
LEED Electric, Inc. |
$ 1,089,662 |
The bids were evaluated in accordance with the OC San’s policies and procedures. A notice was sent to all bidders on January 18th, 2023 informing them of the intent of OC San staff to recommend award of the Construction Contract to ACS Engineering Inc.
Staff recommends awarding a Construction Contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, ACS Engineering Inc., for a total amount not to exceed $575,360.
CEQA
The project is exempt from CEQA under the Class 1 categorical exemptions set forth in California Code of Regulations section 15301. A Notice of Exemption will be filed with the OC Clerk-Recorder after the OC San's Board of Directors approval of the Construction Contract.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This request complies with the authority levels of OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance. This recommendation would be funded under the Repairs and Maintenance line item for Division 880, Plant No. 2 Maintenance (Adopted Budget, Fiscal Years FY 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, Section 6, Page 96), and the available funding is sufficient for this action.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
• Construction Contract
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