FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Kathy Millea, Director of Engineering
SUBJECT:
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OCEAN OUTFALL CONDITION ASSESSMENT AND SCOPING STUDY, PROJECT NO. PS18-09
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Approve a contingency increase of $1,097,600 (40%) to the Professional Services Agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc. for Ocean Outfall Condition Assessment and Scoping Study, Project No. PS18-09, for a total contingency of $2,195,200 (80%).
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BACKGROUND
The Ocean Outfall Condition Assessment and Scoping Study is completing a condition assessment of the 120-inch outfall that discharges effluent from the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) Plant No. 2, approximately five miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. The condition assessment included an internal inspection, an external inspection by divers, and development of a 3D model of the outfall using both internal and external mapping. The condition assessment work is complete.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Protect OC San assets
• 24/7/365 treatment plant reliability
PROBLEM
In May 2022, OC San began work to complete immediately required repairs that were discovered while completing the condition assessment on the 120-inch Ocean Outfall. These repairs included replacing the metal tie-rods connecting outfall pipe joints and sealing cracks in the concrete pipe and end gate. While performing the repair work, the dive team discovered that four of the twelve tie rods were stuck and could not be removed in order to be replaced. In addition, another tie rod became stuck during the replacement process and was not installed properly. The dive team was demobilized so the project team could determine a plan on how to replace the remaining stuck tie rods and these required repairs remain unfinished.
The work environment is extremely challenging. Divers are working at two-hundred-foot depths (which limits dive durations) from platforms on the open ocean subject to weather and swells.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Increase the contract contingency to remobilize the dive team and complete the remaining repair work. Staff believes the familiarity of the engineering consultant and divers with OC San’s unique outfall and its challenging environment will lead to the best outcome for this important asset.
TIMING CONCERNS
This work needs to be completed in this year’s dry weather season. The work that occurred last May was interrupted by storm swells, so the work needs to be scheduled for a month where weather is a low risk. Until the work is complete, the tie rods that provide extra protection from joint separation during a surge event are not installed properly.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
The dive team cannot be scheduled for this work until the work is authorized. The outfall joints are at an increased risk of separating during a flow surge until the tie rods are replaced.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
December 2021 - Approved a contingency increase of $823,200 (30%) to the Professional Services Agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc. for Ocean Outfall Condition Assessment and Scoping Study, Project No. PS18-09, for a total contingency of $1,097,600 (40%).
March 2020 - Approved Professional Services Agreement with Carollo Engineers, Inc. to provide engineering services for the Ocean Outfall Condition Assessment and Scoping Study, Project No. PS18-09, for an amount not to exceed $2,744,000; and approved a contingency of $274,400 (10%).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
N/A
CEQA
The project is exempt from CEQA under the Class 1 categorical exemptions set forth in California Code of Regulations Section 15301 and CEQA Guidelines section 15262. A Notice of Exemption has been filed with the OC Clerk-Recorder.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This request complies with the authority levels of OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance. This item has been budgeted (Adopted Budget, Fiscal Years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, Section 8, Page 51, Planning Studies Program, Project No. M-STUDIES) and the budget is sufficient for the recommended action.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
• Presentation