FROM: Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Riaz Moinuddin, Director of Operations & Maintenance
SUBJECT:
title
AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF LIQUID CATIONIC POLYMER, SPECIFICATION NO. SSJ#2808
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
A. Approve a Chemical Supplier Agreement for the Purchase of Liquid Cationic Polymer, Specification No. SSJ#2808 with Polydyne, Inc. for a period of one (1) year beginning February 1, 2025, through January 31, 2026; with up to four (4) one-year optional renewal periods; for a total unit price of $3.873 per active pound delivered plus applicable sales tax; and
B. Approve an annual unit price contingency increase of 3%.
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BACKGROUND
Cationic polymer is used as a thickening agent in several Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) processes. It is blended into primary sludge and secondary waste activated sludge (WAS) for the thickening centrifuges at Plant No. 1. It is used to thicken WAS and Waste Secondary Sludge for the Dissolved Air Flotation Thickeners at Plant No. 2. Cationic polymer is also used to dewater anaerobically digested sludge in dewatering centrifuges at Plant Nos. 1 and 2.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Use all practical and effective means for resource recovery
• Comply with regulatory requirements
PROBLEM
The current contract will end on January 31, 2025, with no renewals remaining.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Staff recommends the Board of Directors approve a Chemical Supplier Agreement with Polydyne, Inc. for the purchase of cationic polymer with an annual unit price contingency increase.
TIMING CONCERNS
The current contract expires on January 31, 2025.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
A shortage of cationic polymer would impact OC San's ability to effectively operate the thickening and dewatering processes at both plants. The lack of cationic polymer would reduce the digester operating volumes and increase offsite biosolids hauling volume and cost. Without cationic polymer, OC San will be at risk for violating the digester detention time regulatory requirement to make Class B Biosolids.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
N/A
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A Request for Information was issued on May 16, 2024, to identify available products and services compatible with OC San’s treatment facilities including information on other types and vendors of cationic polymer. Only the incumbent company, Polydyne, Inc. responded with information and chemical specifications that would be compatible with our treatment process. One other company responded with a “No Bid” response. Based on this information staff recommends issuing an agreement to Polydyne, Inc. for a period of five (5) years and re-checking the market for any changes prior to the expiration of this Agreement.
The total budgeted annual usage estimate is 1,515,000 active pounds of cationic polymer for a total budgeted amount of $6,639,000.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This request complies with authority levels of the OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance. This item has been budgeted (Budget FY 2024-25 and 2025-26, Section 6, Page 100 and 104, Plant Nos. 1 and 2 Operations) 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:
• Chemical Supplier Agreement