HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.a. Authorize sole-source contract with Solar Turbines re cogen unitCentral Contra Costa Sanitary District
BOARD OF DIRECTORS . Q.
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: September 5, 2013
subject: ADOPT A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND AUTHORIZING THE
GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SOLE - SOURCE CONTRACT WITH SOLAR
TURBINES, INC. FOR THE COGEN CONTROLS UPGRADE PROJECT, DISTRICT
PROJECT NO. 7308, AND APPROVE A SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORIZATION OF
$800,000 TO THE TREATMENT PLANT PROGRAM OF THE 2013 -14 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT BUDGET
Submitted By.
Craig Mizutani, Senior Engineer
Edgar Lopez, Senior Engineer
Initiating Dept. /Div.:
Plant Operations / Operations
Engineering /Capital Projects
REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED FOR BOARD ACTION:
A Antkowiak, Capital Projects Division Manager
D. Robbins, Provisional Plant Maintenance Division Mgr
C. Swanson, Director of Operations
K. Alm
Counsel for the District
R. Bailey
General Manager
ISSUE: Board approval is requested to enter into a sole- source contract with Solar
Turbines, Inc., the original equipment manufacturer for the District's cogeneration gas
turbine system. Board authorization is required for the addition of funds to the Fiscal Year
(FY) 2013 -14 Capital Improvement Budget (CIB).
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the General Manager to execute a sole- source contract
with Solar Turbines, Inc. for the installation of fuel and control system upgrades to the
District's cogeneration system for an amount not to exceed $650,000; and approve a
supplemental authorization of $800,000 to the Treatment Plant Program of the FY 2013 -14
CIB to cover this and other project elements.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS: The total anticipated cost for the work under this contract is
approximately $650,000. This project is included in the FY 2013 -14 CIB. The total project
cost is estimated to be $1,300,000. However, this estimate exceeds the FY 2013 -14 project
budget by $800,000. A supplemental authorization to the Treatment Plant Program is
necessary to be able to complete the project in this fiscal year.
ALTERNATIVES /CONSIDERATIONS: Sole- source requests bypass the competitive
bidding process. The supply and installation of the upgrade does not lend itself to
competitive bidding as the design of the equipment is proprietary and only the manufacturer
has the unique product knowledge to safely and economically upgrade the system. The
District recently experienced a catastrophic failure of the cogeneration system when
maintenance was performed by an aftermarket service provider.
BACKGROUND: The cogeneration system produces electricity and steam for the
Treatment Plant and provides significant savings over purchasing power from a utility
(PG &E).
Page 1 of 4
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: September 5, 2013
subject. ADOPT A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND AUTHORIZING THE
GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SOLE - SOURCE CONTRACT WITH SOLAR
TURBINES, INC. FOR THE COGEN CONTROLS UPGRADE PROJECT, DISTRICT
PROJECT NO. 7308, AND APPROVE A SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORIZATION OF
$800,000 TO THE TREATMENT PLANT PROGRAM OF THE 2013 -14 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT BUDGET
Failure /Recommissioning of Cogeneration Unit: On March 29, 2012, the cogeneration
unit suffered a catastrophic failure caused by an explosion in the exhaust system. The unit
was recommissioned by Solar Turbines, the original equipment supplier, and was restored
to service on October 3, 2012. The six -month outage resulted in an increase in utility
expenses of approximately $960,000, for which the District has been fully reimbursed.
The recommissioning of the unit was hampered by the age of the fuel valves and control
system. In addition, the fuel valves and control system were suspected as contributing
factors to the explosion. Replacement fuel valves had to be manufactured as they are no
longer a stocked item by either Solar Turbines or the valve manufacturer. The control
system is based on a controller manufactured by Modicon. While Modicon controls are
common to District equipment, they are no longer supported by Solar Turbines. The
cogeneration system was first placed into service in the early 1990s. From initial startup to
2011, the system was maintained under a long -term maintenance agreement with Solar
Turbines. The agreement was all- inclusive, covered any repair, and guaranteed availability
of the cogeneration system. In 2011, the District changed service providers to the Wood
Group, which serviced the system until the explosion. Following the explosion, the District
cancelled the service agreement with the Wood Group.
Existing Short -Term Maintenance Agreement: Since being placed back into service, the
cogeneration unit has been maintained under a short-term maintenance agreement with
Solar Turbines. The short-term agreement is for routine maintenance only and does not
cover unscheduled repairs. It provides only for labor and does not cover any parts or
provide any guarantees for availability. The District is, at significant financial and operational
risk without a long -term service agreement.
Upgrades Needed Prior to Long -Term Maintenance Agreement - $650,000: At the
October 4, 2012 Board Meeting, staff stated they would pursue a long -term service
agreement with Solar Turbines. However, Solar Turbines will not enter into a long -term
service agreement unless the fuel and control systems are upgraded. The obsolescence of
the equipment makes it impossible for them to provide a reasonable response time for
equipment repair /replacement and the Modicon based controls are no longer supported by
Solar Turbines.
Page 2 of 4
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: September 5, 2013
Subject. ADOPT A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND AUTHORIZING THE
GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SOLE - SOURCE CONTRACT WITH SOLAR
TURBINES, INC. FOR THE COGEN CONTROLS UPGRADE PROJECT, DISTRICT
PROJECT NO. 7308, AND APPROVE A SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORIZATION OF
$800,000 TO THE TREATMENT PLANT PROGRAM OF THE 2013 -14 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT BUDGET
Due to the complex nature of the cogeneration turbine, staff recommends performing the
fuel and control system upgrades using Solar Turbines on a sole- source basis. Solar
Turbines has the proprietary engineering skill, product information, knowledge and parts to
safely perform the upgrade. The estimated Solar Turbines contract cost for the upgrade is
$650,000.
Supplemental Authorization for Other Project Elements - $800,000: The fuel and
control system upgrades will be part of the Cogen Controls Upgrade Project, District Project
7308. Other project elements required are selecting an electrical designer and electrical
contractor to install interconnecting wiring between the turbine, control console, and District
equipment. These contracts have an estimated cost of $50,000 and $250,000, respectively.
These contracts will be awarded based on a qualified evaluation process, in accordance
with District purchasing guidelines. In addition, the electrical generator on the cogeneration
unit is approximately 20 years old and needs to be evaluated for replacement. Depending
on the outcome of the evaluation, this piece of equipment may need to be replaced during
the planned shutdown of the cogeneration unit. The estimated cost to replace the generator
is $200,000. District staff will perform contract administration, design and construction
management, and inspection services for the new interconnect wiring not provided by Solar
Turbines. This staff effort is estimated to be $150,000. The revised total project cost is
estimated to be $1,300,000.
This project is included in the FY 2013 -14 CIB on page TP -20. The estimated total project
cost listed in the FY 2013 -14 CIB for the project is $800,000. An allocation of $100,000 was
made in FY 2012 -13 and an estimated allocation of $400,000 to the project was planned for
FY 2013 -14. To complete the project in FY 2013 -14, an allocation of $1,200,000 will be
necessary, which exceeds the budgeted allocation by $800,000. There are insufficient
unallocated funds in the FY 2013 -14 CIB Treatment Plant Program to make the necessary
allocation to the project. An $800,000 supplemental authorization would increase the
estimated expenditures of the Treatment Plant Program Budget to $9,840,000.
The cogeneration system will be in operation for the foreseeable future. The fuel valves and
control system should be upgraded to ensure continued safe and reliable operation of the
cogeneration system and these upgrades are required to re -enter into a long -term service
agreement.
Page 3 of 4
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: September 5, 2013
subject. ADOPT A RESOLUTION MAKING FINDINGS AND AUTHORIZING THE
GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE A SOLE - SOURCE CONTRACT WITH SOLAR
TURBINES, INC. FOR THE COGEN CONTROLS UPGRADE PROJECT, DISTRICT
PROJECT NO. 7308, AND APPROVE A SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORIZATION OF
$800,000 TO THE TREATMENT PLANT PROGRAM OF THE 2013 -14 CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT BUDGET
Staff has concluded that this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) under District CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 since it involves repairs to an
existing public facility involving no expansion of use. Approval of this action will establish
the Board of Directors' independent finding that this project is exempt from CEQA.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: This matter was reviewed by the Capital Projects
Committee on August 30, 2013.
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION: Take the following actions:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the following action and making the following findings
in connection with the Cogen Controls Upgrade Project, District Project 7308:
A. Authorize the General Manager to enter into a sole- source contract in an
amount not to exceed $650,000 with Solar Turbines for the installation of fuel
and control system upgrades to the cogeneration system, pursuant to Public
Contract Code Section 3400(c)(3) and District Purchasing Procedures Manual
Section 5.3.15; and
B. Find that:
a. The public interest is best served by utilizing the unique technology and
proprietary knowledge that Solar Turbines, Inc., the original equipment
manufacturer, has developed to upgrade the gas turbine generator set,
which is part of the cogeneration system.
b. Under the circumstances, Solar Turbines is the only qualified supplier to
install the upgrade equipment and that it is in the best interest of the
District to proceed with a sole- source contract with Solar Turbines.
C. The contract is exempt from CEQA.
2. Approve a supplemental authorization of $800,000 to the Treatment Plant Program of
the Fiscal Year 2013 -14 Capital Improvement Budget.
Attached Supportinq Document.'
1. Proposed Resolution
Page 4 of 4
RESOLUTION NO. 2013- 03Z
A RESOLUTION OF THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT
APPROVING A SOLE - SOURCE CONTRACT WITH SOLAR TURBINES, INC.
FOR FUEL AND CONTROL SYSTEM UPGRADES TO THE COGENERATION SYSTEM
WHEREAS, the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District's (District) Purchasing Procedures
Manual Section 5.3.15 provides that, in those cases involving a unique or novel product
application required to be used in the best public interest, a governmental entity may
specify such unique or novel product as an appropriate sole source; and
WHEREAS, the District has a Solar Centaur 40 gas turbine generator set as part of its
cogeneration system which is in need of a fuel and control system upgrade; and
WHEREAS, Solar Turbines, Inc.'s proprietary technology can be utilized and incorporated
to upgrade the District's gas turbine generator set, thereby extending the service life of the
turbine and increasing reliability and maintainability; and
WHEREAS, Section 3400(c) of the California Public Contract Code sets forth certain
conditions under which a particular material or product or service may be purchased
without the necessity of competitive bidding; and
WHEREAS, in order to allow for future long -term maintenance, it is prudent to have the
upgrade performed by Solar Turbines, Inc., the original equipment supplier.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the Central Contra
Costa Sanitary District (the Board) as follows:
THAT the Board hereby adopts the recitals set forth above as the basis of its
findings.
2. THAT the Board finds the public interest is best served by utilizing the unique
technology and proprietary knowledge that Solar Turbines, Inc., the original
equipment manufacturer, has developed to upgrade the gas turbine generator set,
which is part of the cogeneration system.
3. THAT, in accordance with Section 3400(c) of the California Public Contract Code,
the Board finds that the proprietary technology offered by Solar Turbines, Inc. shall
be utilized in the District's treatment plant to repair, modify and upgrade the
District's Solar Centaur 40 gas turbine generator set, and that a sole- source
contract with Solar Turbines, Inc. meets the criteria set forth in that section.
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Resolution 2013 -�" Z
Sole- Source Contract — Solar Turbines, Inc.
Page 2 of 2
4. THAT that the contract is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) under District CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 since it involves repairs to
an existing public facility involving no expansion of use.
5. THAT the Board authorizes the General Manager to enter into a sole- source
contract with Solar Turbines, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $650,000 for the
installation of fuel and control system upgrades to the cogeneration system, Cogen
Controls Upgrade Project, District Project 7308.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of September, 2013, by the Board of Directors of
the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District by the following vote:
AYES:
Members:
NOES:
Members:
ABSENT:
Members:
James A. Nejedly
President of the Board of Directors
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
County of Contra Costa, State of California
COUNTERSIGNED:
Elaine R. Boehme, CIVIC
Secretary of the District
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
County of Contra Costa, State of California
Approved as to form:
Kenton L. Alm, Esq.
Counsel for the District