HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.g. Agreement with Collison Engineering for Zeolite-Anammox Pilot Plant StudyCentral Contra Costa Sanitary District
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- 9
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: June 5, 2014
subject: AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT
WITH COLLISON ENGINEERING FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
SERVICES AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $95,000 FOR PHASE 1 OF
THE ZEOLITE - ANAMMOX PILOT PLANT STUDY AS PART OF THE
PLANT OF THE FUTURE ROADMAP, DISTRICT PROJECT 7315
Submitted By Initiating DeptJDiv.:
Rita Cheng, PE, Associate Engineer Operations Department
REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED FOR BOARD ACTION:
R. Schmidt, PE - Senior Engineer
Roger S. BaileV
General Manag r
ISSUE: Board authorization is required for the General Manager to execute a
professional engineering services agreement when aggregated revisions are expected
to total more than $100,000. While the amount of the agreement that is the subject of
this Position Paper falls slightly below the $100,000 staff authority limit, it is anticipated
that future work, should it be undertaken, will raise the cost ceiling above the authorized
limit. In that event, staff will return to the Board for authority to amend the agreement.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the General Manager to execute an agreement with
Collison Engineering for professional engineering services at a cost not to exceed
$95,000 for Phase 1 of the Zeolite - Anammox Pilot Plant Study as part of the Plant of
the Future Roadmap, District Project (DP) 7315.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS: Adequate funds are available in the Treatment Plant Program
of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 -14 Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) to cover this
contract.
ALTERNATIVES /CONSIDERATIONS: The Board could decide not to authorize
entering into the proposed professional engineering services agreement with Collison
Engineering; however, doing so would allow Collison Engineering to find another
partner to conduct its second pilot plant.
BACKGROUND: Robert Collison, PhD, through his company, Collison Engineering, is
the researcher doing scale -up on the unique zeolite - anammox process to reduce
ammonia from a final effluent single vessel, two -stage bio- reactor. Dr. Collison has a
pending patent on the Zeolite - Anammox process and is the only local source of
Anammox bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrogen and water.
Having just completed a pilot test at Union Sanitary District, he is now ready to pilot test
a second 3,000 gallon per day pilot plant at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District.
Page 1 of 3
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: June 5, 2014
Subject: AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT
WITH COLLISON ENGINEERING FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
SERVICES AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $95,000 FOR PHASE 1 OF
THE ZEOLITE- ANAMMOX PILOT PLANT STUDY AS PART OF THE
PLANT OF THE FUTURE ROADMAP, DISTRICT PROJECT 7315
This project has been identified and submitted to the Regional Water Quality Control
Board (RWQCB) in the 2013 Nutrient Visioning Plan as one of the preferred cutting -
edge nitrogen removal technologies to pilot test for meeting future ammonia limits in
final effluent and recycled water. In addition, the proposed pilot plant ties directly to two
of the goals specified in the draft 2014 Strategic Plan — Goal No. 1 includes an initiative
to explore technologies that use less energy and produce less greenhouse gases, and
Goal No.4 states the District's strategy to be a leader in the wastewater industry by
embracing innovation.
As stated above, Collison Engineering recently completed a 3,000 - gallon - per -day pilot
project plant at Union Sanitary District and is ready to start another 3,000- gallon -per-
day pilot plant at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District. This Phase 1 pilot plant would
collect data for a larger Phase 2 pilot plant, at approximately 100,000 gallons per day.
It would demonstrate process and site - specific viability, generate design data and
parameters, determine site - specific nutrient removal performance, and estimate capital
and operational expenses for a full -scale treatment for the District. Postponement of
this project would allow Collison Engineering to find another partner to conduct its
second pilot plant.
While the timing on this pilot test is sooner than expected, it fits the pilot work profile
envisioned in the Plant of the Future Roadmap, DP 7315. If the Phase 1 pilot work is
successful, the Phase 2 pilot work would include a scaled -up pilot process at the
District. At that time, and as mentioned above, staff would return to the Board with a
Position Paper to amend the existing contract with Collison Engineering for the Phase 2
pilot work.
The 2011 Treatment Plant of the Future visioning exercise was completed under the
Treatment Plant Master Plan Update, DP 7287. Subsequently, the Plant of the Future
Roadmap, DP 7315, was opened in FY 2013 -14 as a contingency project within the
Treatment Plant Program in order to initiate the project recommended as a result of the
2011 Treatment Plant of the Future visioning exercise and related piloting work. The
Treatment Plant Master Plan Update, DP 7287 will close out at the end of FY 2013 -14
CIB and is being replaced with the Plant of the Future Roadmap, DP 7315 in the FY
2014 -15 CIB with the same budget as previously shown for the Treatment Plant Master
Plan Update, DP 7287. The FY 2014 -15 estimated expenditures include piloting efforts
only. Additional costs are expected to complete the Plant of the Future Roadmap
project.
Page 2 of 3
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: June 5, 2014
Subject: AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT
WITH COLLISON ENGINEERING FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
SERVICES AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $95,000 FOR PHASE 1 OF
THE ZEOLITE - ANAMMOX PILOT PLANT STUDY AS PART OF THE
PLANT OF THE FUTURE ROADMAP, DISTRICT PROJECT 7315
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Engineering & Operations Committee
reviewed this project at its meeting on May 27, 2014, and provided recommendation for
Board support to pursue Phase 1 of the Zeolite - Anammox Pilot Plant Study.
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION: Authorize the General Manager to execute a
professional engineering services agreement with Collison Engineering at a cost not to
exceed $95,000 for Phase 1 of the Zeolite - Anammox Pilot Plant Study as part of the
Plant of the Future Roadmap, DP 7315.
Page 3 of 3