HomeMy WebLinkAbout08. Receive bid announcement of Solids Handling Facility Improvements-Phase 1A, and authorize exception to the General Managers Authority to amend existing agreements for bid phase services Page 1 of 5
Item 8.
CENTRAL SAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS
POSITION PAPER
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY23, 2023
SUBJECT: RECEIVE BID ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SOLIDS HANDLING FACILITY
IMPROVEMENTS-PHASE 1A, DISTRICT PROJECT 7348; AND GRANTAN
EXCEPTION TO BOARD POLICY NO. 037, DELEGATION OFAUTHORITY
TO GENERAL MANAGER, TO AMEND FOUR EXISTING PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENTS, AS MAYBE NEEDED, UP TO A
COMBINED TOTAL NOTTO EXCEED $750,000 FOR FINAL DESIGNAND
BID PHASE SUPPORT SERVICES
SUBMITTED BY: INITIATING DEPARTMENT:
NATHAN HODGES, SENIOR ENGINEER ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES-
CAPITAL PROJECTS
REVIEWED BY: EDGAR J. LOPEZ, CAPITAL PROJECTS DIVISION MANAGER
DANEA GEMMELL, PROVISIONAL DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND
TECHNICAL SERVICES
Roger S. Bailey Kenton L. Alm
General Manager District Counsel
ISSUE
The delegated authority for the General Manager to amend the design agreements issued for the Solids
Handling Facility I mprovements-Phase 1 A, District Project 7348 (Solids Phase 1 A) is $100,000 per
Board Policy No. B P 037. 1 n order to have continuity of as-needed consulting services to support staff
through the final design and bid phase of the Solids Phase 1 A project without delay, staff is requesting the
Board grant an exception to the General Manager delegated authority limits to amend consulting
agreements, as may be needed; however, not to exceed a combined total of$750,000 for services
rendered under this Project.
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BACKGROUND
Preparing and publicly bidding the Solids Phase 1A is Central San's top priority in the Capital
I mprovement Program. This project will improve life safety at the wastewater treatment plant, replace
critical assets and infrastructure, and provide new air pollution control equipment to stay in compliance with
air quality regulations. The major project scope includes, but is not limited to, the following:
• Replacing and upgrading the wet scrubbers;
• Replacing the solids dewatering equipment (centrifuges and cake pumps);
• Making incinerator improvements including burner replacement, updating the control console, and
replacement of various incinerator appurtenances;
• Building seismic improvements;
• Optimized electrical and control system replacements focused on the systems being renovated; and
• Phase 1A is designed to achieve 15 years-plus of reliability with these critical facilities.
The scope above represents the most critical items that were previously bid under the original Solids
Handling Facility Improvements project in early 2021. The remaining scope, which is not included in Solids
Phase 1 A, of ash handling, sludge blending, and other electrical improvements are still under evaluation by
staff and outside consultants. The total estimated project cost for the original solids handling
improvements was approximately$261 million. Staff recommended not to proceed with the original project
and in November of 2021, the Board authorized the redesign and path forward with the Solids Phase 1 A.
The Solids Phase 1A is scheduled to be advertised on March 9 and March 16, 2023. The bid opening is
planned for May 2023, but may be extended depending on questions or input from bidders. The bid
schedule includes a six-week period for bid evaluation and review of State Revolving Fund (SRF)
documents. The bid documents include a 120-calendar day period in which bids cannot be withdrawn to
accommodate the SRF review, which is common practice for large debt financed projects.
Supporting the bid process, addressing contractor or vendor questions, providing outreach can be
significantly important to achieve competitive and successful results. Unlike the previous bid, the Solids
Phase 1 A will not pre-qualify bidders. The project documents identify specific experience and technical
requirements to ensure that capable contractors can bid.
As part of the Solids Phase 1 A, staff has updated the pre-selected equipment contracts associated with
the proposed improvements. These include the air pollution control equipment, centrifuges, and cake
pumps. Central San plans to execute or purchase these items directly from the equipment vendors and
coordinate installation with the awarded contractor.
Staff anticipates that finalizing the bid documents, supporting the bid process, reviewing the results, and
equipment contracts will take significant efforts within the five-month period prior to recommending an
award to the Board by July of this year. The Central San team leading these efforts are managing several
professional engineering services agreements and is recommending to increase the agreements costs for
the following consulting firms:
• CDM Smith, Inc. (Lead and dewatering designer);
• ArcSine Engineering (Electrical);
• G HD, Inc. (Incinerator and air pollution control); and
• HDR Engineering, Inc. (Structural non-building seismic)
Providing bid services and costs can vary depending on the input received from bidders. The agreements
noted above are on an as-needed basis when supporting the bid phase. In lieu of revising all the
agreements to a potential high-cost scenario, staff is proposing to allow the General Manager the
delegation to revise the agreements based on Central San's needs during the bidding process. The
authority to increase the agreement value will be used for additional design services, addenda, researching
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bid alternatives or vendors, support open houses or field tours, supplement services that would normally
be handled by staff, and many other critical services to help Central San receive the best price obtainable
for this project. This proposed exception to the General Manager's authority is a temporary allowance to
complete the Solids Phase 1 A final design and bid period services. For reference,Attachment 1 provides
an excerpt from the Board Policy, Exhibit A, that focuses on the Capital I mprovement Program
Authorization Limits.
ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS
The Board could consider the following alternatives or provide other direction.
Staff has been in contact with potential bidders, aiming to get as much interest as possible. If competitive,
bidders often identify opportunities to refine the design for constructability savings and ease. These
opportunities allow for better pricing and lower the risk in estimating a construction project. Staff can
recommend amendments for each designer for Board approval, but would prefer the flexibility in allowing a
higher limit for the General Manager's authority to avoid costs overruns during the bid phase.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
The final preparation of the contract documents and bid phase for the Solids Phase 1 A can reach up to
approximately$1,000,000 of which a total of$750,000 is in consultant costs and $250,000 in staff time.
The engineering agreements for CDM Smith, Inc. (CDM), GHD, Inc. (GHD),ArcSine Engineering
(ArcSine), and HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) currently total $3,350,000. If the $750,000 is used during
the five-month timeframe, the revised total will be $4,100,000. Staff expects a higher amount,
approximately$350,000 will be used with CDM, and the remainder with the other three consultants. CDM
is the lead consultant and will assist the Central San team with the majority of activities.A final account of
the consultant costs will be presented to the Board after bids have been received and award of a
construction contract is considered. The current totals for each consultant are shown in the table below:
Consultant Current Agreement Cost Estimated Amendment Cost
CDM $1,400,000 $350,000
GHD $800,000 $125,000
ArcSine $800,000 $150,000
HDR 13K 000 $125,000
Total: $3,350,000 $750,000
The Engineer's estimate for construction is $132,000,000. The total estimated project budget is
$192,000,000 and includes costs spent to date (Phase 1 and Phase 1A), detailed design, consultant
costs, staff time, construction contract, construction management, and 20-percent contingency.A final
account of all project costs will be presented at time of award.
The Clean Water State Revolving Fund program is a federal-state partnership that provides communities
low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects. Staff has been coordinating and
working with the state for SRF funding for this project. Central San received approval for a total of$173.1
million and the initial funding agreement has been executed. Upon successful award of Solids Phase 1A
and establishment of the final construction budget, a final SRF agreement will be executed.
There is adequate funding in the Solids Phase 1 A project to support the estimated costs to bid the project.
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COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Engineering and Operations Committee reviewed this matter at its February 6, 2023 meeting and
recommended approval.
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION
Staff recommends the following Board actions related to the Solids Handling Facility Improvements,
Phase 1A, District Project 7348:
1. Receive announcement of intent to advertise bidding of the Project in March 2023; and
2. Grant an exception to the General Manager's delegated authority under Board Policy No. BP 037 to
allow an increase to four existing professional engineering services agreements (ArcSine
Engineering, CDM Smith, Inc., GHD, Inc., and HDR Engineering, Inc.), as may be needed, with a
cumulative total not to exceed $750,000 for final design and bid phase engineering services the
Project.
Strategic Plan Tie-In
GOAL TWO: Environmental Stewardship
Strategy 1 -Achieve compliance in all regulations, Strategy 4- Identify and advance sustainability initiatives, including
reducing energy usage and emissions
GOAL FOUR: Governance and Fiscal Responsibility
Strategy 3- Maintain financial stability and sustainability
GOAL FIVE: Safety and Security
Strategy 2- Protect personnel and assets from threats and emergencies
GOAL SIX., Infrastructure Reliability
Strategy 1 - Manage assets optimally
ATTACHMENTS:
1. BP 037 Exhibit A Excerpt- Capital Authorization Limits
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Number: BP 037
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO GENERAL MANAGER
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EXHIBIT A
Capital Improvement Program Authorization Limits
Action General Manager Board
Approve Capital Improvement Plan and Budget None No limit
(CIPICIB)
Transfer funds to individual project budgets $500,000 or less Greater than$500,000
Professional Consulting Services
Enter into Technical Consulting Services $200,000 or less Greater than$200,000
Agreements
Professional Engineering Services
Amend Amend Agreements<_$2 million $100,000 or less 2 Greater than$100,000
Agreements Amend Agreements>$2 million $200,000 or less 2 Greater than$200,000
Transfer funds from CIB contingency account to $200,000*or less per Greater than$200,000*
projects not included in the CIB project 3
Authorize purchase of individual equipment Not to exceed the limit of the No limit
items Equipment Budget
Authorize supplemental funds to program budgets None No limit
and contingency account
Award construction contracts 4 $200,000*or less Greater than$200,000*
Authorize Additive $200,000*or less Greater than$200,000*
Construction No limit; if greater than$200,000,
Change Orders Deductive informational announcement to Not applicable
Board
Authorize subcontractor substitutions All substitutions unless protested Substitutions protested by
by subcontractor subcontractor
Accept construction projects All projects Informational announcement to
Board
Close out projects All projects Memo provided to Board at fiscal
yearend
Acquire easements $200,000 or less Greater than$200,000
Limited by the remaining balances of the applicable program and contingency account.
2 This limit is cumulative.
3 Limited by the remaining balance of the applicable contingency account.
4 Bid protests and rejection of all bids must go to Board with the exception of those under$200,000 and which fall under the
provisions of the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act(UPCCAA)(California Public Contract Code§§22042 and
22042.5).
*These limits shall be raised concurrently with changes to the UPCCAA(California Public Contract Code§22032(a),representing
the threshold above which formal bidding is required.
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