The Utilities Committee met 01/23/2024. They took up three action items all related to maintenance of the wastewater treatment plant.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
ITEM 1: Sole Source Engineering Services Contract to McMahon Associates as part of the 2024 Aeration Process Upgrades Project in the amount of $64,500 with a 12% contingency of $7,740 for a Project Total not to exceed $72,24
Interim Utilities Director Chris Stempa explained that this area of the treatment plant was last upgraded in the 1990s and some of the pieces of equipment had reached the end of their useful life.
They had investigated the option of rebuilding the equipment but the company that would perform that rebuild could not guarantee the longevity of the rebuilt equipment. Given the significant cost to take the equipment out and have them rebuilt, it did not seem prudent to do that if they could not guarantee they would get another 20 years of useful life from it.
McMahon Associates has been working with the city on reliable energy efficient alternatives for wastewater treatment plant equipment and city staff wanted to continue working with them. McMahon has also been working with the city on some other projects and has also helped the city work on a grant opportunity. Finally, working with another firm would result in duplication of services. As a result, city staff wanted to enter into a sole source with McMahon.
ITEM 2: Award Final Clarifier Tank Underdrain and Tank Drain Rehabilitation Contract to Sabel Mechanical in the amount of $44,411 with 15% contingency of $6,662 for a project total not to exceed $51,073
This situation also involved 1990s era equipment that was reaching the end of their useful life. Interim Director Stempa told the committee that not having a functional underdrain system was a real cause for concern, so they wanted to make sure it was working.
This project had actually been planned for 2023 but was delayed due to a backlog of other priorities. “Of course, as luck would have it, some of these pumps failed. And so, we don’t want to waste any time on it.”
ITEM 3: Sole Source purchase of Final Clarifier Tank Underdrain and Tank Drain Pumps, Pump Rail Guide Systems, and Miscellaneous Pump Fittings from Quality Flow Systems in the amount of $89,960 with a 5% contingency of $4,500 for a total not to exceed $94,460
This was tied to item 2. The city wanted to procure a pump directly via a sole source purchase through an authorized distributor. Staff had verified that the price being requested was reasonable by checking what the price was from another provider. Quality Flow Systems did have the lower cost, and it had the necessary pump on the shelf, so as soon as the purchase was approved by the Common Council, staff could acquire the pump.
The committee unanimously approved all three items as requested.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1161985&GUID=8B5679E3-AD74-4617-9DBF-67842EB494D7
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