December 4, 2012

Contractors to Pre-Qualify for Water Conservation Plant Project

Council members authorized a pre-qualification process for contractors for the Water Conservation Plant project. The process allows contractor's qualifications to be pre-determined and reduces the likelilhood for the bid award to be protested. The process is modeled after the approved policy from the State Department of Industrial Relations.

In an effort to reduce costs associated with project delays, Council authorized the project team to approve change orders up to $500,000. Staff will provide monthly project updates that includes a detailed discussion on all change orders approved during the month, and will present quarterly updates at regularly scheduled Council work sessions. This process will allow Council to maintain oversight of project costs while reducing unnecessary delays. The project is expected to cost about $140 million. 

Design work for the project began in 2009, and is near completion. Environmental work is complete, and a draft EIR is currently being circulated for public review. The project will be funded through a combination of a 20-year low interest loan from the State Water Quality Control Board Revolving Loan Fund, City sewer enterprise funds, a $700,000 Clean Water Grant, and a$2.2 million Integrated Regional Water Management grant. The project is expected to be advertised for construction bids in February 2013, with the construction expected to begin in August 2013 and last about 3 years. For a copy of the staff report, click here.