To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Steve Koldis 707-547-1914
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Santa Rosa Plain Water Supply Resiliency Project Sebastopol Road Well Activation- Contract Award
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt and approve the Project Manual and Drawings (“plans and specifications”) entitled "Santa Rosa Plain Water Supply Resiliency Project Sebastopol Road Well Activation.”
B) Award the contract to TerraCon Constructors, Inc. for $3,102,798.00 for construction of Santa Rosa Plain Water Supply Resiliency Project Sebastopol Road Well Activation and authorize the Chair to execute the contract.
C) Authorize the General Manager of Sonoma Water to sign Section 00 65 23 (Agreement and Release of Any and All Claims), with County Counsel review, if any unresolved claims are listed by the contractor.
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Executive Summary:
This item requests approval of a contract with TerraCon Constructors, Inc. for $3,102,798 for construction of Santa Rosa Plain Water Supply Resiliency - Sebastopol Road Well Activation (Project). The Project will bring the Sebastopol Road well site into compliance with State regulations for water supply disinfection and will add aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) capabilities to the Sebastopol Road Well #2. Adding ASR capabilities will allow Sonoma Water to store treated drinking water, sourced from Sonoma Water’s riverbank filtration system on the Russian River, in the aquifer when river flows are high for extraction during summer and fall months or during future drought periods.
The project has obtained $6.9 million in funding from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Program. This grant will pay a portion of the cost to rehabilitate and upgrade Sonoma Water’s three well sites in the Santa Rosa Plain, collectively known as the Santa Rosa Plain Water Supply Resiliency Project.
Discussion:
Background:
Sonoma Water owns and operates three well-sites in the Santa Rosa Plain intended to augment water supplies during periods of drought. The Sebastopol Road Well site, constructed in 1977, was a response to the severe drought of 1976-1977. The original production well (Well #1) was active into the 1990s when a second well (Well #2) was built on the site to replace the existing well that produced excessive amounts of fine sand due to relatively large screen size (ranging from 0.080-inch to 0.094-inch). Constructed in 1999, Well #2, is a 16” diameter production well, drilled to a depth of 1,040 feet, with a smaller screen size of 0.055-inch. Well #2 was utilized for water production relatively continuously between 2000 and 2009, during the drought of 2013 to 2015 and has generally been offline since 2015. While in production, disinfection was accomplished through chlorine injection prior to discharging into the 48-inch Russian River Cotati Intertie where mixing with the water supply occurred. This method is problematic from a regulatory standpoint and disinfection with properly sized contact chamber is required prior to introducing the well water to the water supply system.
In 2021, the most recent drought prompted Sonoma Water to reinvest in the Santa Rosa Plains wells. The State of Emergency proclaimed by Governor Newsom in April 2021 enabled Sonoma Water under emergency contracting procedures to enter a contract with GEI Consultants, Inc. (GEI) on 12/1/2021 to design improvements that facilitate renewed operation of the well sites, procure materials, and contract with Ghilotti Construction Company to construct a portion of the project improvements.
In April 2022, Well #2 was rehabilitated via surge pumping and a pump swabbing tool set and its condition was assessed through video surveys, vertical flow profiling, and depth discrete water quality sampling. Evaluation of the data found the lower screen contributed a relatively small portion of flow, had higher water temperatures, and produced lower quality water. To improve the quality of water from Well #2, the lower 170 feet of the well was sealed off.
Current Project:
By February 7, 2023, drought conditions had subsided sufficiently to result in the Board’s finding that there was no longer a need to continue emergency work without competitive bidding. Plans and Specifications were then prepared to advertise the remaining construction work for bids in compliance with Public Contract Code. Plans include a disinfection system including, but not limited to, installation of pipes, valves, instrumentation, meters, electrical power and controls, communication equipment, and installation of new pumps, equipment sheds, ASR valve and equipment, and storage tanks. Once construction is complete, ASR pilot testing will occur and permits will be obtained.
California Environmental Quality Act
The General Manager determined that the project is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Public Resources Code section 21080(b)(4), which provides that specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency are exempt, exempt under Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-7-22, issued on March 28, 2022, which suspended certain drought-related projects from the CEQA, including drought mitigation projects, and categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15301(b)(f), Existing Facilities, and 15304(f), Minor Alterations to Land, as it involves negligible or no expansion of use, and minor alterations in the condition of the land. The project will provide health protection devices requiring minor trenching and backfill at an existing public utility facility.
Santa Rosa Plain Water Supply Resiliency Project Sebastopol Road Well Activation consists of installation of the following items: aquifer recharge valve; approximately 300 linear feet of 12-inch diameter ductile piping; refurbished vertical turbine well pump and pump column piping; fiberglass buildings; chemical dosing systems; pump to waste systems; control valves; instrumentation; and related mechanical, electrical, and controls equipment, including integrating and commissioning modes of operation for long-term operation of the well. Work shall be completed within 300 days from the date when contract time commences to run.
Competitive process, selection & cost detail
The Project was advertised for bids: [11/2/2023]
Bids were opened: [12/05/2023]
Bids for Project construction were received as follows:
Thompson Builders Corporation, Novato, CA $3,028,500.00
TerraCon Constructors, Inc., Healdsburg, CA $3,102,798.00
The Engineer’s Estimate was $2,624,385.00.
The lowest responsive and responsible bid is from TerraCon Constructors, Inc. and is $478,413.00 over the Engineer’s Estimate. TerraCon Constructors, Inc. is experienced in this type of construction and met the experience requirements. The bid submitted by Thompson Builders Corporation was deemed non-responsive and rejected by Sonoma Water on December 7, 2023.
A contractor must execute a release of claims (Section 00 65 23) before final payment but may except any unresolved claims from the release. The requested action authorizes the General Manager to approve the release unless the contractor lists unresolved claims. In that case, County Counsel must review Section 00 65 23 prior to General Manager approval.
Construction on the Project is scheduled to begin approximately March 11, 2024, with an estimated completion date of November 5, 2024.
Sonoma County Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
This item directly supports Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following goal, strategy, and action item.
Goal: 2. Planning and Infrastructure - Implement comprehensive, integrated, and innovative infrastructure planning to strengthen existing services, minimize life cycle costs, and prepare for the future.
Strategy: 2.1 Conduct planning that integrates and balances operational, maintenance, and infrastructure priorities.
Action Item: 2.1.2 Continue to engage in planning efforts and partnerships to protect and enhance our water supply.
The water supply will be enhanced through ASR where treated drinking water, sourced from Sonoma Water’s riverbank filtration system on the Russian River, will be stored in the aquifer when river flows are high for extraction during summer and fall months or during future drought periods.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
See attachment
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$3,102,798 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$3,102,798 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$3,102,798 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$3,102,798 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $3,102,798 is available from FY2023-2024 appropriations in the Common Facilities Fund. Offsetting revenue in the amount of $3,102,798 will come from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Urban and Multibenefit Drought Relief Grant awarded January 7, 2022 (Budget Act of 2021 (Stats.2021, ch. 24, section 80). No additional appropriation is required.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Prior Board Action information.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Project Manuals and Drawings