Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council awards master engineering contract for multi-year 24-inch water transmission main replacement
Summary
Council authorized a five-year master engineering contract (with options to extend) to design future phases of the city's 24-inch water transmission main replacement program; CONSORT North America was the highest-scoring proposer. The project replaces aging 1930s steel main with 24-inch ductile iron and includes cathodic protection.
The City Council voted Feb. 24 to proceed with a master-engineering contract for the next phases of the 24-inch water transmission-main replacement program, selecting CONSORT North America as the top-ranked proposer following a qualifications-based selection process.
Contract and scope: staff said the master contract will run up to five years with two optional two-year extensions and will be used to authorize individual task orders for design, bidding and construction management services. The initial design phase (phase 4) will extend existing replacement work south from the current terminus near the Salvation Army down Stevens Avenue toward Emerald Drive, with subsequent phases moving farther south toward Garden Valley.
Why this matters: the city is replacing a decades-old thin-wall steel transmission main (installed in the 1930s) that staff described as a long-term risk. The replacement material for upcoming phases is specified as 24-inch ductile iron pipe with cathodic protection; staff said the existing steel pipe is susceptible to corrosion and the ductile iron pipe will be jointed with rubber-gasket slip joints and thrust restraints at fittings.
Procurement and budget: four statements of qualifications were received and scored by a staff panel; CONSORT North America scored highest. The adopted FY 2024-25 water capital budget includes $350,000 to begin design work; staff said the first task order will be negotiated and returned to the Public Works Commission and council for approval before work begins. Staff noted per-foot construction costs have been approximately quoted at about $1,000 per linear foot on prior phases and that the overall five-mile replacement is a multi-year, multimillion-dollar undertaking.
Council action: council moved and seconded authorization to award the master-engineering contract to CONSORT North America; the motion carried. Staff will negotiate the first task order, bring approvals to commission/council as required and proceed with design when task-order funding is authorized.
Questions answered: councilors asked about pipe material and joints; staff explained the ductile-iron specification, the use of thrust restraints at fittings and the cathodic protection measures to reduce corrosion risk. Staff estimated about 1.3 miles remain to reach Garden Valley and that roughly three miles have already been completed.
Ending: council awarded the master contract; staff will return with the negotiated first task order and schedule for the next design phase.
