Plainview awards sand-filter reconstruction contract for water treatment plant

Plainview — The Plainview City Council unanimously approved awarding the sand-filter reconstruction project at the city's surface water treatment plant to Brown McKee for $1,493,410.40 and authorized a $150,000 contingency.

Public works staff explained the sand filters are the final stage of treatment at the plant that receives surface water from the Canadian River and that the original filters were installed in 1968. The project scope includes replacing the filter media, the air scour system and associated piping; the concrete filter structures themselves will remain in place.

Staff said four firms submitted proposals. The procurement used a competitive-sealed proposal process with scoring that weighted price 60%, construction time 10%, sand-filter experience 25% and superintendent qualifications 5%. Staff recommended Brown McKee as the lowest-scoring-price proposer that met the scoring criteria. The engineer's original opinion of probable cost (OPC) for the project was about $2,064,000; staff reported the recommended award with engineering and contingency remains under that OPC.

Councilmembers asked about the price spread among bidders and whether the project required Texas Commission on Environmental Quality approval. Staff said the work replaces existing equipment and does not change the treatment process; therefore, it does not require new TCEQ approval.

Councilmember House moved to accept the competitive sealed proposal from Brown McKee in the amount of $1,493,410.40 plus a $150,000 contingency and to authorize the mayor to sign necessary documents. Mayor Pro Tem Weiss seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous.