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County staff recommends award to Mega KC for Mill Creek influent pump station; seeks construction funding
Summary
Johnson County wastewater staff proposed authorizing construction funding for the Mill Creek influent pump station improvements and recommended award of the contract to Mega KC, the low bidder at $6,892,515.
Johnson County wastewater staff asked the board to authorize funding for the construction phase of the Mill Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility influent pump station improvement project and to award the contract to Mega KC, the apparent low bidder.
Susan Bacarek explained the project scope: replacement of underperforming dry‑weather pumps, replacement of original bar screens (installed in 1994) that protect downstream equipment, and modifications to the influent structure. The work must accommodate flows from Mill Creek and Cedar Creek watersheds and requires bypass pumping while the station is out of service.
Bacarek said bids were opened and Mega KC submitted the low bid ($6,892,515) substantially lower than two other bidders. She said the consulting engineer (CDM Smith), wastewater staff and financial/management advisors met with Mega KC to confirm the bid scope. Staff noted Mega KC proposed an innovative means‑and‑methods approach that could reduce required bypass pumping from an engineer estimate of as much as six months to possibly as little as one month, a large cost saver. Bacarek added Mega KC accepted the risk that if its proposed methods do not perform and bypass time increases, that risk is theirs.
Commissioners asked whether Mega KC had prior comparable experience and what role the consulting engineer plays in vetting alternatives. Staff said CDM Smith evaluates design alternatives and develops conservative estimates during design; specific prior project examples for Mega KC’s unique approach were not cited at the agenda review and staff offered to check references and bring more information back.
Staff said the lower bid preserves capital improvement fund dollars for other wastewater projects and helps limit pressure on user rates. The matter was left on action for formal consideration at a future board meeting pending standard contract documentation and answers to commissioner questions about references and submittals.
