Mendocino City CSD approves $90,036.50 United Rentals bid for frac tanks to dewater aeration basin

The Mendocino City Community Services District board voted unanimously on June 22 to award a contract not to exceed $90,036.50 to United Rentals for rental of frac tanks, pumps and related dewatering equipment needed for the district's recycled water upgrade and expansion project.

Ryan, a district staff member leading the procurement presentation, said the district advertised the rental, received three bids and held a public bid opening on June 15. "The three bids were from Ironclad Environmental Solutions in the amount of $143,867, United Rentals, $90,036.50, and ACT Enviro, a Republic Services company, who upon follow-up realized they made a clerical error and requested to withdraw their bid," Ryan said. He recommended awarding the work to the low bidder, United Rentals.

Staff explained the equipment package includes 12 21,000-gallon temporary holding ("frac") tanks, two diesel pumps, about 400 feet of hose and fittings to transfer partially treated wastewater while crews do work inside the aeration basin. Ryan said the district must dewater the basin for a short period so contractors can perform the upgrades: "We need to rent this equipment, pump the partially treated wastewater out, store it, complete the work, and then slowly reintroduce it back into the treatment plant." The motion approved authorizes the superintendent to execute the agreement and direct staff to issue a notice to proceed.

Board members pressed staff on schedule and capacity. Ryan said the holding pond can store roughly 300,000 gallons, current inflows are in the 65,000 to 73,000 gallons-per-day range, and dewatering is expected to require about 4 to 5 days of the basin being offline. He added the pumps are on the order of 2,000 gallons per minute and that, "in theory, the dewatering can be done in 4 or 5 hours," though the team expects a longer operational window to manage risks and reintroduction of flows.

Ryan also confirmed the expense is part of the overall project funding even though the specific rental procurement was not in Giladi's contract: "It is part of the overall project. It's not part of Giladi's scope of work," he said. Staff noted the district will coordinate closely with Giladi, and Ryan said the contractor set a tentative start of Monday, July 13.

Officials acknowledged potential neighbor impacts. Ryan said the district will notify nearby residents and take steps to minimize odor or other effects during dewatering and said staff would abort and restore operations sooner if problems arise.

The board moved to accept the United Rentals proposal, the chair seconded, and members identified in the roll call as Alex, Andrea, Jim, Matthew and Michael voted "yes." The superintendent was authorized to sign the rental agreement and issue a notice to proceed so the dewatering and subsequent upgrade work can begin on the district's schedule.

Next steps: staff will execute the agreement with United Rentals and coordinate dewatering timing with contractor Giladi and affected neighbors; the board did not set additional conditions in the recorded motion.