Report Prepared by: Jeremy Geiger, Interim Public Works Supervisor, Water Quality Control Division
Title
SUBJECT: Agreement with BSK Associates for General Laboratory Services
REPORT IN BRIEF
Consider entering into a three (3) year agreement with BSK Associates (BSK) for general laboratory testing services.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion awarding a three-year agreement with BSK for general laboratory testing services; and, authorizing the City Manager or Assistant City Manager to execute all the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications as conditioned by Council; or
3. Deny; or
4. Refer to Staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code Title 3, Chapter 3.04, Article III - Purchases Over Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars, Section 3.04.120 - Written Contract.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the FY 2018-19 Proposed Budget.
DISCUSSION
Under federal and state law, the City of Merced is required to perform a variety of laboratory tests for water, wastewater, and biosolids. The Wastewater Treatment Facility’s (WWTF) in-house laboratory is certified to perform some of these standard water and wastewater tests. The majority of the tests performed at the WWTF are for conventional pollutants. These pollutants; such as suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms and pH levels, are normally found in domestic, commercial, and industrial wastewaters.
Federal and state regulations also require the City to test for non-conventional pollutants. These pollutants may be toxic in nature, such as heavy metals that include lead, copper, and zinc, as well as organics, such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE), methylene chloride, and acetone. The City’s laboratory is not equipped for testing non-conventional pollutants. These tests are more complex and require sophisticated equipment and expanded training.
Additionally, the Federal EPA requires the City to monitor drinking water under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR), every five (5) years. Currently, the City has entered into the fourth UCMR (UCMR4), which requires monitoring for 30 chemical contaminants between 2018 and 2020. The cost is reflected below in Year 1 of the proposal.
On April 14, 2018, Water Quality Control staff sent Request for Proposals (RFP) to twenty-two state certified laboratories. Five (5) qualified laboratories responded to the RFP, including:
• APPL, Inc.
• BSK Associates
• Dellavalle Laboratory, Inc.
• FGL Environmental Analytical Laboratory
• Moore Twining Associates, Inc.
City staff convened an evaluation committee consisting of staff from the Public Works Water Quality Control and Wastewater Treatment Plant divisions. The proposal were evaluated on criteria including, but not limited to: test methods offered, timeliness of report turnaround, proximity to the City of Merced, and professional certifications, education, and references.
The committee selected BSK Associates as best meeting the needs of the City. The Professional Services Agreement will be for a three-year period. The first year of the agreement includes the UCMR4 monitoring and the cost is $190,704. The second and third year of the contract is $177,104 per year. Staff recommends approving the agreement with BSK Associates.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funds are available in the FY2018-19 proposed annual budget within these account lines:
557-1106-532-17-00 (55%) - $111,007
553-1108-53217- 00 (35%) - $61,987
553-1109-532-17-00 (7%) - $12,397
553-1115-532-17-00 (3%) - $5,313
ATTACHMENTS
1. Contract with BSK Associates