DEPARTMENT Hetch Hetchy Water and Power
AGENDA NO.
7 MEETING DATE
September 23, 2025
AGENDA ITEM
Public Utilities Commission
City and County of San Francisco
Calendar: Regular Calendar
Contract/Project Manager: Edward Allen
Award Contract No. DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk
Summary of Proposed
Commission Action:
Award Contract No. DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk Project, to Wilson Utility Construction Company, in the amount of $59,163,762, and with a contract duration of 1,095 consecutive calendar days (approximately three years) , to design and construct clearance mitigations to span the existing S an Francisco Public U tilities owned and operated 115 kilovolt (kV) and 230kV overhead power transmission lines; and authorize proceeding only with design and pre -construction services in the not-to-exceed amount of $10,000,000 for a duration of 365 calendar days.
Background: The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) owns and operates the Hetch Hetchy Power System composed of three hydroelectric powerhouses and power transmission facilities consisting of eleven overhead power transmission lines. The SFPUC power and transmission facilities are subject to Western Electricity Coordinating Council and North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) Reliability Standards. Following an outage to a bulk power system, caused by insufficient clearances
and deviations from
design and construction, NERC issued an alert in 2010 requiring that all utilities assess and address transmission line clearance deficiencies. In 2012, t he SFPUC Hetch Hetchy Water and Power (HHWP) Division assessed its transmission lines and reported identified clearance issues to NERC. To address these clearance issues, the SFPUC developed and implemented the Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation ( TLCM) program, which to date has rectified clearance issues of some high -risk locations. Contract No. DB-139 will address the remaining deficiencies to maintain electrical clearances required by NERC, Western Electricity Coordinating Council, National Electrical Safety Code, and the California Public Utilities Commission.
Scope of Contract: The contract work locations are up-country commencing at the HHWP Early Intake Switchyard in Tuolumne County, traversing through Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County, Alameda County, and ending at the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) Electric Substation in Newark.
The objective of Contract No. DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk Project (Project), is to perform clearance mitigations to spans of existing SFPUC-owned and operated 115kV and 230kV Agenda Title: DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk Commission Meeting Date: September 23, 2025
overhead power transmission lines. The SFPUC has identified a possible 115 moderate- and low-risk clearance detections and three additional risk clearance sites. The existing subject circuits have been identified by the SFPUC as being non-compliant with California General Order 95 (GO 95) and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC).
If awarded, and subject to further approvals, t he Design-Builder will perform design and engineering services to develop the c ontract documents including plans and technical specifications , prepare trade bid packages , procure subcontractors, and construct mitigation measures for these identified spans to bring them into compliance with NESC and G O 95 standards and design criteria. The w ork may include site grading, increased conductor tensions, installation of floating dead-end suspension assemblies, tower structure raises, tower replacement, intermediate mid -span tower structures, or one or more combinations of the methods, or implementation of other solutions.
The proposed initial authorization is for the Design Builder to proceed with design and preconstruction services will allow the design to be progressively developed into individual work trade packages and allow for pre-construction services to commence
such as underground utility verification, geotechnical
investigations, and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) surveys to optimize the cost, schedule, and quality of the Project while reducing the risk of cost and schedule changes during construction.
Only after the Project’s design has progressed, and the Project’s environmental review is complete, will the Commission determine whether to proceed with construction of the Project.
If the Commission approves the Project upon completion of the environmental review and authorizes the Project to proceed, the Design-Builder will proceed with construction services.
Funding and Costs: Funding Source: Hetch Hetchy Capital Improvement Program Project No. 10014089, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk
Engineer’s Estimate: $52,500,000, with an estimated direct cost of construction of $42,500,000
Award: $59,163,762
Schedule: Advertised: April 24, 2025
Estimated Notice-to-Proceed Date: October 2025
Estimated Date for Commission CEQA Review and to Consider Project Approval: January 2026
Agenda Title: DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk Commission Meeting Date: September 23, 2025
Estimated Start of Construction if Commission Approves Project: April 2026
Estimated End Date: September 2028
Duration: 1,095 consecutive calendar days
Final Score
Summary:
On June 17, 2025, the SFPUC received two proposals in response to a Request for Qualifications and Proposals (RFP) from qualified proposers . The evaluation and selection process consisted of four components : (1) Technical Proposal; (2) Price Proposal; (3) Local Business Enterprise (LBE) Mentor - Protégé Program rating bonus; and (4) Social Impact Partnership (SIP) Program submittal bonus. A technical panel evaluated and scored the technical proposals based on the criteria set forth in the RFP. Staff recommends t he highest-ranked proposer team for contract award.
The final scores for the Technical Proposal, Price Proposal, Local Business Enterprise (LBE)bonus and Social Impact Partnership (SIP) Program proposal are as follows:
Ranking /
Proposer
Technical
Proposal
Score
(650 pts)
Price
Proposal
Score
(350 pts)
LBE
Bonus
(up to
10 pts)
SIP Score
(32.50 pts)
Total
Score
1. Wilson
Utility
Construction
Company
650.00 350.00 N/A 5.72 1005.72
2. Sierra
Mountain
Construction,
Inc
569.16 277.27 N/A 32.50 878.92
The Contract Monitoring Division determined that none of the proposers were eligible for bid preference in accordance with Chapter 14B of the San Francisco Administrative Code. Thus, the above ranking remains the same after Contract Monitoring Division review.
Protest: On August 6, 2025, the SFPUC received a protest letter from Sierra Mountain Construction, Inc., protesting the proposal submitted by Wilson Utility Construction Company . On August 11, 2025, Wilson submitted a response letter. On September 8, 2025, following review of the protest, response, and rebuttal, the Contract Administration Bureau, in consultation with the City Attorney deemed the protest to be w ithout merit and denied the protest. Wilson Utility Construction Company was deemed the highest ranked proposer.
Environmental
Review:
Environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Project is in preparation by the Planning Department under Agenda Title: DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk Commission Meeting Date: September 23, 2025
Case No. 2024-002876ENV. This Commission will not consider approving the start of construction services unless and until environmental review is complete and this Commission has reviewed and considered the environmental review, adopted any required CEQA Findings and
Mitigation Monitoring and
Reporting Program, and approved the Project.
This Commission action is to award Contract No. DB -139 and authorize proceeding only with design and pre -construction services. Upon completion of environmental review under the CEQA, staff will return to the Commission with a recommendation as to whether and, if so, how to proceed with the Project.
Approval of pre-construction work under this contract for activities that would result in physical changes to the environment, such as ge otechnical investigations, would require compliance with CEQA prior to initiation of ground-disturbing activities.
Local Business
Enterprise Utilization
and Non-
Discrimination in
Contracting:
The Contract Monitoring Division established a 10.00% Local Business Enterprise (LBE) subcontracting requirement for the Design Phase and a 4.00% LBE subcontracting requirement for the Construction Phase of the contract.
The contractor committed to a 13.57% LBE subcontractor participation for the Design Phase with its proposal and submitted a Certificate of Commitment to a 4 % LBE subcontractor participation for the Construction Phase.
Attachment(s): 1. Contract Monitoring Division Memorandum Agenda Title: DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk Commission Meeting Date: September 23, 2025
Location Map
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO.
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) owns and operates the Hetch Hetchy Power System composed of three hydroelectric powerhouses and power transmission facilities consisting of eleven overhead power transmission lines; and
WHEREAS, Clearance mitigation measures to spans of existing SFPUC owned and operated 115 kilovolt (kV) and 230kV overhead power transmission lines are needed to bring them into compliance; and
WHEREAS, Due to the unique complexities of the design and construction required for this Project, the SFPUC has selected a best value design -build project delivery method in accordance with San Francisco Administrative Code section 6.61(c), which delivery method the General Manager approved on September 26, 2024; and
WHEREAS, On April 24, 2025, SFPUC advertised a Request for Qualifications and Proposals for Design- Build services for Contract No. DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk; and
WHEREAS, The Engineer’s Estimate is $ 52,500,000 for this design- build contract to address clearance mitigation issues of existing SFPUC overhead power transmission lines under the SFPUC Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation (TLCM) program; and
WHEREAS, The contract duration is 1,095 consecutive calendar days; and
WHEREAS, On June 17, 2025, SFPUC received two proposals; and
WHEREAS, SFPUC staff and the Contract Monitoring Division (CMD) review ed the proposals and the application of bid preferences and have determined that Wilson Utility Construction Company is the responsible proposer with the highest-scoring proposal; and
WHEREAS, The CMD established a 10.00% Local Business Enterprise (LBE) subcontracting requirement for the design (pre-construction) phase and 4.00% LBE subcontracting requirement for the construction phase of this contract, and Wilson Utility Construction Company committed 13.57% LBE subcontractor participation for the design (pre-construction) phase in its proposal, and submitted a Certificate of Commitment to 4.00% LBE subcontractor participation for the construction phase; and
WHEREAS, Environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Project is in preparation by the Planning Department under Case No. 2024- 002876ENV and this Commission will not consider approving the start of construction services unless and until environmental review is complete and this Commission has reviewed and
considered the environmental review, adopted any required CEQA Findings and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and approved the Project; and
WHEREAS, Upon completion of environmental review under the CEQA, staff will return and may request that this Commission approve the Project, authorize the remaining contract funding in the amount up to $49,163,762, and authorize staff to proceed with the construction phase; and
WHEREAS, The action authorized by this Resolution shall not be considered approval of the Project and the Commission reserves the right of the SFPUC to, among other things, modify the Project to mitigate any significant environmental impacts or terminate the contract if this Commission elects not to proceed with the Project; and
WHEREAS, Approval of pre -construction work under this contract f or activities that would result in physical changes to the environment, such as geotech nical investigations, would require compliance with CEQA prior to initiation of ground-disturbing activities; and
WHEREAS, Funds are available from Project No. 10014089, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Commission hereby awards Contract No. DB-139, Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk, in the amount of $59,163,762, and a contract duration of 1,095 consecutive calendar days , to the highest- ranked proposer , Wilson Utility Construction Company, and authorizes commencement of design and pre -construction services only under Contract No. DB-139 in the amount not-to-exceed $10,000,000 with a duration of 365 consecutive calendar days.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at its meeting of September 23, 2025.
Director of Commission Affairs
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
City & County of San Francisco
Daniel L Lurie, Mayor
Office of the City Administrator
Carmen Chu, City Administrator
Contract Monitoring Division
Regina Chan, Director
1455 Market Street, Suite 16A, San Francisco, CA 94103
Telephone (415) 554 0630
MEMORANDUM
Date: August 28, 2025
To: Erica Liang, SFPUC
Alex Burns, SFPUC
From: Jason Chow, CMD
Subject: DB-139 Transmission Line Clearance Mitigation Moderate and Low Risk CMD’s Award Memo
The Contract Monitoring Division (“CMD”) has reviewed the score sheets submitted by the panelists (scores for the Written Technical Proposal Evaluation and Social Impact Partnership Proposal Evaluation). Based on the final score tabulations submitted by the SFPUC, the final rankings are listed below:
Firm Rank
Wilson Utility Construction Co. 1
Sierra Mountain Construction Co. 2
Wilson Utility Construction Co. (“Wilson”) is the highest ranked proposer. Additionally, Wilson complied with CMD Chapter 14B pre-award requirements.
The LBE subconsulting/subcontracting requirement for this project is 10.00% for the Design Phase and
4.00% for the Construction Phase. The 10.00% LBE subconsulting participation requirement for the De- sign Phase must be met at the time of proposal due date. The 4.00% LBE subcontracting participation requirement for the Construction Phase will be met by the cumulative participation in the various trade packages.
Due to the anticipated time lapse between proposal submission and the submission of the construction bid packages, Proposers were required to submit the Certificate of Commitment to 4.00% LBE subcon- tracting for the Construction Phase, which Wilson did submit.
Wilson met the 10.00% LBE subconsulting participation requirement for the Design Phase by listing the following LBE firms on CMD Form 2A:
Firm Scope of Service LBE Status Committed LBE
Participation
Mike O’Dells Survey-
ing LiDAR Surveying SF LBE-MBE
(Micro) 2.82%
Ryan Joyce Structural
Design Foundation Design Work SF LBE-WBE
(Micro) 1.91%
Apex Testing Geotechnical Analysis SF LBE-MBE
(Small) 0.56%
Ed Rivera Consulting
Group Foundation Design Work SF LBE-MBE
(Micro) 2.87%
SOHA Engineering Foundation Design Work SF LBE-OBE
(Small) 2.87%
Freyer & Laureta Inc. Civil Road Design Work SF LBE-MBE (Small) 1.41%
AMC Consulting En-
gineers Foundation/Civil Road Work SF LBE-MBE
(Micro) 1.13%
TOTAL: 13.57%
After award and prior to the advertisement of any trade packages, Wilson will consult with CMD and submit a written plan for achieving the 4.00% LBE subcontracting participation requirement for the Con- struction Phase. The 4.00% Construction Phase LBE subcontracting requirement will be met through the various trade packages. The written plan will specify the LBE subcontracting participation percentage of each bid package based on the availability of LBEs to perform the work or supply materials and equip- ment for the subject trade package.
Based on the foregoing, CMD has determined that Wilson has complied with the Chapter 14B pre-award requirements. Should you have any questions, please contact Jason Chow at [email protected].