DATE: 02/05/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Utilities Department
2025-46
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
SUBJECT:
MAINTENANCE AND GENERAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ESTATE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, INC. FOR THE LESTER WATER TREATMENT PLANT
GRAVITY THICKENER REHABILITATION PROJECT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks City Council to approve a Maintenance/General Services Agreement with Estate Design and Construction, Inc. for the Lester Water Treatment Plant Gravity Thickener Rehabilitation Project. The project will address corrosion within the steel components of the gravity thickeners to mitigate further deterioration and extend the useful life of the equipment.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Award Notice of Inviting Bids 25-023AT to Estate Design and Construction, Inc., the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, for the total bid amount of $178,669 and waive all minor irregularities in the bidding documents as submitted by said bidder for the Lester Water Treatment Plant Gravity Thickener Rehabilitation Project. b. Authorize an appropriation in the amount of $188,743 from the Water Utility Fund 570 to the Lester Water Treatment Plant Gravity Thickener Paint Operating and Maintenance Project No. 78200.
c. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Maintenance/General Services Agreement with Estate Design and Construction, Inc., including any purchase orders, non-substantive extensions, change orders, and amendments up to 10% of the total contract amount or $17,866.90 as authorized by Corona Municipal Code Section 3.08.060(J).
That the Corona Utility Authority review, ratify, and to the extent necessary, direct the City Council to take the above actions.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The Lester Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Gravity Thickeners, located at 2970 Rimpau Avenue, are critical components in the treatment of imported raw water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) for the City of Corona. Lester WTP treats raw water for total suspended solids (TSS) through a multi-stage filtration and disinfection process before distributing it into the system for use.
Raw water is treated through pretreatment, coagulation/flocculation, filtration, backwashing, and disinfection processes to ensure its consumption safety. During the backwash cycle of filtration system cleaning, water is sent to two gravity thickeners to remove TSS. Gravity thickener structures’ key components consist of a 30-foot diameter and a 20-foot-deep concrete structure, a stationary feedwell, a baffle for optimized flow distribution, a rake mechanism to convey solids into the central discharge point, and a sludge cone and scrapper.
Staff have identified the onset of corrosion within the steel components of the gravity thickeners. To mitigate further deterioration and extend the useful life of steel components, epoxy coating for submerged components and painting of above-water components is necessary. This involves sandblasting, epoxy coating, and painting of all steel components, including the bridge across both gravity thickeners.
ANALYSIS:
On October 30, 2024, Notice of Inviting Bids (NIB) 25-023AT was solicited following City of Corona Municipal Code (CMC) Section 3.08.110 Non-public projects – formal bidding procedure and purchasing policy through the City’s PlanetBids bidding portal. On November 14, 2024, five contractors attended a mandatory job walk at the project site.
Two bids were received through the PlanetBids bidding service by the bid due date of December 10, 2024, from the following vendors:
Vendor City Bid Amount
Estate Design and Construction, Inc. Los Angeles $178,669 J.R. Filanc Construction Company, Inc. Escondido $621,000 The project scope consists of sandblasting, epoxy coating and painting of all steel components of the gravity thickeners.
The following bid schedule prices were received from the lowest bidder:
ITEM
NO. ITEM DESCRIPTION
TOTAL
PRICE
1 Mobilization and Demobilization
(less than 5%)
$8,933.45
2 Gravity Thickener No. 1 - Dismantle
and Remove Center Shaft, Rake
Arms and Squeegees
$12,273.52
3 Gravity Thickener No. 1 - Sandblast
Steel Components and Legally
Dispose Debris
$20,034.72
4 Gravity Thickener No. 1 - Prime and
Epoxy Coat Steel Components
$24,186.05
5 Gravity Thickener No. 1 - Reinstall
All Components
$9,566.13
6 Gravity Thickener No. 1 - Replace
Squeegees and Hardware
Replacement (Parts by Contractor)
$2,923.99
7 Gravity Thickener No. 1 - Realign
and Test
$5,053.80
8 Gravity Thickener No. 2 - Dismantle
and Remove Center Shaft, Rake
Arms and Squeegees
$12,273.50
9 Gravity Thickener No. 2 - Sandblast
Steel Components and Legally
Dispose Debris
$20,034.72
10 Gravity Thickener No. 2 - Prime and
Epoxy Coat Steel Components
$24,186.05
11 Gravity Thickener No. 2 - Reinstall
All Components
$9,566.13
12 Gravity Thickener No. 2 - Replace
Squeegees and Hardware (Parts by
Contractor)
$2,923.99
13 Gravity Thickener No. 2 - Realign
and Test
$5,053.80
14 Walkway, Bridges and Catwalks -
Remove Grating and Handrail
$3,068.38
15 Walkway, Bridges and Catwalks -
Sandblast, Prime and Paint All Steel
Components
$14,980.91
16 Walkway, Bridges and Catwalks
Reinstall Grating and Handrail
$3,609.86
Summary of Project Costs:
Project Management Support (City Staff) $20,000
Inspection and testing (On-Call Firm) $30,000
Maintenance and General Services Agreement $178,669
10% Change Order Authority $17,867
Project Cost $246,536
Funds Available in Operating and Maintenance Project No. 78200
$57,793
Fund Appropriation Needed $188,743
City Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Maintenance/General Services Agreement in the amount of $178,669 to Estate Design and Construction, Inc., as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for the Lester Water Treatment Gravity Thickener Rehabilitation Project. City staff has reviewed and verified all licenses and references for Estate Design and Construction, Inc., and all other required documentation is in order.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an appropriation in the amount of $188,743 from the Water Utility Fund 570 to the Lester Water Treatment Plant Gravity Thickener Paint Operating and Maintenance Project No. 78200. There is sufficient working capital in the Water Utility Fund 570 for the recommended actions.
Fund Project
No.
Requested
Appropriation
Current
Balance
Project Balance
570 78200 $188,743 $57,793 $246,536
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15302 (c) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Action (CEQA), which states that “operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the CEQA determination” and is therefore exempt from CEQA. This action involves repairs to existing infrastructure to maintain public health and safety. Therefore, is exempt from the requirements of CEQA, and no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: AFTAB HUSSAIN, MAINTENANCE MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: TOM MOODY, UTILITIES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENT:
1. Exhibit 1 – MGSA with Estate Design and Construction