DATE: 06/18/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Utilities Department
2025-257
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
SUBJECT:
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ALBERT A. WEBB ASSOCIATES
FOR DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE DIGESTER EQUIPMENT
REHABILITATION AND ELECTRICAL UPGRADE PROJECT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks City Council to approve a Professional Services Agreement with Albert A. Webb Associates for design and engineering services related to the Digester Equipment Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrade Project at Water Reclamation Facility No. 1. Approval of this agreement will facilitate the timely rehabilitation of essential infrastructure, ensuring the continued reliability of operations.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Award Request for Proposal (RFP) 25-034AT to Albert A. Webb Associates for Design and Engineering Services related to the Digester Equipment Rehabilitation and Electric Upgrade Project at Water Reclamation Facility No. 1. b. Approve the Professional Services Agreement with Albert A. Webb Associates of Riverside, CA in the amount of $398,081 for Design and Engineering Services related to the Digester Equipment Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrade Project at Water Reclamation Facility No. 1.
c. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Professional Services Agreement with Albert A. Webb Associates in the amount of $398,081 including an non-substantive extensions, change orders, purchase orders, and amendment up to the amount authorized in Corona Municipal Code Section 3.08.070(I) which is equivalent to 10% or $39,808.
That the Corona Utility Authority review, ratify, and to the extent necessary, direct that the City Council take the above actions.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The City of Corona's Water Reclamation Facility No. 1 (WRF1) plays a critical role in the municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure, processing approximately 11.5 million gallons of raw sewage daily. The facility includes three mesophilic anaerobic digesters, each with a capacity of approximately 500,000 gallons, which are integral to the sludge treatment process. These digesters are an important component of the solids handling process and facilitate the breakdown of organic material. Over the years, the facility has faced challenges related to aging infrastructure, requiring upgrades to maintain operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
The focus of this project is the rehabilitation of digester equipment and the modernization of electrical systems that support the digester and associated equipment at WRF1.
Specifically, the project addresses the replacement and relocation of critical components, including sludge pumps, heat exchangers, motor-operated valves, and associated piping.
This includes the redesign of the Motor Control Center (MCC) to enhance the reliability and safety of the facility's electrical systems. These upgrades are essential to ensure the digesters maintain optimal operating temperatures between 95°F and 100°F, which is critical for efficient anaerobic digestion.
ANALYSIS:
On March 13, 2025, the Purchasing Division issued a Request for Proposal (RFP 25- 034AT) following the City Municipal Code (CMC) Section 3.08.110 Non-Public Projects formal bidding procedure and purchasing policy through the City’s PlanetBids bidding portal. A total of 585 vendors were solicited through PlanetBids. Three proposals were received through the PlanetBids bidding service by the proposal due date of March 15, 2025, from the following vendors:
Vendor City Evaluation
Ranking
Albert A. Webb Associates Riverside, CA 1
Lee + Ro, Inc. Industry, CA 2
Dudek Encinitas, CA 3
The scope of work and estimated cost for Design and Engineering Services related to the Digester Equipment Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrade Project at WRF1 submitted by Albert A. Webb Associates (Webb) are outlined as follows:
TASK
NO. PROJECT TASKS TOTAL PRICE
1 Pre-Design Services $ 46,287
2 Design Services $137,309
3 Construction Services $117,361
4 Optional Block Building with Crane $97,124
Total Amount $398,081
The proposal was evaluated based on five criteria, including the Completeness of the Response, the Work Plan/Work Organization, the Qualifications of the Company and Personnel, the Approach to Safety Measures, and the Reasonableness of Cost and Price.
Following review of the proposals, the Webb team exhibits the essential skills, experience, and staffing required for the successful execution of the project's scope of work. In their statement of qualification, Webb clearly understood the scope of work for the project and showed that they have successfully completed such projects. If awarded, the design for this project will be completed in Winter 2026.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Professional Services Agreement with Webb for design and engineering services related to the Digester Equipment Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrade Project at WRF1.The agreement includes critical design tasks, such as replacing aging sludge pumps, heat exchangers, and motoroperated valves, as well as electrical upgrades to ensure compliance with operational standards and enhance facility efficiency.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Partial funding for the recommended action is available in the Digester Equipment Rehabilitation and Electrical Upgrade Capital Improvement Project No. UT-2025-05 within the Sewer Utility Fund 572. Additional funding was included in the Adopted Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Improvement Plan Budget.
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 rehabilitation and upgrading of existing infrastructure to maintain public health and safety. Therefore, is exempt from the requirements of CEQA, and no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: KATIE HOCKETT, ASSISTANT UTILITIES DIRECTOR REVIEWED BY: TOM MOODY, UTILITIES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – PSA with Albert A. Webb Associates
2. Exhibit 2 – Proposal