DATE: 08/06/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Utilities Department
2025-309
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
SUBJECT:
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH GSE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. FOR WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY NO.1 CHEMICAL INJECTION FLASH MIXER AND
STATIC MIXER INSTALLATION OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report requests that City Council award Notice Inviting Bids 25-049CA to GSE Construction Company, Inc. for the Water Reclamation Facility No. 1 Chemical Injection Flash Mixer and Static Mixer Installation Project. The project involves rebuilding the flash mixer used for chemical injection and mixing and installing a static mixer for improving influent flow into the chlorine contact basin.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Adopt the Plans and Specifications for the Water Reclamation Facility No. 1 Chemical Injection Flash Mixer and Static Mixer Installation Project, Notice Inviting Bids 25-049CA.
b. Award Notice Inviting Bids 25-049CA to GSE Construction Company, Inc., to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, for the total bid amount of $3,366,500 and waive any and all minor irregularities in the bidding documents as submitted by said bidder.
c. Approve the Construction Contract with GSE Construction Company, Inc. for the Water Reclamation Facility No. 1 Chemical Injection Flash Mixer and Static Mixer Installation Project in the amount of $3,366,500.
d. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Construction Contract with GSE Construction Company, Inc., in the amount of $3,366,500 including any non-substantive extensions, purchase orders, change orders, and amendments up to 10% of total contract cost or $336,650.
e. Authorize an appropriation of $$3,889,460 from the Sewer Utility Fund 572 to the Water Reclamation Facility No. 1 Chemical Injection Flash Mixer and Static Mixer Installation, Operating and Maintenance Project No. 77820.
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 Council adopted Resolution No. 2023-039, and the Corona Utility Authority adopted Resolution No. 2023-040 on June 21, 2023, establishing the Operating and Maintenance Project Water Reclamation Facility No. 1 Chemical Injection Flash Mixer and Static Mixer Installation Project. The project includes rebuilding the existing degraded flash mixer used for chemical injection and mixing and installing a new static mixer for influent flow to the chlorine contact basin.
Reliable chemical addition is a critical aspect of the wastewater treatment process, allowing removal of harmful pathogens and organic waste at various points during the treatment process. These removals are required to meet the discharge permit requirements mandated by the State Water Resources Control Board. To this end, the installation of new static and flash mixers will allow operations staff to more accurately and efficiently dose the chemicals essential for coagulation and disinfection of waste streams before they are ultimately discharged to the environment or the City’s reclaimed water system.
ANALYSIS:
On February 26, 2025, Notice Inviting Bids (NIB) 25-049CA was solicited following City of Corona Municipal Code (CMC) Section 3.08.090 Public projects formal bidding procedure and purchasing policy through the City’s PlanetBids bidding portal. Project bidding was limited to the City’s prequalified contractors only. The City has 16 prequalified contractors to perform water reclamation, sewage pump station & sewer system mechanical projects. On March 12, 2025, eight (8) prequalified contractors attended a mandatory job walk held at the project site. Two bids were received through the PlanetBids bidding service by the due date of May 13, 2025, from the following contractors:
Vendor City Bid Amount
GSE Construction Company, Inc. Livermore $3,366,500
Schuler Constructors Riverside $4,272,038
The project scope of work consists of rebuilding the existing flash mixer and installing a new static mixer, along with major civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, utilities, process, and demolition work.
Scope of Work Cost
OVERHEAD AND GENERAL (MOBILIZATION, ONGOING
EXPENSES, AND STARTUP COMMISSIONS) NOT TO
EXCEED 10% $330,000
DEMOLITION WORK $100,000
STRUCTURAL WORK $376,500
MECHANICAL WORK $10,000
ELECTRICAL WORK $130,000
CIVIL SITE WORK $40,000
UTILITIES WORK $30,000
PROCESS WORK $2,350,000
Project Total Cost $3,366,500
City staff and an on-call consultant firm will serve as project management to uphold the contract documents while interacting with the various contractors and consultants. An oncall consultant firm will serve as the Construction Manager, ensuring adherence to contract requirements, interacting directly with the Contractor, leading progress meetings, preparing and maintaining project reports, overseeing the schedule and budget, verifying proper procedures, and ensuring timely document review and approvals. The Construction Manager will also ensure the overall quality and delivery of the project. To ensure compliance with plans and specifications, an inspector from one of the City’s oncall firms will be on-site on an as-needed basis. As the design engineer, GHD will provide engineering support during the construction phases of the project.
Summary of Project Costs:
Project Design and Management (Prior Expenses) $186,310 Project Management Support (City Staff) $50,000
Construction Management and Inspection (On-Call
Firm)
$150,000
Engineering Support by GHD $99,746
GSE Construction Company, Inc. Contract $3,366,500
10% Change Order Authority $336,650
Total Project Cost $4,189,206
Original Project Budget $299,746
Appropriation Needed $3,889,460
City staff recommends the City Council award NIB 25-049CA and the construction contract in the amount of $3,366,500 to GSE Construction Company, Inc., as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for the Water Reclamation Facility No. 1 Chemical Injection Flash Mixer and Static Mixer Installation Project. All licenses and references for GSE Construction Company, Inc., have been reviewed and verified by City Staff, and all other required documentation is in order.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an appropriation in the amount of $3,889,460 from the Sewer Utility Fund 572 to the Water Reclamation Facility No. 1 Chemical Injection Flash Mixer and Static Mixer Installation, Operating and Maintenance Project No. 77820. There is sufficient working capital for the recommended actions.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (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 repair and alterations to an existing facility. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: KATIE HOCKETT, ASSISTANT UTILITIES DIRECTOR REVIEWED BY: TOM MOODY, UTILITIES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Plans and Specifications
2. Exhibit 2 – Construction Contract