DATE: October 21, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Public Works Department & Utilities Department
2026-088
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
SUBJECT:
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH T.E. ROBERTS, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,597,089 FOR THE WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY #1 RETURN ACTIVATED
SLUDGE PIPELINE REPAIR PROJECT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to approve a construction contract with T.E.
Roberts, Inc. for the Water Reclamation Facility #1 Return Activated Sludge Pipeline Repair Project. The project will replace approximately 300 linear feet of the existing 14- inch return activated sludge (RAS) pipeline, along with associated concrete and structural repairs within the pipe gallery.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Adopt the Plans and Specifications for the Water Reclamation Facility #1 Return Activated Sludge Pipeline Repair Project, Notice Inviting Bid 27-007SB. b. Award Notice Inviting Bids 27-007SB to T.E. Roberts, Inc., the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, for the total bid amount of $1,597,089, and waive any and all minor irregularities in the bidding document as submitted by the said bidder. c. Approve the Construction Contract with T.E. Roberts, Inc. for the Water Reclamation Facility #1 Return Activated Sludge Pipeline Repair Project in the amount of $1,597,089.
d. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the construction contract and issue a purchase order to T.E. Roberts, Inc. in the amount of $1,597,089, including any non-substantive extensions, change orders, purchase orders, and amendments up to the amount equivalent to 10% or $159,708.90. e. Authorize an appropriation in the amount of $1,860,000 from the 2025 Wastewater Revenue Bonds Fund (FD_1513) to the Water Reclamation Facility #1 Return Activated Sludge Pipeline Repair Capital Improvement Project No. UT-2026-07.
That the Corona Utility Authority review, ratify, and, to the extent necessary, direct that the City Council take the above actions.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
Water Reclamation Facility 1A treats an average of approximately 10.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of raw sewage through a six-step treatment process. During routine facility observations, staff identified two separate leaks in the existing 14-inch return activated sludge (RAS) pipeline located within the plant’s pipe gallery and adjacent areas near the aeration tanks. The RAS pipeline conveys activated sludge from the secondary clarifiers back to the beginning of the aeration process. Both leaks are located near the points where the RAS pipeline penetrates the pipe gallery floor. The condition of the existing pipeline and associated structural components warrants replacement and remediation to maintain the reliability and integrity of the RAS system.
To address the identified deficiencies, staff engaged Dudek to prepare the engineering design and construction documents for the replacement of approximately 300 linear feet of the existing 14-inch RAS pipeline. The project also includes structural remediation of the existing concrete structure and modifications to the associated pipe supports as necessary to accommodate the replacement pipeline and restore the affected areas.
Construction is tentatively scheduled to commence in November 2026, with completion anticipated in May 2027.
ANALYSIS:
The Project was advertised for bids on August 5, 2026, the project was posted on the Planet Bids website and notification was provided to the construction trade journals. the bid was advertised in the local newspaper on August 7, 2026, pursuant to Corona Municipal Code and Public Contract Code requirements. One hundred thirty-four (134) contractors that are registered with the City on the bidding platform and an addition seven hundred (700) Planet Bids contractors not registered with the City were notified through Planet Bids bidding service. On September 03, 2026, three (3) bids were received.
The following is a summary of the bid results and the Engineer’s Estimate:
Contractor Location Bid Schedule
Engineer’s Estimate $1,033,000
1 Levon Construction Group Anaheim, CA $ 997,500
2 T.E. Roberts, Inc. Irvine, CA $1,597,089
3 Filanc Escondido, CA $1,682,350
On September 4, 2026, the lowest bidder, Levon Construction Group, requested relief from its bid submission due to an error concerning Bid Item No. 6, "Temporary Bypass Facilities." The Contractor stated that the price originally submitted by its subcontractor, Rain for Rent, accounted only for labor and installation, and did not include the cost of bypass equipment rental. Staff reviewed all documentation submitted by Levon Construction Group in support of its request and determined that relief was warranted per the Notice Inviting Bids. Accordingly, staff recommends proceeding with the secondlowest bidder, T.E. Roberts, Inc.
Staff has reviewed the remaining bids and recommends awarding the contract to T.E.
Roberts, Inc. as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, based on the Bid Schedule, for a total contract amount of $1,597,089. All licenses and references for T.E Roberts, Inc. have been reviewed and verified by City staff, and all other documentation is in order.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an appropriation in the amount of $1,860,000 from the 2025 Wastewater Revenue Bonds Fund (FD_1513) to the Water Reclamation Facility #1 Return Activated Sludge Pipeline Repair Capital Improvement Project No. UT-2026-07.
The estimated construction cost for the Project is outlined as follows:
Construction (Construction Contract Amount).................................................. $1,597,089 Construction Contingency (10%) ....................................................................... $159,709 City Staff Support (Separate from the Construction Contract Expense) .............. $103,202 Total Construction Cost ............................................................................... $1,860,000 ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is pursuant to Section 15302 of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that Class 2 consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. The Notice of Exemption will be filed with the County of Riverside.
PREPARED BY: ALAN ZHANG, CIP SUPERVISOR
REVIEWED BY: JENNIFER SECCOMBE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR & TOM
MOODY, UTILITIES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Location Map
2. Exhibit 2 – Construction Contract