DATE: January 18, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the Sole Source Purchase of Specialized Laboratory Equipment for Use at the Water and Wastewater Laboratory at the Water Pollution Control Facility in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $90,000
RECOMMENDATION
That Council adopts a resolution (Attachment II) authorizing the City Manager to execute the sole source purchase of a specialized laboratory equipment for use at the Water and Wastewater Laboratory at the Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) in an amount not-to-exceed $90,000.
SUMMARY
The Water and Wastewater Laboratory at the WPCF currently utilizes a highly specialized instrument known as an Ion chromatography system (ICS-6000), for the analysis of nutrients in the City’s wastewater. In order to meet the required and exceedingly high level of accuracy for wastewater testing, the City must purchase an additional piece of equipment, known as a single quad mass spectrometer (ISQEC-IC), which only one vendor, Thermo Electron North America LLC. (Thermo), is currently able to provide. As such, staff recommends that the City Manager be authorized to execute the sole source purchase of this equipment from Thermo in an amount not-to-exceed $90,000. Council has previously approved funding for the purchase of this equipment as part of the FY 2022 Capital Improvement Program.
BACKGROUND
The City’s WPCF provides wastewater treatment for Hayward’s residential and business communities, treating an annual average of eleven million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater and ensures that the treated water meets local, State, and Federal requirements for discharge to the deep waters of the San Francisco Bay.
The Water and Wastewater Laboratory at the WPCF tests the City’s wastewater, surface water and drinking water to ensure compliance with these regulations, in addition to testing wastewater samples from certain industrial dischargers throughout the City. Regularly testing the wastewater, surface water and drinking water is critical to ensuring continued compliance with new regulations.
DISCUSSION
While the City’s current Ion Chromatograph (ICS-6000) equipment allows for highly sensitive testing of the City’s wastewater samples, only one product on the market can enhance the sensitivity of this particular model to the levels now required. That product is the ISQEC-IC by Thermo. The ISQEC-IC equipment will essentially increase the sensitivity of the Laboratory’s existing equipment, enabling the City to test at a lower detection limit and with a greater level of accuracy than any other spectrometer available today. Laboratory analysts utilizing the same instrument throughout the Bay Area have verified the equipment’s superior performance. Thermo is the sole manufacturer of this critical piece of equipment and, as such, staff is requesting Council authorization to execute its sole source purchase.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Purchase of this equipment will have no direct impact on the local economy.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of the equipment, as quoted by Thermo is approximately $90,000, including tax and shipping. Funding for this equipment was previously approved as part of the FY2022 Capital Improvement Program, Project No. 07783, at an amount of $90,000 within Sewer Improvement Fund 612.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
This agenda item is a routine operational item and does not relate to any of the six priorities outlined in the Council’s Strategic Roadmap.
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
Purchase of this equipment will enable staff to continue conducting water and wastewater tests to ensure compliance with regulations including those set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and Clean Water Act. Regular and accurate testing of the City’s water and wastewater helps ensure protection of the Bay, as well the health and safety of the Hayward community.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Purchase of this equipment requires no public contact.
NEXT STEPS
If Council approves staff’s recommendation, staff will work with the City Manager to execute the sole source purchase of this equipment from Thermo.
Prepared by: Farid Ramezanzadeh, Water and Wastewater Laboratory Supervisor Recommended by: Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works Approved by:
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Kelly McAdoo, City Manager