CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
May 19, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Chris Diggs, Water Resources Department Director SUBJECT: AWARD A BID TO MORTON SALT FOR THE PURCHASE OF BULK SODIUM CHLORIDE RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Award a bid to Morton Salt for the purchase of bulk salt, at the prices bid, for a five-year term; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee any extensions, subsequent changes or amendments thereto, on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The proposed action will award a five-year contract for the purchase of sodium chloride (salt) to Morton Salt. Salt is utilized to create a brine solution that effectively removes nitrate from resin filters which allows it to be utilized again and again. These resin filters are used at the City’s Anion Exchange Water Treatment Plant (AEP) and Harrison Water Treatment Plant.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☐ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds for this procurement are available in the adopted FY 2025-26 Water Operating Budget account 571-8129-53880-00000. The Water Resources Department (WRD) anticipates purchasing $1,900,000 in salt for FY 2025-26 based on the prices bid for Year 1. Funding for future years will be included in each respective annual budget submission based on prices bid.
DISCUSSION:
Since 1992, the AEP treatment plant has been used to remove nitrate found in the groundwater within the Chino Basin. This process involves pumping water from beneath the ground, sending it to the AEP treatment plant, running the water through vessels full of resin, chlorinating it, and putting it into a reservoir where it will be distributed to the system as needed. As nitrate is removed from the water, it builds up on the resin to a point where the resin is completely saturates with nitrate. At this point, the resin is washed with saltwater brine, thereby replacing nitrate with sodium ions. After the nitrate is removed from the resin it is flushed and placed back into service, thereby starting the process over again. Annually, the Water Department purchases approximately 7,000 tons of salt for our treatment plants.
In accordance with Section 2-993.1 (4) of the City’s Purchasing Ordinance, a public notice inviting bids was posted on PlanteBids on March 13, 2025; IFB#2025-1008 where 183 vendors were notified, 13 prospective bidders downloaded the bid and 2 bids were received. The 2 companies that submitted proposals are: Morton Salt and Step Saver. Univar submitted a No bid. The proposals from Morton Salt met the minimum qualifications and Stepsaver was deemed non-responsive due to incomplete bid documents. After reviewing the Morton Salt’s bid it was determined to be responsive and met all the requirements necessary. Shown in table 1 below are the bid results.
Table 1
Morton Salt
Step Saver
Univar
Year 1
$244.78 per ton
Non-Responsive
No bid
Year 2
$254.58 per ton
Non-Responsive
No bid
Year 3
$264.77 per ton
Non-Responsive
No bid
Year 4
$275.37 per ton
Non-Responsive
No bid
Year 5
$286.39 per ton
Non-Responsive
No bid
Prepared by:
Cristina Flores
Cristina Flores
Program Assistant
Award of Bid for the Purchase of Sodium Chloride (Salt)