CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
June 16, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Chris Diggs, Water Resources Director
SUBJECT: AWARD FOUR MULTI-YEAR CONTRACTS FOR WATER TREATMENT MATERIALS RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Award a three-year contract to Purolite, LLC. for the purchase of perchlorate removing resin in the total contract amount of $2,803,353; Award a three-year contract to Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC. for the purchase of perchlorate resin in the total contract amount of $3,707,032; Award a three-year contract to Carbon Activated Corporation for the purchase of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) in the total contract amount of $1,323,000; Award a three-year contract to Karbonous Inc. for the purchase of GAC in the total contract amount of $1,323,000; and, Authorize the City Manager to execute a three-year agreement with two additional year options with Carbon Activated Corporation, Karbonous Inc., Purolite, LLC, and Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC for GAC and resin as needed.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The current contract for resin and GAC expired May 16, 2025. Staff is recommends approval of award four separate new contracts, one to Purolite LLC, and one to Evoqua LLC for resin; and one for Carbon Activated Corporation and one for Karbonous Inc. for GAC. The recommended agreement will allow for the procurement of resin and GAC filter media replacement and services necessary to comply with drinking water standards.
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:
Funding for the replacement of Resin is available within the WRD proposed FY 2025-26 Water Operating budget (571-8129-53880-00000). Expenditures are limited annually by the Department’s budgeted appropriations. Annual expenditures are estimated on average to be $1,300,000. Funding for future year contract amounts will be included in future annual budget submissions.
PUBLIC NOTICING REQUIREMENTS:
Section 2-993.1(4) (a) of the City’s Purchasing Ordinance states that “the notice inviting bids shall be publicly advertised in the manner directed by the Procurement Officer pursuant to the procurement policies and procedures manual. The notice shall state where bid or proposal documents may be secured and the date, time and place submittal and for opening bids. The City may utilize electronic methods for all noticing requirements of the procurement process whenever feasible. As described below, in accordance with Section 2-993.1 (4) of the City’s Purchasing Ordinance, a public notice inviting bids was posted on PlanteBids on February 3, 2025.
DISCUSSION:
The City’s Water Resources Department (WRD) staff operate and maintain 15 groundwater wells in the Chino Basin. To properly treat the water to meet state regulations, resin is utilized at our Anion Exchange III filtration plant. Resin is the best available technology to remove perchlorate from drinking water. Once the resin is exhausted it must replace with new resin.
To remove volatile and synthetic organic compounds the City uses GAC. GAC removes these compounds by adsorbing them to the carbon. Like resin, once the GAC is fully saturated it too is removed from service and replaced.
A public notice inviting bids was posted on PlanteBids on February 3, 2025; IFB#2025-1007 where 385 vendors were notified, 22 prospective bidders downloaded the bid and 6 bids were received. The 6 companies that submitted proposals are: CARB USA LLC, Calgon Carbon Corporation, Purolite LLC, Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC, Carbon Activated Corp., and Karbonous Inc. After receiving the bids staff reviewed the technical requirements and determined that Purolite LLC and Evoqua LLC. are qualified to meet the departments scope for Resin. Staff recommends having two vendors to avoid any potential supply chain shortages, which have been of concern over the past recent years. (Table 1) For GAC, Carbon Activated Corporation & Karbonous Inc. are qualified to meet the departments scope. (Table 2) .
Table 1
Resin Replacement Cost
Purolite LLC
Karbonous Inc
Carbon Activated Corporation
Evoqua Water Technologies
Year 1
$112,143.40
$145,495.00
$131,814.00
$146.850.00
Year 2
$116,729.93
$150,603.00
$139,195.00
$154,319.00
Year 3
$121,545.79
$157,215.00
$147,504.00
$162,210.00
Year 4
$127,305.38 Budgetary Pricing
$154,274.00
$152,288.50
$170,546.00
Year 4
$133,352.95 Budgetary Pricing
$160,947.00
$158,786.00
$179,356.00
Table 2
GAC Replacement Cost (per vessel)
Purolite LLC
Karbonous Inc
Carbon Activated Corporation
Evoqua Water Technologies
Year 1
No Bid
$34,367.00
$34,937.00
No Bid
Year 2
No Bid
$34,367.00
$34,937.00
No Bid
Year 3
No Bid
$34,367.00
$34,937.00
No Bid
Year 4
No Bid
$35,469.50
$34,937.00
No Bid
Year 5
No Bid
$35,469.50
$34,937.00
No Bid
Prepared by:
Stephen Paz
Stephen Paz, Water Treatment Supervisor
Attachment No. 1 – Agreement with Carbon Activated Corporation Attachment No. 2 - Agreement with Karbonous Inc.
Attachment No. 3 - Agreement with Purolite LLC.
Attachment No. 4 - Agreement with Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC.
Award of Contract for Granular Activated Carbon and Resin