City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: DECEMBER 9, 2025 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: 1
SUBJECT: AWARD BID NO. 8121 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TEQUESQUITE LANDFILL BLOWERS REHABILITATION PROJECT TO J.R. FILANC CONSTRUCTION, OF ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA, IN THE AMOUNT OF $925,000.00 ISSUE:
Award Bid No. 8121 for the construction of the Tequesquite Landfill Blowers Rehabilitation Project to J.R. Filanc Construction, of Escondido, California, in the amount of $925,000.00.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Award Bid No. 8121 for the construction of the Tequesquite Landfill Blowers Rehabilitation Project to J.R. Filanc Construction, of Escondido, California, in the amount of $925,000; and Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the construction contract with J.R. Filanc Construction, including making minor non-substantial changes.
BACKGROUND:
The Tequesquite Landfill operated from prior to 1910 until 1985 when the waste disposal operations ceased. In 1988, a final cover and barrier soil cap, along with a landfill gas collection system were installed to comply with regulatory requirements.
In May of 1996, the City of Riverside, owner and operator of Tequesquite Landfill, submitted their Closure/Post-closure Maintenance Plan to the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB), the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA), and the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The plan and subsequent operating permit stated that the Tequesquite Landfill would operate three (3) rotary, sliding vane compressors independently or in series to condition and compress the gas coming from the landfill. The landfill gas would then be transported via pipeline to the Co-Generation Facility at the City's Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP).
In July of 2005, the City revised the operating permit for landfill gas collection and treatment system due to the gradually declining strength and quantity of gas being produced at the landfill. The existing compressors on-site were originally sized and configured properly to provide an alternative fuel source for the Co-generation plant. Since the gas strength and quality have changed, it is no longer feasible to send the landfill gas to be burned for energy production at the Co-Generation Plant. As a result, an enclosed gas flare was installed on-site to burn the landfill gas. The original gas flare deteriorated to the point of being non-functional. In 2019, the ultra-low emission flare was installed to replace the existing dilapidated equipment.
The existing compressors, however, are improperly sized for the current flaring equipment. Additionally, the oversized compressors are deteriorating and the cost to maintain and repair has been a financial burden for the City. Currently, only one compressor is in operation with another compressor in standby mode. The third compressor has been decommissioned.
On March 17, 2020, City Council approved the establishment of a professional consultant services panel to support the Wastewater Division’s RWQCP Capital Improvement Program. Subsequently, on June 3, 2020, Request for Proposal (RFP) No. WQCP 2020-06 was issued to the panel. Following a comprehensive evaluation criterion outlined in the RFP, the Public Works Department selected Lee & Ro, Inc., to provide design reports, construction drawings, and technical specifications for the Tequesquite Landfill Blowers Rehabilitation Project at a contract amount of $128,814.
DISCUSSION:
On September 9, 2025, Bid No. 8121 for Construction of the Tequesquite Landfill Blowers Rehabilitation Project was released via the City’s formal bidding platform, Planet Bids. The City sought qualified bidders to remove three (3) existing gas compressors and replace them with two (2) centrifugal blowers system.
Prior to bid opening, a total of twenty-seven (27) questions were submitted and addressed, and one (1) addendum was issued. A summary of the bid notification is provided in Table 1 below:
Table 1 - Notification Summary (Bid No. 8121)
Action
Number of Vendors
City of Riverside Vendors Notified
1,333
Vendors Who Downloaded the Bid
63 Questions Received and Addressed
27 Addenda Submitted
1 Proposals Received
6 On October 14, 2025, a total of six (6) responsive bids were received in response to Bid 8121. The lowest responsive and responsible bid was from J.R. Filanc Construction, in the amount of $925,000, which is 0.59% below the Engineer’s Estimate. A summary of the bid results is provided in Table 2 below:
Table 2 - Bid Summary (Bid No. 8121)
Vendors
Location
Bid Amount
Rank
J.R. Filanc Construction
Escondido, CA
$925,000.00
1 Vicon Enterprise, Inc.
Anaheim, CA
$932,050.00
2 GSE Construction Company, Inc.
Livermore, CA
$938,200.00
3 SCW Contracting Corp.
Fallbrook, CA
$958,020.00
4 MMC, Inc.
La Palma, CA
$1,054,000.00
5 Houalla Enterprises, Ltd.
Newport Beach, CA
$1,371,267.00
6 Engineer’s Estimate: $930,490.00
Purchasing Resolution 24101, Article Five, Section 508 states, “Contracts procured through Formal Procurement shall be awarded by the Awarding Entity to the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommended actions comply with Purchasing Resolution 24101, Section 508.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $925,000. The estimated total Project cost including construction, contingencies, construction engineering, contract administration, and inspection is itemized in Table 3. Sufficient funds are budgeted and available in the Refuse Fund, Landfill Blower Project account number 9921800-440301 to award the construction contract and complete the Project.
Table 3 – Project Costs
Task
Amount
Engineering (Consultant)*
$128,814
Construction Contract (J.R. Filanc Construction)
$925,000
Construction Contingencies (10%)
$92,500
Construction Engineering, Contract Administration and Inspection (10%) $92,500
Total
$1,238,814
*Engineering costs already encumbered and expended
Prepared by: Elaine Radke, Senior Engineer
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachment: Bid Award Recommendation
Award Bid No. 8121 for Tequesquite Landfill Blowers Rehabilitation● Page 4