CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 11 Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 72-4671 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Public Works Department
MEETING DATE: June 17, 2024
SUBJECT:
Fiscal Year 2024-25 Water Quality Control Plant Supply of Chemicals – Contracts RECOMMENDATION:
Award contracts for chemical supplies to: (1) Univar Solutions USA, Inc. to supply sodium hypochlorite in the amount of $1,438,280; (2) Thatcher Company of California, Inc. to supply sodium bisulfite in the amount of $359,570; (3) Kemira Water Solutions, Inc. for the supply of ferric chloride in the amount of $492,984; (4) Brenntag Pacific, Inc. for the supply of sodium hydroxide in the amount of $394,157; and (5) Brenntag Pacific Inc. for the supply of citric acid in the amount of $76,299; establish a 10% contingency reserve for each contract; and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the contracts in substantially the form presented and issue change orders within the contingency amounts.
BACKGROUND:
The Water Quality Control Plant (WQCP) uses chemicals to treat wastewater in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. The City is a member of the Bay Area Chemical Consortium (BACC), which conducts a competitive bidding process for its member agencies annually. The City participates in the BACC, along with other municipalities, to competitively bid the cost of chemicals needed during the treatment of wastewater.
Sodium Hypochlorite
The WQCP uses sodium hypochlorite as a disinfecting reagent in the chlorination treatment process. The chlorination process is a requirement of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. This contract provides the supply and delivery of 400,000 gallons of this chemical product. The BACC bid results are summarized below:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Univar Solutions USA, Inc. $3.28/gal + 9.625% sales tax $1,438,280 Olin Corporation $3.29/gal + 9.625% sales tax $1,442,665
Based on the low bid of $3.28 per gallon, staff recommends awarding the contract to Univar Solutions USA, Inc. for the supply of sodium hypochlorite. The contract term is 12 months and the price is to remain firm for the entire period.
Sodium Bisulfite
The WQCP uses sodium bisulfite as a dechlorination reagent in the final wastewater treatment process prior to discharging to the San Francisco Bay. The dechlorination process is a requirement of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. This contract provides the supply and delivery of 200,000 gallons of this chemical product. The BACC bid results for sodium hypochlorite are summarized below:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Thatcher Company of California, Inc. $1.64/gal + 9.6255% sales tax $359,570 Univar Solutions USA, Inc. $2.045/gal + 9.625% sales tax $448,366
Based on the low bid of $1.64 per gallon, staff recommends awarding the contract to Thatcher Company of California, Inc. for the supply of sodium bisulfite. The contract term is 12 months and the price is to remain firm for the entire period.
Ferric Chloride
The WQCP uses ferric chloride for the control of hydrogen sulfide formation, an odorous compound, in the anaerobic digestion process that produces methane. Controlling hydrogen sulfide levels is a requirement of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. This contract includes the supply and delivery of an estimated 300 dry tons of chemical product.
The BACC bid results for sodium hypochlorite are summarized below:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Kemira Water Solutions, Inc. $1,499/dry ton + 9.625% sales tax $492,984 Pencco, Inc. $1,700/dry ton + 9.625% sales tax $559,088 Univar Solutions USA, Inc. No Bid No Bid
Based on the low bid of $1,499 per dry ton, staff recommends award of the contract to Kemira Water Solutions, Inc. for the supply of ferric chloride. The term of the contract is 12 months and the price is to remain firm for the entire period.
Sodium Hydroxide
The WQCP uses sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH in the influent prior to entering the biological nutrient removal and the biological contact tank in the bioactiflo system. This contract provides for supply and delivery of 450 dry tons of this chemical product. The BACC bid results for sodium hydroxide are summarized as follows:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Brenntag Pacific, Inc. $799.00/dry ton + 9.625% sales tax $394,157 Univar Solutions USA, Inc. $836.25/dry ton + 9.625% sales tax $412,533
Based on the low bid of $799.00 per dry ton, staff recommends award of the contract to Brenntag Pacific, Inc. for the supply of sodium hydroxide. The term of the contract is 12 months and the price is to remain firm for the entire period.
Citric Acid
The WQCP uses citric acid as a cleaning agent for the membranes in the membrane bioreactors. This contract provides for supply and delivery of 8,000 gallons of this chemical product. The BACC bid results for citric acid are summarized as follows:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
NorthStar Chemical $6.45/gal + 9.625% sales tax $56,567 Univar Solutions USA, Inc. $8.39/gal + 9.625% sales tax $73,580 Brenntag Pacific, Inc. $8.70/gal + 9.625% sales tax $76,299 The BACC has awarded this supply to Brenntag Pacific, Inc. based on the overall supply costs for the region. Based on the BACC award, staff recommends award of the contract to Brenntag Pacific, Inc. for the supply of citric acid. The term of the contract is 12 months and the price is to remain firm for the entire period.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Funding is budgeted for the supply of chemicals in the Water Quality Control Plant operating budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
The purchase of chemicals to enable the treatment of wastewater is not a project subject to CEQA, because it is a continuing maintenance activity involving the purchase of supplies. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2).
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Univar Solutions USA, Inc. Contract for Sodium Hypochlorite Att 2 – BACC Award Letter for Sodium Hypochlorite
Att 3 – Thatcher Company of California, Inc. Contract for Sodium Bisulfite Att 4 – BACC Award Letter for Sodium Bisulfite
Att 5 – Kemira Water Solutions, Inc. Contract for Ferric Chloride Att 6 – BACC Award Letter for Ferric Chloride
Att 7 – Brenntag Pacific, Inc. Contract for Sodium Hydroxide Att 8 – BACC Award Letter for Sodium Hydroxide
Att 9 – Brenntag Pacific, Inc. Contract for Citric Acid Att 10 – BACC Award Letter for Citric Acid
STAFF CONTACT
Robert Learmonth, Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager
[email protected]
650-522-7386
William Shankles, Acting Operations Superintendent
[email protected]
650-522-7376
CITY OF SAN MATEO
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