CITY OF SAN MATEO
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CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 15 Section Name: CONSENT CALENDAR Account Number: 72-4671 File ID: 26-11240 TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Public Works Department
MEETING DATE: June 15, 2026
SUBJECT:
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Wastewater Treatment Plant Supply of Chemicals — Agreements RECOMMENDATION:
Award purchase contracts for chemical supplies necessary for the Wastewater Treatment Plant operations to the following suppliers: (1) Univar Solutions USA, LLC to supply sodium hypochlorite in the amount of $1,350,580; sodium bisulfite in the amount of $322,626.38; and sodium hydroxide in the amount of $434,253.13; (2) Kemira Water Solutions, Inc. to supply ferric chloride in the amount of $402,214.13; and (3) Pacific Star Chemical, LLC dba Northstar Chemical to supply citric acid in the amount of $56,128.00; establish a 10% contingency reserve for each purchase 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 Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) 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 an annual competitive bidding process on behalf of its member agencies. The City participates in the BACC, along with other municipalities, to competitively bid the cost of chemicals needed during the wastewater treatment process. The BACC awards bidders that meet the specifications for bulk loads for the chemicals and submit the lowest overall bid price, assuming the bid is determined by the BACC to be complete and in compliance with the bid requirements.
Sodium Hypochlorite
The WWTP utilizes sodium hypochlorite as an oxidizing agent in the disinfection process. Disinfection is a requirement of the WWTP’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This purchase contract provides for the supply and delivery of 350,000 gallons of this product. The BACC bid result for sodium hypochlorite is summarized below:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Univar Solutions USA, LLC. $3.520 + 9.625% Tax $1,350,580 Olin Corporation $3.545 + 9.625% Tax $1,358,254
Pur Water, LLC $3.200 + 9.625% Tax $1,227,800
Durrani Investments Corp $3.200 + 9.625% Tax $1,227,800
The low bids of $3.20 per gallon from Pur Water, LLC and Durrani Investments Corp were rejected by the BACC due to the bidders being nonresponsive and not being in compliance with the bid requirements. Based on the lowest responsive bid of $3.52 per gallon, staff recommends awarding the purchase contract to Univar Solutions USA, LLC. for the supply of sodium hypochlorite. The purchase contract term is 12 months, and the price is to remain firm for the entire period.
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Sodium Bisulfite
The WWTP utilizes sodium bisulfite as a reducing agent in the dechlorination process prior to discharging effluent to the San Francisco Bay. The dechlorination process is a requirement of the WWTP’s NPDES permit. This purchase contract provides the supply and delivery of 180,000 gallons of this product. The BACC bid result for sodium bisulfite is summarized below:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Univar Solutions USA, LLC. $1.635 + 9.625% Tax $322,626.38 Thatcher Company of California, Inc. $2.090 + 9.625% Tax $412,409.25 Heimburger and Company $1.525 + 9.625% Tax $300,920.63
The low bid of $1.525 per gallon from Heimburger and Company was rejected by the BACC due to the bid being nonresponsive and not meeting specifications. Based on the lowest responsive bid of $1.635 per gallon, staff recommends awarding the contract to Univar Solutions USA, LLC. for the supply of sodium bisulfite. The purchase contract term is 12 months, and the price is to remain firm for the entire period.
Ferric Chloride
The WWTP utilizes ferric chloride for the control of hydrogen sulfide, a flammable gas produced in the anaerobic digestion process. Managing the sulfur content of combusted digester gas is a requirement of the WWTP’s Bay Area Air District permit. This purchase contract includes the supply and delivery of an estimated 300 dry tons of product. The BACC bid result for ferric chloride is summarized below:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Kemira Water Solutions, Inc. $1,223 + 9.625% Tax $402,214.13 Pencco, Inc. $1,454 + 9.625% Tax $478,184.25
Thatcher Company of California, Inc. $1,350 + 9.625% Tax $443,981.25
Based on the low bid of $1,223 per dry ton, staff recommends awarding the purchase 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 WWTP utilizes sodium hydroxide to adjust the alkalinity of wastewater in biological nutrient removal and for pH adjustment in the BioActiflo process. This purchase contract provides for supply and delivery of 450 dry tons of this product. The BACC bid result for sodium hydroxide is summarized below:
Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Univar Solutions USA, LLC. $880.28 + 9.625% Tax $434,253.13 Brenntag Pacific, Inc. $920.00 + 9.625% Tax $453,847.50
Based on the low bid of $880.28 per dry ton, staff recommends awarding the purchase contract to Univar Solutions USA, LLC. 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 WWTP utilizes citric acid as a cleaning agent for membrane fouling in the Membrane Bioreactor process. This purchase contract provides for supply and delivery of 8,000 gallons of this product. The BACC bid result for citric acid is summarized below:
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Contractor Bid Amount Contract Amount
Northstar Chemical as a dba of Pacific Star
Chemical $6.40 + 9.625% Tax $56,128.00
Univar Solutions USA LLC. $6.94 + 9.625% Tax $60,863.60 Brenntag Pacific, Inc. $7.20 + 9.625% Tax $63,144.00
CHEMRITE, Incorporated $7.47 + 9.625% Tax $65,511.90
Based on the lowest responsive bid of $6.40 per gallon, staff recommends awarding the purchase contract to Pacific Star Chemical, LLC dba Northstar Chemical for the supply of citric acid. The term of the purchase contract is 12 months, and the price is to remain firm for the entire period.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Funding is budgeted annually for the supply of chemicals in the Water Quality Control Plant operating budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
The purchase of various chemicals to enable the treatment of wastewater at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant 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 Purchase Agreement for Sodium Hypochlorite Att 2 – BACWA-BACC Award Letter for Sodium Hypochlorite Att 3 – Univar Purchase Agreement for Sodium Bisulfite
Att 4 – BACWA-BACC Award Letter for Sodium Bisulfite
Att 5 – Kemira Purchase Agreement for Ferric Chloride
Att 6 – BACWA-BACC Award Letter for Ferric Chloride
Att 7 – Univar Purchase Agreement for Sodium Hydroxide
Att 8 – BACWA-BACC Award Letter for Sodium Hydroxide
Att 9 – Northstar Chemical Purchase Agreement for Citric Acid Att 10 – BACWA-BACC Award Letter for Citric Acid
STAFF CONTACT
Robert Learmonth, Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager
[email protected]
(650) 522-7386
Robert Knox, Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations Superintendent [email protected]
(650) 522-7376