Agenda Item: 4
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: March 25, 2025
SUBJECT: VISTA CANYON WATER FACTORY OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood Services
PRESENTER: Amber Rodriguez
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award a three-year contract to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., for water testing services in the amount of $482,822 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $48,282, for a total contract amount not to exceed $531,104.
2. Appropriate a one-time expenditure of $112,052 from the Vista Canyon Wastewater Standby fund balance (Fund 368) per attached Exhibit A, effective Fiscal Year 2024-25.
3. Appropriate an ongoing expenditure of $250,000 from the Vista Canyon Wastewater Standby fund balance (Fund 368) per attached Exhibit A, effective Fiscal Year 2025-26.
4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute up to two additional, one-year renewal options, plus an adjustment consistent with the appropriate Consumer Price Index for Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange County adjustments, upon request of the contractor, and contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the City Council in the annual budget for such fiscal year.
5. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
As part of the Conditions of Approval for the Vista Canyon project that was approved in April 2011, the City of Santa Clarita (City) required the developer to construct the Vista Canyon Water Factory (Water Factory) and oversee operations until the City assumed full ownership. The
Water Factory was completed in 2020, has a capacity of 392,135 gallons per day (equivalent to 439.2 acre-feet per year) and can produce approximately 371,000 gallons per day (equivalent to 415.5 acre-feet per year) of recycled water.
On April 1, 2024, the City officially began overseeing operations and maintenance of the Water Factory. As part of the City’s ongoing effort to enhance water resources in our region, as of August 21, 2024, the Water Factory officially began selling recycled water to the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. The operations and maintenance expenses associated with the site are funded through the Wastewater Assessment Fund (Fund 368), and revenue generated by the sale of recycled water.
To ensure the City remains in compliance with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (LARWQCB) Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR), Water Reclamation Requirements (WRR), and Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP) for the Water Factory (Order No. R4-2020-0049, MRP No. Cl-10041), adopted on April 16, 2020, the City must monitor and report the potential impacts of landscape irrigation and non-potable recycled water applications using Water Factory effluent. The required monitoring includes continuous, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual monitoring of the Water Factory influent, effluent, groundwater, effluent storage tank, and water supply. Quarterly and annual reports are required to describe monitoring actions, summarize monitoring data, analyze trends, and discuss results, compliance, and corrective actions.
The City conducted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals from qualified consulting firms to perform water testing services in compliance with the LARWQCB’s WDR and WRR for the Water Factory. The RFP was published and circulated via the City’s e-procurement system BidNet on December 27, 2024. The City transmitted the solicitation to 1,276 vendors on BidNet, of which 57 vendors downloaded the RFP. Two companies provided proposals for consideration.
These proposals were reviewed and evaluated based on each company’s ability to meet the specific needs of the City.
An evaluation panel comprised of staff from Neighborhood Services, scored the responses using the following categories of weighted criteria:
• Contractor Qualifications, Scope of Work, Program Management (15%) • Experience (20%)
• Thoroughness of Proposal (20%)
• Cost (15%)
• Successful Completion of Projects (15%)
• Ability to Modify Programming (15%)
The evaluation team scored the responses based on a 100-point system, with the results outlined below:
Rank Company Location Cost Score 1 Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. San Diego, CA $482,822 96.34 2 Rick Engineering Company San Diego, CA $353,400 77.34
In reviewing proposals, the evaluation team awarded the highest score to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. (Geosyntec). The evaluation team determined that Geosyntec’s proposal offered the best overall value to meet the LARWQCB’s WDR and WRR for the Water Factory. Additionally, Geosyntec received a higher score based on the comprehensive scope and detailed expense breakdown.
City staff completed a due diligence review of Geosyntec’s professional references and determined its work history meets the City’s standards and performance expectations. Based on the above, staff recommends awarding a three-year contract to Geosyntec.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon City Council approval of the recommended actions, funds will be available in the Vista Canyon Water Factory expenditure account 3687413-514101, 3687413-516101 and 3687413- 518503.
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A-VCWF Budget
Geosyntec Vista Canyon (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)