City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 14, 2024
Agenda Item: 5.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Water Resources Subject: Award Agreement to Woodard and Curran for Engineering Design Services for the Moss Avenue Pump Station and Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility Rehabilitation Project
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15302 (Replacement/Reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines;
2. Award RFP #388 to Woodard and Curran for design services for the Moss Avenue Pump Station and Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility Rehabilitation Project for the Public Works Department; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Woodard and Curran, in an amount not to exceed $1,525,401 over a 5-year period, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The Moss Avenue Pump Station (MAPS) and Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) are over 20 years old and in need of rehabilitation. Equipment at both facilities have recently experienced failures or are no longer supported due to their age. Upgrades at both facilities are needed to maintain reliable operations well into the future. Staff recommends awarding RFP #388 to Woodard and Curran to provide professional engineering design services for improvements at both the MAPS and SMURRF facilities.
Discussion
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Both MAPS and SMURRF provide important functions as part of the City’s wastewater, stormwater, and recycled water systems. The MAPS is a critical component of the Coastal Interceptor Sewer, which conveys wastewater along the coast from northern Los Angeles, through Santa Monica, and eventually to the Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant. It was constructed in 2001 and has a pumping capacity of 34.5 million gallons per day (MGD). The SMURRF is a 0.5 MGD water recycling plant located adjacent to MAPS near the Santa Monica Pier. SMURRF was constructed in 2002 as a stormwater best management practice to treat dry weather urban runoff for pollutants such as sediment, oil, grease, and pathogens. Treated water from SMURRF is pumped to the recycled water distribution system and utilized for beneficial non-potable reuse (e.g. irrigation, toilet flushing, etc.) and will also be used to recharge the City’s Olympic well field groundwater aquifer.
In 2023, the MAPS experienced two significant failures. In March, the MAPS experienced an overflow event due to a series of variable frequency drive (VFD) faults as well as instrumentation and control (I&C) and communication failures. In May, water intrusion into the electrical room caused a malfunction at the main switchboard and the emergency generator that provides power to the pumps, nearly causing a second overflow event. A condition assessment was performed in response to these events evaluating the mechanical, electrical, I&C, and structural condition of the facility.
An assessment was also performed to determine what repairs and improvements are needed at the SMURRF. The assessment found that some equipment is no longer supported due to age and that equipment is corroding due to the facility’s proximity to the ocean air. The Water Resources Division solicited proposals from professional engineering firms to prepare technical drawings and specifications to implement the recommendations provided in the assessments for MAPS and SMURRF.
Bidder Recommendation
Best Qualified Firm Best Qualified Firm
Evaluation Criteria
(include all that apply)
Training/credentials/experience, competence/skill, capacity/ability to perform services promptly, quality control, character/reputation, value add/breadth of service, and price.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.190
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RFPs Received
Arcadis U.S., Inc. Woodard & Curran
RFP Data
Posted On Posted On
Advertised In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
12/18/2023 City's Online
Bidding Site Santa Monica Daily Press 41 02/15/2024
Justification to Award
A mandatory job walk of both MAPS and SMURRF was held on January 10, 2024. Two prospective bidders attended. The proposals were reviewed by a selection panel consisting of staff from the Public Works Department – Water Resources Division.
Evaluations were based on the following selection criteria: experience, competence/skill, ability to perform the required services promptly, quality control, references, value add, and cost. Based on these criteria, the selection panel unanimously ranked Woodard and Curran as the best qualified firm to provide design services to rehabilitate MAPS and SMURRF due to their understanding of project requirements, experience on similar wastewater pump station and advanced water treatment projects, comprehensive approach to identify and assess rehabilitation needs for each facility, and ability to meet the project schedule.
Environmental Review
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 and Section 15302 of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 exempts Class 1 (Existing Facilities) projects from CEQA, which include the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Section 15302 exempts Class 2 Replacement/ Reconstruction) projects, which consists of replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. The award for design services would rehabilitate the existing SMURFF and the Moss Avenue Pump Station facilities, with minor replacement of 4 of 4
certain facilities and equipment. No expansion of existing use would result, and therefore the project is exempt pursuant to Section 15301 and Section 15302.
Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in Section 15300.2 of the CEQA Guidelines apply that would preclude use of these exemptions.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve funding from the Wastewater Fund to award an agreement with Woodard and Curran for professional engineering design services for improvements at both the MAPS and SMURRF facilities. Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Agreement Request
FY 2023-24
Request Amount Future Years Department/CIP Account # Total Contract Amount $797,406 $0 C5104880.689000 $797,406
$250,000 $477,995 C5108620.689000 $727,995
Total $1,525,401
Prepared By: Chris Aguillon, Water Resources Protection Specialist Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Levine Act Disclosure Form - Woodard and Curran
B. Oaks Initiative Form - Woodard and Curran