City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 27, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Engineering and Street Services
Subject: Award Bid SP2666-CT and the Construction Contract to Big Ben Inc., and RFP SP2666-CM and the Construction Management Agreement to Z&K Consultants, Inc., for the FY2024-25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and NonPotable Water Main Replacement Project Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301, 15302, 15303, and 15304, and a finding of Statutory Exemption pursuant to Section 21080.21 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award Bid #SP2666-CT to Big Ben Inc. to provide construction services for the FY 2024/25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project for the Public Works Department;
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Big Ben Inc. in an amount not to exceed $18,729,326 (including a 15% contingency);
4. Award RFP #SP2666-CM to Z&K Consultants, Inc. for construction management services for the FY 2024/25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project and the FY 2025/26 Annual Paving Project for the Public Works Department; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Z&K Consultants, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 over a three-year period with future funding contingent on Council budget approval.
6. Authorize budget amendments as outlined in the Financial Impacts and Budget Actions section of this report (requires 5 votes).
Summary
To ensure the delivery of safe, high quality and reliable water supply and wastewater services to the residents and business owners of Santa Monica, the City is required to replace the pipes and the facilities that are approaching the end of their useful lives. The 2 of 10
FY 2024/25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project (Project) upholds the City’s commitment to addressing the maintenance and improvements necessary to ensure these utility systems maintain a high level of service throughout the City. The overall project is divided into five coordinated sub-projects to streamline construction, covering potable and non-potable water main replacement, valve replacement, wastewater main replacement, and an architectural façade wall extension.
Staff recommends Big Ben Inc. to provide construction services for the Project in an amount not to exceed $18,729,326 (including a 15% contingency). Staff also recommends Z&K Consultants, Inc. to provide construction management services for the FY 2024/25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project and FY 2025/26 Annual Paving Project in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.
Discussion
The City owns, operates, and maintains a 205-mile network of water distribution pipelines and six miles of recycled water mains, with pipeline sizes ranging from 6 to 36 inches. It also owns, operates and maintains an extensive sanitary sewer collection system, which includes approximately 154 miles of wastewater pipelines. Over time, the useful life of these pipelines diminishes due to age, soil conditions, and corrosion buildup. To address this, the City replaces an average of approximately 10,000 linear feet of water pipes and replaces or rehabilitates nearly 8,000 linear feet of wastewater pipes annually. These efforts support the 100-year replacement cycle recommended by the City Council-approved 2018 Updated Sustainable Water Master Plan (Attachment B) and the 2017 Sanitary Sewer System Master Plan (SSSMP) (Attachment A).
The FY 2024/25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project would include:
Project A: Annual Water Main Replacement Project
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This project would replace approximately 12,100 linear feet of 4”, 8”, 10”, and 12” water mains; 4” and 6” fire and domestic services; 14 fire hydrants; and one hundred thirtyone 1” and 2” service laterals and water meters.
Project B: Annual Non-Potable Water Main Project
The City is committed to expanding the Non-Potable Water Network as a critical component in achieving the City’s goal of water self-sufficiency and enhanced drought resiliency. This project would install 1,760 linear feet of 12” non-potable water main.
Project C: Valve Replacement Project
The City continuously works to improve the reliability and operational flexibility of its water distribution network by targeting valves that are broken, inoperable, or at the end of their service life. Properly functioning valves are critical for isolating pipeline segments during maintenance or emergency shutdowns, minimizing service disruptions, and maintaining water quality. This project would include the removal and replacement of eight (8) defective 8-inch and 12-inch valves located at key intersections across the City, including Broadway and 10th Court, Ocean Park Boulevard, and Lincoln Boulevard. Additionally, six (6) fire hydrant valves would be repaired.
Project D: Annual Wastewater Main Replacement Project
This project provides annual repair and replacement of sanitary sewer lines throughout the City. This project would include replacing approximately 6,570 linear feet of 8” and 10” wastewater mains; 133 sewer service laterals; install two new sewer access vaults; and spray line 43 existing access vaults.
Project E: SP2666 – Architectural Façade Wall Extension Project The City places importance on maintaining and enhancing the functional and visual quality of its facilities. To meet heightened security requirements, this project involves increasing the height of the existing Our City, Our Water architectural façade wall at three City water-well sites located along the Olympic Boulevard median between 26th Street and Centinela Avenue.
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Construction Management Services
The recommended firm would provide construction management services for two projects: the FY 2024/25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project and FY 2025/26 Annual Paving Project. The firm would be responsible for coordinating weekly progress meetings; reviewing contractor materials and submittals; observing the contractor’s work to ensure construction adheres to project design plans and specifications; answering contractor questions in the field; preparing daily reports; capturing and maintaining progress photos; coordinating with various City departments; distributing construction notifications; and addressing questions or concerns from the public. With a significant number of City projects currently under construction, City staff do not have the capacity to inspect and manage these two large-scale projects, which require full-time oversight.
Vendor Selection – Construction Services
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Big Ben Inc.
Evaluation
Criteria
The ability, capacity and skill of the bidder to perform the services; the capacity of the bidder to perform the contract within the time specified, the sufficiency of the bidder’s financial resources, reputation and experience of the bidder; The City is not required to select the bid with the lowest price.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
Bid Data
Date
Posted Posted On Advertise In(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
10/02/2025 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica
Daily Press
125 11/20/2025
Submittals Received
Big Ben Inc. $ 16,286,370 Blois Construction, LLC $ 24,690,228 Dominguez General
Engineering, Inc. $ 14,521,858 Ramona, Inc. $ 20,683,838 5 of 10
Construction Management and Observation Services
Best Bidder Justification
Staff recommends awarding the contract to Big Ben Inc. As the lowest qualified bidder, Big Ben Inc. was determined to be the best bidder based on its competitive bid price, proven ability, capacity, and skill to perform pipeline work, as well as its demonstrated capacity to complete the contract within the specified timeframe. In addition, Big Ben Inc. has sufficient financial resources to support the project and holds a strong reputation within the industry. The lowest bidder, Dominguez General Engineering, Inc., did not meet the project’s minimum requirements for construction experience and, therefore, was not considered a responsive bidder.
Pre-Qualified Firms
Accenture Infrastructure & Capital Projects Maestro Development Albert A. Webb Associates MNS Engineers, Inc.
Arcadis U.S., Inc. P2S LP
Berg & Associates, Inc. Psomas
Cannon Corporation Southstar Engineering & Consulting, Inc.
Cumming Management Group, Inc Transtech Engineers, Inc.
Dewberry Design-Builders Inc. Vanir Construction Management, Inc.
Fountainhead Consulting Corporation Willdan Engineering Ghirardelli Associates, Inc. Z&K Consultants, Inc.
Jacobs Project Management Co
Pre-Qualification Criteria
Evaluation
Criteria
The ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to perform the services; the capacity of the bidder to perform the contract within the time specified; the sufficiency of the bidder’s financial resources; and the reputation and experience of the bidder/
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.190
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Justification to Award
The shortlist was created by way of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process.
Twenty-nine firms submitted proposals in response to the RFQ for construction management and observation services. Statements of qualifications were evaluated by staff from Architectural Services and the Engineering and Street Services Division.
Based on their qualifications and directly related experience providing similar services for municipal agencies, staff identified the best-qualified firms and established a list of pre-qualified firms. These pre-qualified firms were invited to participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP) process to provide construction management and observation services.
Request for Proposals - Construction Management Services RFP Information
Best Qualified Firm Z&K Consultants, Inc.
Evaluation Criteria The quality of the services offered; the ability, capacity and skill of the personnel to perform the services; the capacity of the bidder to perform the contract within the time specified; the sufficiency of the bidder’s financial resources; the character, integrity, reputation, judgment, training, experience and efficiency of the bidder;
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.190
RFQual Data
Date
Posted Posted On
Advertised In
(City Charter &
SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Submittals
Received
Date
Publicly
Opened
01/09/2025 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica
Daily Press 182 29 02/10/2025
Submittals Received
Berg & Associates, Inc. Cannon Corp.
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RFP Data
Date
Posted Posted On
Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
10/10/2025 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily
Press
11 10/28/2025
Community Outreach
Construction is expected to begin in April or May 2026 and last approximately 24 months. Prior to and during construction, City staff and Z&K Consultants, Inc. would distribute notifications to adjacent properties, neighborhood groups, and surrounding areas regarding the project scope, construction schedule, potential impacts, and mitigation measures included in the traffic control plan. Periodic updates would be provided as necessary. Social media would also be used to alert the public to possible traffic delays during the project.
Environmental Review
The Project is categorically exempt pursuant to Sections 15301 and Section 15302 of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) of CEQA Guidelines Psomas Southstar / DCCM
Transtech Engineers, Inc. Willdan
Z&K Consultants
Best Bidder Justification
Z&K Consultants, Inc., is recommended to provide construction management services from an approved shortlist of pre-qualified firms. The shortlist was developed through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. Seven firms submitted proposals in response to the subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP) for construction management services. The proposals were evaluated by staff from the Engineering and Street Services Division. Based on its qualifications, pricing, and directly related experience providing similar services for municipal agencies, staff recommends Z&K Consultants, Inc., as the best qualified firm to provide construction management services
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exempts projects consisting of the minor alteration of existing public or private facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use. Section 15302 (Class 2 - Replacement/Reconstruction) of the CEQA Guidelines exempts projects involving the replacement/reconstruction of existing facilities, including the replacement of existing utility systems involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. The project would replace approximately 12,100 linear feet of existing water mains that are aging and inadequate. The project would also rehabilitate existing sewer mains, sewer manholes, and sewer service laterals. The project would not represent a substantial increase in capacity. Therefore, the replacement of existing water infrastructure under the project is exempt under Section 15301 and Section 15302. Furthermore, the installation of nonpotable water mains is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Section 21080.21 and is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15304 of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 21080.21 exempts any project of less than one mile in length within the public street or right of way for the installation of a new pipeline or the maintenance, repair, restoration, replacement, or removal of an existing pipeline. Section 15304 (Class 4 – Minor Alterations in Land) exempts projects consisting of minor public or private alterations in the condition of land and/or vegetation. Therefore, the installation of new 1,760 linear feet non-potable water main mains is exempt under Section 21080.21 and Section 15304. Lastly, the architectural wall extension is exempt under Section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines, which provides Class 3 exemption for the construction of new small structures.
In addition, none of the exceptions specified in Section 15300.2 of CEQA Guidelines would apply that would preclude the use of this CEQA exemption: The project site is not located in a sensitive environment, the project will not have a significant effect on the environment, the project would not damage scenic resources, the project would not be located on a hazardous waste site, and the project would not cause a change to a historical resource.
Past Council Actions
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Meeting Date Description
9/26/2017
(Attachment A)
Approval of Sanitary Sewer Master Plan (SSSMP)
11/27/2018
(Attachment B)
Updated Sustainable Water Master Plans and Pathway to
Water Self-Sufficiency
11/15/2022
(Attachment C)
Award RFP #SP2666 to DRP Engineering, Inc. for the
design of Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to appropriate additional funds from the Water Fund to award a contract with Big Ben Inc. to provide construction services for the FY2024/25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project.
FY 2025-2026 Budget Changes
Release Funds Appropriate Funds
Account Number Amount Account Number Amount
50.335018 $256,513 C5004870.689520 $256,513
Total $256,513 Total $256,513
Contract Request - Construction
Funding
Source
FY 2025-26
Request
Amount
Future Years
Amount CIP Account # Total Contract Amount
Water Fund $1,398,086 $9,786,601 C5004840.689000 $11,184,687 Wastewater
Fund $718,260 $5,027,818 C5104860.689000 $5,746,078
Water Fund $0 $1,069,431 C5004870.689000 $1,069,431
Water Fund $166,868 $98,645 C5004870.689520 $265,513
Water Fund $57,952 $405,665 C5009050.689000 $463,617
$2,341,166 $16,388,160 Total $18,729,326
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Water Fund, Wastewater Fund, and Gas Tax Fund to award a contract with Z&K Consultants, Inc. to provide 10 of 10
construction management services for the FY2024/25 Annual Water, Wastewater, and Non-Potable Water Main Replacement Project and FY 2025/26 Annual Paving Project.
Contract Request - Construction Management Services
Funding
Source
FY 2025-26
Request
Amount
Future
Years
Amount
CIP Account #
Total
Contract
Amount
Water Fund $181,697 $545,090 C5004840.689000 $726,787
Wastewater
Fund $84,336 $253,009 C5104860.689000 $337,345
Water Fund $20,417 $61,251 C5004870.689000 $81,668
Gas Tax
Fund $44,275 $0 C2604600.689610.98992 $44,275
Gas Tax
Fund $0 $309,925 C2604600.689610 $309,925
$330,725 $1,169,275 Total $1,500,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Alisha Flores, Civil Engineer
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Attachment A: Approval of Sanitary Sewer Master Plan (SSSMP) - Web Link B. Attachment B: Updated Sustainable Water Master Plans and Pathway to Water Self-Sufficiency - Web Link
C. Attachment C - Award RFP #SP2666 to DRP Engineering, Inc. for the design of Water of Wastewater Replacement Project - Web Link
D. Attachment D: Big Ben Inc. Oaks Initiative Disclosure Form E. Attachment E- Big Ben Inc. California Levine Act Disclosure F. Attachment F: Z&K Consultants, Inc. Oaks Initiative Disclosure Form G. Attachment G: Z&K Contantants, Inc. California Levine Act Disclosure