AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO GEOSYNTEC CONSULTANTS, INC. TO PERFORM A GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION FOR THE DELTA WATER TREATMENT PLANT GROUNDWATER RECHARGE PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
Approve the filing of a Notice of Exemption No. NOE 16-22 under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the geotechnical Investigation, (Exhibit 1 to the Resolution).
Approve findings pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070 in support of an exception to the competitive bidding process.
Award a Professional Services Agreement to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. of Rancho Cordova, CA in the not-to-exceed amount of $538,303 to perform a geotechnical investigation and complete a hydrogeologic characterization report for the Delta Water Treatment Plant Groundwater Recharge Project.
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take all appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
Summary
As part of the City’s original water supply conjunctive use program, the Municipal Utilities Department (MUD) plans to investigate the potential development of a groundwater recharge project at the Delta Water Treatment Plant (DWTP). The conjunctive use of water supplies includes the recharge of available water into the groundwater basin that is stored and later pumped in dry years or during extended droughts.
The Phase 1 development of a groundwater recharge project begins with investigating the soil characteristics at the site of the proposed recharge project. To collect this hydrogeological information, the MUD solicited proposals from qualified geotechnical engineering firms. The firms were asked to provide professional service proposals for conducting a geotechnical investigation and preparing a hydrogeologic characterization report on a 70-acre field at the DWTP site. The data and conclusions from this study will be used to confirm the feasibility of constructing a groundwater recharge project. This project will be receiving State funding feasibility and future construction through the Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Round 1 grant program ($300,000) and the Integrated Regional Water Management Program ($2,000,000).
If the geotechnical investigation demonstrates the project is feasible, Phase 2 will include engineering design, environmental review, permitting, funding and construction. In addition, the development and future construction of the recharge basin project will help to balance groundwater levels in the critically-over drafted Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Sub-basin to meet the Region’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) requirements.
On January 7, 2022, the City advertised the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Geotechnical Investigation and Hydrogeologic Characterization Report of the Delta Water Treatment Plant groundwater recharge project. Seven proposals were received and evaluated. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution awarding a Professional Services Agreement to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. of Rancho Cordova, CA, in the not-to-exceed amount of $538,303 for a Geotechnical Investigation and Hydrogeologic Characterization Report for the DWTP groundwater recharge project.
DISCUSSION
Background
In 2012, the MUD dedicated the Delta Water Supply Project (DWSP). This project was a key component of the City’s conjunctive use program to help balance groundwater levels in the Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Sub-basin and has provided supplemental surface water supply to the City of Stockton’s water customers. The project included a river diversion and pumping station to convey water to the 30-million gallon per day water treatment plant located along Lower Sacramento Road north of 8-Mile Road between the City of Stockton and the City of Lodi.
The DWSP was designed, in part, to protect the groundwater basin through conjunctive management of water resources and to improve the City’s water supply reliability portfolio. The next phase of the DWSP is to develop additional conjunctive use capability with the investigation, design, and construction of a groundwater recharge project on 70 acres of the available land near the treatment plant. This project would make use of water available under the City’s Water Right Permit 21176, contract supplies from Woodbridge Irrigation District (WID), and possibly stormwater runoff from the City of Lodi as a direct groundwater recharge and recovery project. Available water supply that is recharged into the groundwater basin can be stored and later pumped during dry years or extended droughts.
Before a recharge basin is designed and constructed, professional services are needed to conduct geotechnical investigations and hydrogeologic characterization of the soil profiles at the DWTP site. The purpose of this effort is to conduct a subsurface investigation at the DWTP site to determine soil profile characteristics for suitability of infiltrating surface-applied water for direct recharge. Information acquired and conclusions from this effort will be summarized into a feasibility report.
Present Situation
On January 7, 2022, the City advertised an RFP for a geotechnical investigation and a hydrogeologic characterization report of the DWTP groundwater recharge project. On March 17, 2022, seven proposals were received from the following Consultants:
Consultant
Location
Price
GEI Consultants, Inc.
Rancho Cordova, CA
$527,524
Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Rancho Cordova, CA
$538,303
Hazen and Sawyer
Sacramento, CA
$356,966
Kleinfelder, Inc.
Stockton, CA
$256,090
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.
Fresno, CA
$335,019
West Yost & Associates, Inc.
Davis, CA
$489,384
Woodard & Curran
Sacramento, CA
$718,565
A Selection Committee comprised of MUD staff evaluated and ranked all proposals based on each Consultant’s understanding of the work, experience with similar work, qualifications of proposed team, project approach, and cost. Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. met or exceeded the requirements and was found to be the most qualified based on the RFP criteria. Furthermore, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. has over 30 years of experience in providing hydrogeologic services in California.
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution to award a Professional Services Agreement to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. in the not-to-exceed amount of $538,303 for geotechnical investigation and hydrogeologic characterization report of the DWTP groundwater recharge project (Exhibit 2 to the resolution).
Findings
Pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070, City Council may approve findings which support and justify an exception to the competitive bidding process. The following findings support such an exception:
1. A strict cost-competitive basis for the selection of a professional may lower the quality and thoroughness of the services provided.
2. Use of the RFP process is appropriate for this Professional Services Agreement because it relies on the evaluation of professional qualifications and performance as the basis for the selection of a vendor, which is a typical practice for this type of work. Use of these criteria resulted in the selection of a vendor with over thirty years of hydrogeologic experience in California.
3. Considering the size, complexity, and schedule requirements of the project, the City does not have sufficient staff resources to monitor and ensure compliance of the project in a cost-effective and timely manner.
4. The City negotiated the contract following the solicitation of competitive proposals in accordance with SMC section 3.68.070.A.3.
The recommended resolution will award a Professional Services Agreement to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. in the not-to-exceed amount of $538,303 for geotechnical investigation and hydrogeologic characterization of the DWTP groundwater recharge project.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE
It has been determined that this project is categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines as specified under Article 19, Section 15306, Class 6 of the CEQA guidelines because it consists of soil borings for a geotechnical investigation and is for the purpose of basic data collection activities which would not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. In addition, the proposed project is consistent with the 2040 Stockton General Plan (Land Use Policy 6.3) because it improves existing utility services to ensure that all neighborhoods have access to well-maintained public facilities and utilities that meet community service needs.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE
On September 1, 2009, the City Council adopted a Local Employment Ordinance establishing a goal that 50 percent of the workforce on public works projects of at least $100,000 be residents of the City of Stockton. The contract amount for this project is more than $100,000 and is subject to the Local Employment Ordinance.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
In 2021, the MUD applied for grant funding for project feasibility and future construction under the Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Round 1 grant program and the Integrated Regional Water Management Program. The MUD has been informed by the State that the project will be receiving $300,000 and $2,000,000 from these programs, respectively.
There are sufficient funds available in the MUD Capital Improvement Projects under Project Number UH21005 to award the PSA in the amount of $538,303 to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. of Rancho Cordova, for geotechnical investigation and hydrogeologic characterization report for the DWTP groundwater recharge project.
There is no impact to the General Fund, or any other unrestricted funds, from this action.
ATTACHMENT A
DRAFT STAFF REPORT