TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Nader Heydari, Public Works Director
DATE:June 10, 2025
SUBJECT: Supply and Delivery of Chemicals to Hill Canyon Treatment Plant
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Award General Services Agreement to Hill Brothers Chemicals (City of Industry, CA) for a two-year term in an amount not to exceed $230,051 for the supply and delivery of Ammonium Sulfate.
2. Award General Services Agreement to California Water Technologies LLC (Santa Fe Springs, CA) for a two-year term in an amount not to exceed $567,398 for the supply and delivery of Ferric Chloride.
3. Award General Services Agreement to Momar, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) for a two-year term in an amount not to exceed $382,883 for the supply and delivery of Glycerin.
4. Award General Services Agreement to Univar Solutions USA LLC (Kent, WA) for a two-year term in an amount not to exceed $849,956 for the supply and delivery of Sodium Bisulfite.
5. Award General Services Agreement to JCI Jones Chemicals (Torrance, CA) for a two-year term in an amount not to exceed $1,449,183 for the supply and delivery of Sodium Hypochlorite.
6. Authorize expense in the amount of $1,705,385 for FY 2025-26 and $1,774,089 for FY 2026-27 from A/C #621-8250-685-3242 (Wastewater Fund- Wastewater Chemical Supplies).
7. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
LEVINE ACT ITEM: No
Supply and Delivery of Chemicals to HCTP
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FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. $3,479,471 is included in the Proposed FY 2025-26 and FY 2026-27 Wastewater Fund Budget.
BACKGROUND:
Hill Canyon Treatment Plant (HCTP) treats wastewater from the City. Constructed in the 1960s with major improvements over the following decades, HCTP provides advanced tertiary level wastewater treatment. The facility treats an average of eight million gallons per day of wastewater generated from its domestic, commercial, and industrial customers and operates 24 hours per day/seven days per week.
Ammonium Sulfate, Ferric Chloride, Glycerin, Sodium Bisulfite, and Sodium Hypochlorite are essential chemicals used at HCTP for the stabilization and disinfection of wastewater, the reduction of hydrogen sulfide compounds, and other process-related needs. HCTP discharges the tertiary-treated effluent to the North Fork of Arroyo Conejo Creek and must comply with a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. These chemicals are necessary to meet discharge requirements.
On March 21, 2025, a Notice Inviting Bids was issued for the Supply and Delivery of Chemicals #2024/2025-15: Ammonium Sulfate, Ferric Chloride, Glycerin, Sodium Bisulfite, and Sodium Hypochlorite.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
On April 9, 2025, 11 bids were received and opened publicly. A summary of the bids are as follows:
AMMONIUM SULFATE (ESTIMATED 65,000 GALLONS ANNUALLY)
Supplier Unit Cost*
First Year
Unit Cost*
Second Year
Hill Brothers Chemicals (City of Industry,
CA) $1.65/gallon $1.65/gallon
Brenntag Pacific (Santa Fe Springs, CA) $1.6700/gallon $1.7535/gallon Univar Solutions USA LLC (Kent, WA) $2.3782/gallon $2.4182/gallon Pencco, Inc. (San Felipe, TX) $2.92/gallon $3.07/gallon Supply and Delivery of Chemicals to HCTP
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FERRIC CHLORIDE (ESTIMATED 83,000 GALLONS ANNUALLY)
Supplier Unit Cost*
First Year
Unit Cost*
Second Year
California Water Technologies (Santa Fe
Springs, CA) $3.149/gallon $3.225/gallon
Kemira Water Solutions (Lawrence, KS) $3.13/gallon $3.25/gallon Pencco (San Felipe, TX) $3.22/gallon $3.22/gallon
GLYCERIN (ESTIMATED 60,000 GALLONS ANNUALLY)
Supplier Unit Cost*
First Year
Unit Cost*
Second Year
Momar, Inc. (Atlanta, GA) $2.90/gallon $3.05/gallon
EOSi (Pocasset, MA) $3.10/gallon $2.95/gallon
SODIUM BISULFITE (ESTIMATED 250,000 GALLONS ANNUALLY)
Supplier Unit Cost*
First Year
Unit Cost*
Second Year
Univar Solutions USA (Kent, WA) $1.585/gallon $1.585/gallon Brenntag Pacific (Santa Fe Springs, CA) $1.577/gallon $1.6558/gallon JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. (Torrance, CA) $1.60/gallon $1.80/gallon SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE (ESTIMATED 325,000 GALLONS ANNUALLY) Supplier Unit Cost*
First Year
Unit Cost*
Second Year
JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. (Torrance, CA) $2.00/gallon $2.15/gallon Hasa, Inc. (Saugus, CA) $2.26/gallon No Bid
Pioneer Americas (Houston, TX) $2.35/gallon $2.35/gallon Univar Solutions USA (Kent, WA) $2.50/gallon $2.70/gallon *Decimal places applied as presented by respective bidders in the bid documents Hill Brothers Chemicals provided the lowest bid for Ammonium Sulfate; California Water Technologies provided the lowest bid for Ferric Chloride; Momar, Inc. provided the lowest bid for Glycerin; Univar Solutions USA provided the lowest bid for Sodium Bisulfite; and JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. provided the lowest bid for Sodium Hypochlorite. Each supplier met the required specifications. Although Hasa, Inc. submitted a bid for Sodium Hypochlorite, they did not provide second- year pricing as required; therefore, their bid was deemed non-responsive. Sales tax of 7.25 percent was uniformly applied to all bid amounts for the not-to-exceed Supply and Delivery of Chemicals to HCTP
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agreement totals. It is recommended City Council award two-year agreements to each of the five low bid suppliers for the supply and delivery of chemicals to HCTP (Attachment Nos. 1–5).
Chemical costs have continued to rise in recent years due to factors such as supply chain disruptions, increased raw material and energy costs, and higher transportation expenses. These industry-wide challenges have impacted the cost of treatment chemicals; however, these chemicals remain essential for maintaining effective wastewater treatment processes and regulatory compliance at HCTP.
This action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act because this action will not result in a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment [14 CCR 15060(c)].
COUNCIL GOAL COMPLIANCE:
Meets the following City Council goals:
C. Operate City government in a fiscally and managerially responsible and prudent manner to ensure that the City of Thousand Oaks remains one of California's most desirable places to live, work, visit, recreate, and raise a family.
F. Provide and enhance essential infrastructure to ensure that the goals and policies of the Thousand Oaks General Plan are carried out and the City retains its role and reputation as a leader in protecting the environment and preserving limited natural resources.
PREPARED BY: Tim Mooney, WWTP Superintendent
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Hill Brothers Chemicals Agreement
Attachment #2 – California Water Technologies Agreement Attachment #3 – Momar, Inc. Agreement
Attachment #4 – Univar Solutions USA Agreement
Attachment #5 – JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. Agreement
DPW:290-10\ev\Council\2025\061025\Supply and Delivery of Chemicals to HCTP staff report.docx