TO:Andrew P. Powers, City Manager
FROM:Nader Heydari, Public Works Director
DATE:April 14, 2026
SUBJECT: Cogeneration Equipment Maintenance and Repair Services Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Award General Services Agreement to Collicutt Energy Services (Collicutt) (Santa Fe Springs, CA) for maintenance and repair services of cogeneration equipment at the Hill Canyon Treatment Plant (HCTP) in the amount of $771,929, plus a reserve of $154,385 for parts and/or as-needed call-out labor, for a total not- to-exceed amount of $926,314 for the period beginning April 14, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029.
2. Authorize expense in the amount of $28,572 in FY 2025-26 and $132,212 in FY 2026-27 from A/C #621-8250-682-5699 (Wastewater Fund, Contracted Services) for equipment maintenance and repair services.
3. Find that this action is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act.
LEVINE ACT ITEM: Yes
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
No Additional Funding Requested. $28,572 is included in the Adopted FY 2025- 26 Wastewater Fund Budget and $132,212 is included in the Adopted FY 2026-27 Wastewater Fund Budget. Additional funds for the remaining contract term will be requested during the upcoming biennial budget process.
BACKGROUND:
The City’s HCTP operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing tertiary- level wastewater treatment for the Thousand Oaks community. On average, the facility treats eight million gallons of wastewater daily through a comprehensive
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process that includes screening, grit removal, primary and secondary clarification, aeration with nutrient removal, multimedia filtration, and disinfection. The resulting high-quality effluent is then beneficially reused for agricultural irrigation and landscape watering. As part of the wastewater treatment process, HCTP produces digester gas, a byproduct generated during the breakdown of organic material in the plant’s anaerobic digesters. Rather than flaring the gas by burning it off to the atmosphere as emission waste, the facility utilizes a cogeneration system to convert the gas into usable electricity and thermal energy. This process allows the plant to offset a portion of its electrical demand while also capturing heat that is reused within the treatment process.
The cogeneration system consists of specialized equipment including a Guascor engine, Leroy-Somer generator, and associated fuel conditioning and control components. When operating efficiently, the system allows the City to reduce reliance on purchased electricity, stabilize operating costs, and maximize the beneficial use of digester gas produced at the facility.
In recent years, the City invested in a comprehensive overhaul of the cogeneration equipment to restore reliability and extend the useful life of the system. Protecting this investment requires routine maintenance, inspection, and timely repair of the equipment to ensure optimal performance and continued cost savings. Without proper maintenance, the system can experience operational downtime, increased repair costs, and reduced energy recovery.
For these reasons, the City periodically contracts with qualified service providers who specialize in the maintenance and repair of cogeneration systems to ensure the equipment continues to operate safely, efficiently, and reliably.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
On October 20, 2025, and in accordance with Thousand Oaks Municipal Code section 3-10.401, the City issued a Request for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Q) for Cogeneration Equipment Maintenance and Repair Services. The notice inviting proposals was published in the Ventura County Star newspaper and posted on the City’s eProcurement portal to solicit proposals from qualified service providers with experience maintaining and repairing cogeneration systems used in wastewater treatment operations.
A mandatory pre-proposal meeting and job walk was held at HCTP on October 29, 2025. Two firms, Collicutt and Pico Electric, Inc., attended the meeting and toured the facility to review the cogeneration equipment and associated system components.
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Proposals were due electronically through the City’s eProcurement portal by November 12, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. The solicitation received approximately 300 views and 17 downloads. Collicutt was the only firm to submit a proposal in response to the solicitation.
Although only one proposal was received, the solicitation was publicly advertised and made available to all qualified firms, providing an open opportunity for interested service providers to participate in the competitive procurement process.
Staff reviewed Collicutt’s proposal and determined that the firm possesses the technical expertise, specialized training, and experience necessary to maintain and repair the cogeneration engine, generator, and associated system components. Collicutt recently completed a comprehensive overhaul of the cogeneration equipment at HCTP and is familiar with the system’s configuration, operational requirements, and maintenance needs. Collicutt also has extensive experience servicing similar equipment and is qualified to perform the work.
Staff recommend awarding the agreement to Collicutt Energy Services to provide cogeneration equipment maintenance and repair services at HCTP. This Agreement (Attachment #1) will support the long-term reliability of the cogeneration system and protect the City’s recent investment in the overhaul of this specialized equipment. Routine maintenance and timely repair services will help ensure the system continues to operate efficiently, allowing the City to maximize energy recovery from digester gas and minimize operational costs at HCTP.
LEVINE ACT (California Government Code § 84308):
This item is subject to the Levine Act. City Councilmembers who have received a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) within the preceding 12 months from a party or their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant involved in this proceeding may do either of the following: (1) disclose the contribution on the record and recuse themselves from this proceeding; or if applicable (2) return the portion of the contribution that exceeds $500 within 30 days from the time the official knew or should have known about the contribution, and participate in the proceeding.
All parties and their agents/representatives must disclose on the record of this proceeding any aggregated contribution of more than $500 made to any Councilmember within the preceding 12 months. Councilmembers are prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a campaign contribution of more than $500 (aggregated) from a party, their agent/representative, or a financially-interested participant during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made. In addition, a party, their agent/representative, or a financially- Cogeneration Equipment Maintenance and Repair Services Agreement April 14, 2026
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interested participant is prohibited from contributing more than $500 (aggregated) to a Councilmember during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is made. The Levine Act disclosure form for Collicutt has been completed and is included as an exhibit in Attachment #1.
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
Kim Sherman, Assistant Analyst
Attachments:
Attachment #1 – Collicutt Energy Services Agreement
DPW:290-10\ev\Council\2026\041426\Cogeneration Service Agreement.docx