City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: August 5, 2025
From: Todd Dusenberry, General Manager of Public Utilities Department: Public Utilities
Submitted by: Adriana Ramos, Senior Management Analyst
Subject
Services Agreement with General Pump Company, Inc.
Recommendation
A. Find that the proposed action is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15301, because the project consists of the maintenance, repair, or minor alteration of existing facilities and involves negligible or no expansion of an existing use;
B. Approve and authorize the City Administrator to execute the Services Agreement with General Pump Company, Inc., in substantially the same form as submitted, for the on-call pump repair and maintenance services, in an amount not-to-exceed $3,210,000, for a three-year term; and C. Authorize a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $321,000 in the event of unforeseen services and expenses, and grant authority to the City Administrator to issue amendments for an amount up to the contingency amount, if necessary.
Background
The City currently operates seven active wells and fourteen booster pumps. To improve their lifespan and as part of VPU’s on-going capital improvement plan efforts to maintain and rehabilitate the City’s wells and boosters, the City needs a contractor to conduct on-call pump repair and maintenance services.
The City has engaged General Pump Company, Inc. (General Pump) for on-call well and booster pump repairs. On June 21, 2022, the City Council approved a three-year Construction Contract with General Pump for on-call well and booster pump repairs. The contract expired on June 30, 2025. As per Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) Section 3.32.080, on June 17, 2025, staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for On-Call Pump Repair and Maintenance Services. The RFP was advertised on the City’s PlanetBids platform. The scope of services encompasses removing and inspecting well and booster pumps, installing and performing well and booster pump start-up, well rehabilitation, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System compliance, maintenance, repair, and video surveys.
Proposal packages were received from two firms by the June 30, 2025 deadline. Accordingly, a qualified panel thoroughly evaluated the proposals based on qualifications, background, and prior experience (40%), cost and fees to the City (30%), references (20%), responsiveness to the RFP (10%). Based on the evaluation process, the proposal submitted by General Pump demonstrated a combination of expertise, understanding, experience, and a comprehensive approach that was best suited to fulfill the scope of services detailed in the RFP. The proposal submitted by General Pump ranked the highest score across the panel and was deemed most qualified. General Pump specializes in pump engineering services and well rehabilitation. In addition to the RFP-required C-57 Well Drilling License, they also hold a Class “A” General Engineering License.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a Services Agreement with General Pump for on-call pump repair and maintenance services for a total amount not-to-exceed $3,210,000.
Additionally, staff recommends a contingency amount of ten percent (10%) or $321,000, to cover any unforeseen required services and expenses, for a combined total not-to-exceed $3,531,000.
Pursuant to VMC Section 3.32.030(A), City Council approval is required for the proposed agreement, as the total value of the contract exceeds $100,000.
The proposed Services Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is not to exceed $3,531,000. Sufficient Funds are available in the Water Fund, Repairs & Maintenance, Account No. 058-070-700-529000 and Capital Outlay, Account No. 058- 070-700-660000 for the current fiscal year and will be budgeted in subsequent years.
Attachments
1. Services Agreement with General Pump Company, Inc.