SR-502-011 (3)
EPWM:CP:AA:\\Staff Reports In Process\6_14\GeoTrans.doc
Council Meeting: June 14, 2005 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Professional Services Agreement with GeoTrans, Inc. and Appropriation
of Funds for the Agreement
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate
and execute a professional services agreement with GeoTrans, Inc., in an amount not
to exceed $1,571,076 plus contingency in the amount of $314,200 (approximately 20%),
to provide groundwater modeling consulting services to the City and the Charnock
Engineering Committee, formed as part of the Settlement Agreement with Shell Oil
Company, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Texaco, and Exxon Mobil Corporation to restore the
drinking water production from the Charnock Well Field. This report also recommends
that Council appropriate funds for the agreement.
Background
The Charnock groundwater sub-basin is an important source of drinking water for Santa
Monica. The City shut down its five drinking water wells located in the Charnock Well
Field in 1996 due to the presence of MtBE. In accordance with a Court-approved
Settlement Agreement, the City and Shell Oil Company, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Texaco,
and Exxon Mobil Corporation (the Settling Oil Companies) have agreed to construct a
treatment facility in order to produce drinking water from the well field and ultimately
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restore the resource. The Charnock Engineering Committee (CEC), comprised of one
City and one representative of the Settling Oil Companies, was formed in accordance
with the Court-approved Settlement Agreement to oversee the planning, design,
construction, and operation of the treatment facility.
Discussion
On November 19, 2004, the City issued a request for qualifications on behalf of the
CEC to engage a groundwater modeling consulting services contractor with experience
in complex groundwater regimes. The groundwater modeling consulting services
contractor will be tasked with reviewing and evaluating existing groundwater models as
provided by the CEC, and recommending a comprehensive groundwater flow and
transport model for the Charnock sub-basin. Eleven responsive proposals were
received and rated by the CEC. The top three rated firms were interviewed by the CEC
to determine the most qualified firm. Factors considered were: technical competence
and experience in groundwater flow and transport modeling, staffing capability, past
performance record, quality control, cost control and reporting, and jobsite safety
record. The CEC selected GeoTrans, Inc., as the most qualified firm.
GeoTrans, Inc. will provide an engineering study of how pollutants move in the
groundwater and will provide an estimation of how long it will take for a pollutant to
move through the soil given the rate of groundwater recharge, rate of groundwater
withdrawal, the soil conditions and permeability factors of the soil and other factors.
This study is necessary to meet Department of Health Services requirements.
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GeoTrans, Inc. will also establish design criteria for treatment facility and predict
achievement of cleanup goals and project termination. Upon consensus within the
CEC, the firm may facilitate the identification of model deficiencies, recommendation of
model improvements, selection of the most appropriate model, and development of an
effective and efficient future modeling plan. Any groundwater modeling solution
selected will meet or exceed all state and federal water quality requirements.
Budget /Financial Impact
The total cost of these services is not to exceed $1,885,276, including contingency.
Funds required are:
Contract: $1,571,076
Contingency: $ 314,200
Total $1,885,276
Funding for this contract is provided entirely by the settling oil companies pursuant to
the Settlement Agreement. The 20% contingency amount was requested by the oil
companies. Funds in the amount of $1,365,397 are available at account
C050973.555060. An additional appropriation of $519,879 to account C050973.555060
is required.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services
agreement in an amount not to exceed $1,571,076, plus a contingency of
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$314,200, with GeoTrans, Inc., for groundwater modeling consulting services to
the Charnock Well Field; and
2) Appropriate funds as set forth in the Budget/Financial Impact section.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director, Environmental & Public Works Management
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Gil Borboa, Water Resources Manager
Kathryn Vernez, Assistant to the City Manager ? Government Relations
Reference Contract No. 8482 (CCS).
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