SR-06-10-2014-3ECity Council Meeting: June 10, 2014
Agenda Item: E
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha. Director of Public Works
Subject: Professional Services Agreement for the Implementation of the Olympic
Well Field Management Plan
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement with ICF International, a Virginia -based
company, in the amount $1,732,500 (includes a 10% contingency) to implement the
Olympic Well Field Management Plan (Plan) for an initial term of two years, with two
additional one year renewal options in the amount of $244,200 (includes a 10%
contingency) each option year, with future year funding contingent on Council budget
approval.
Executive Summary
The Olympic Well Field is the City's second largest drinking water aquifer. It has been
adversely impacted by contamination from several former manufacturing facilities in the
immediate area. The Plan would continue groundwater monitoring and modeling efforts
to ensure plume contaminant and capture. ICF International is recommended to
perform these services in the not to exceed amount of $1,732,500.
Background
The City produces groundwater for public consumption from two production wells (SM -3
and SM -4) located in the Olympic Well Field. This area of Santa Monica has a long -
history of manufacturing and light industrial operations. Releases from these industrial
operations have led to the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in
groundwater produced from these wells. The City has entered into Settlement and
Release Agreements with two companies that formerly conducted business in the
Olympic Well Field area.
Under conditions set forth by the Los Angeles- Regional Water Quality Control Board
(RWQCB), the City agreed to perform certain activities to demonstrate that dissolved -
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phase VOCs in the B- and C- water- bearing zones (B- and C- Zones) in the Olympic
Well Field are captured by the pumping of production wells SM -3 and SM -4. The City
subsequently developed the Olympic Well Field Management Plan (Plan) in June 2012
to guide its efforts to monitor water quality and demonstrate plume capture. The
Professional Services Agreement currently in place to conduct technical support and
field services expires June 30, 2014.
Discussion
The Olympic Well Field is one of three wells fields managed by the City. The Olympic
Well Field is located in an area formerly occupied by numerous industries. Many of
these industries used VOCs and other industrial contaminants. While staff believes it
has identified the primary contributors to the Olympic Well Field groundwater
contamination, staff closely monitors water quality and where appropriate will take quick
action to identify potential sources of newly discovered contamination. In these
instances, the contracted environmental consultant would provide assistance to staff
and the City Attorney's Office in performing the necessary analysis and agency
negotiation to ensure that polluters are identified and forced to compensate the City for
damages.
The Plan includes the following proposed work efforts for the Olympic Basin: quarterly
groundwater monitoring, installation of five groundwater monitoring wells, groundwater
modeling, and as- needed technical support. The City currently conducts quarterly
groundwater monitoring and/or gauging at 19 locations in the Olympic Well Field. In
addition to the existing wells, the City plans to install five additional monitor wells in the
eastern portion of the Olympic Well Field (east of production well SM -3) as required in
the Plan. Once installed, these wells would be included in the City's quarterly
monitoring program.
As indicated in the Plan, the City intends to develop a 3- dimensional flow and transport
groundwater model for the Olympic Well Field. The groundwater model will be used to
help manage the valuable water resources in the well field, including the possible use of
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the model in helping to site the location of a new groundwater production well in the
Olympic Well Field.
Staff also plans to install a third groundwater production well in the Olympic Well Field
within the next three years. The selected consultant would be expected to work with the
City and its groundwater geologist in identifying optimum locations for this new well.
While the principle purpose of this well would be for groundwater production, it is
anticipated that this well may also be used for VOC plume control. Groundwater model
simulations, coupled with analysis conducted by the City's groundwater geologist will be
useful in determining the best locations for the new well.
Consultant Selection
On April 4, 2014, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to perform the field
services, ground water model development, and technical support services as required
to implement the Olympic Well Field Management Plan. The RFP was posted on the
City's online bidding site in accordance with City Charter and Municipal Code
provisions. A total of five firms obtained the RFP package. Five proposals were
received on April 28, 2014. Public Works staff evaluated the proposals based on
technical competence, past performance record, previous projects of comparable
complexity, staffing capability, and cost of services. ICF International demonstrated
extensive knowledge, technical competence, and previous successful projects including
the City Yard Leaking Underground Storage Tank Remediation Plan for the City of
Santa Monica, with successful closure achieved in 2012, and previous Olympic Well
Field technical support for Santa Monica including technical support during settlement
negotiations with responsible parties and development of the Olympic Well Field
Management Plan approved by the RWQCB. Staff recommends ICF International as
the best bidder to perform the Olympic Well Field Management Plan at a cost of
$1,732,500.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The professional services agreement to be awarded to ICF International is $1,732,500.
Funds are included in the FY 2014 -15 Proposed Biennial Capital Improvement Program
budget in account C019045.859000, pending Council approval and budget adoption.
Funds in this capital account come from the Gillette /Boeing settlement. Funding for
future option years will be contingent upon Council approval.
Prepared by: Gil Borboa, P.E., Water Resources Manager
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
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Martin Pastucha
Director of Public Works
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Rod Gould
City Manager