SR-10-27-2015-3J 502-002-03 / 502-009
City Council
Report
City Council Regular Meeting: October 27, 2015
Agenda Item: 3.J
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director, Public Works, Water Resources
Subject: Award Professional Services Agreement for Technical Oversight and Support
Services for the Charnock Well Field
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award RFP #38 to Advisian, a Worley Parsons Group and California-based
company, to provide Technical Oversight and Support Services (TOSS) for the
Charnock Well Field;
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional serv ices
agreement with Advisian, a Worley Parsons Group in an amount not to exceed
$133,443 for three years (including a 15% contingency), with an option to extend for
two additional years at no additional cost, with future year funding contingent on
Council budget approval;
3. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary changes to
complete additional work within contract authority.
Executive Summary
The Charnock Well Field is the City’s largest drinking water aquifer. Since 2008,
WorleyParsons has provided Technical Oversight and Support Services for the
Charnock well field to the City. These services enabled the City to obtain the necessary
State permits to operate the Charnock Treatment Plant which came online in December
2010 to treat water from this aquifer. Comprehensive field activities and regulatory
reporting requirements must be performed to maintain full compliance with State
agencies to ensure public health and safe drinking water. Staff recommends Advisian, a
WorleyParsons Group, as the best bidder for these services in an amount not to exceed
$133,443 for three years (including a 15% contingency), with an option to extend for two
additional years at no additional cost. Advisian is the new name of the division within
WorleyParsons which has performed this service in the past for the City.
Background
The Charnock Well Field, which is comprised of three aquifers, is the City’s largest
source of groundwater. The Charnock Treatment Plant, located at 11375 Westminster
Avenue, in the City of Los Angeles, was completed by the City in December 2010 to
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produce and treat groundwater from the Charnock Well Field. The plant produces 5,000
gallons per minute (GPM) of drinking water and consists of pretreatment for the removal
of iron and manganese prior to filtration through granular activated carbon (GAC) for the
removal of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) from gasoline, and other trace Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOCs).
The Charnock Well Field sends water approximately 3.4 miles via a pipeline to the
Arcadia Water Treatment Plant for treatment and entry into the City’s distribution
system. In 1996, when the Charnock Well Field was found to be contaminated with
MTBE, it was shut down. Subsequent comprehensive subsurface investigations and
source remediation analyses were undertaken. The Charnock Well Field currently
consists of five water production wells (Wells 13, 15, 16, 18, and 19) and 35
groundwater monitoring wells for testing. Ramboll Environ currently conducts all
Charnock groundwater monitoring services for the City.
Two California State Regulatory Agencies oversee the City’s groundwater production,
treatment, and monitoring of the Charnock Well Field. First, the Division of Drinking
Water Programs under the auspices of the State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB; formerly the California State Department of Public Health) sets conditions and
permits the Charnock Treatment Plant. The SWRCB has set forth strict permit
requirements pursuant to 97-005 Policy Guidance for Direct Domestic Use of Extremely
Impaired Sources (DHS, November 5, 1997). Second, the Los Angeles Regional Water
Quality Control Board (RWQCB) reviews the semi-annual groundwater monitoring
program for a network of over 35 regional groundwater monitoring wells located within
the Charnock Well Field including sentry wells (close proximity) to protect the Charnock
Treatment Plant. Comprehensive field activities and regulatory reporting requirements
must be performed to maintain full compliance with both the SWRCB and the RWQ CB
to ensure public health and maintain safe drinking water.
Discussion
Maintaining regulatory compliance with State agencies requires a rigorous Technical
Oversight and Support Services program. This program has been designed with six
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tasks as outlined below:
Task 1.0 Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) Oversight Support Services
Task 2.0 Groundwater Monitoring Support Services
Task 3.0 Groundwater Data Evaluation Support Services
Task 4.0 Division of Drinking Water (DDW) Permit Support Services
Task 5.0 Meetings and Communication
Task 6.0 Project Management
The City requires assistance from an independent consultant to provide technical
support including comprehensive groundwater modeling capabilities.
Consultant Selection
On July 9, 2015, the City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) #38 to provide Technical
Oversight and Support Services for the Charnock Well Field. The RFP was posted on
the City’s on-line bidding site and notices were advertised in the Santa Monica Daily
Press in accordance with City Charter and Municipal Code provisions. A total of 73
vendors downloaded the bid, and four proposals were received:
1. Advisian $116,037
2. EEC Environmental $ 94,437
3. Ferguson Group $293,784
4. TetraTech $320,899
Proposals were evaluated based on specific criteria including technical competence,
past performance record, financial stability, and previous projects of comparable
complexity, staffing capability, and cost of services. Advisian, the second lowest bidder,
a WorleyParsons Group, was identified as having the staff with the best technical
competence, past performance record, financial stability and quality level of the firm’s
previous projects. Advisian is the new name of the division within WorleyParsons which
has performed this service in the past for the City. Project staff available at Advisian
has gained an intimate knowledge of the basin characteristics over many years of work
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supporting Santa Monica in the Charnock Basin. Specifically, Advisian-developed
numerical modeling of the basin has proven invaluable in assessing the validity of
requests for closure from the dozens of PRP (potentially responsible parties) within the
basin. The cost of developing a similar model, in addition to the time and effort involved
in gaining familiarity with basin issues and hydrogeology offset the cost differential
between Advisian and the lowest bidder EEC Environmental. Staff recommends
Advisian, A WorleyParsons Group, as the best bidder to provide Technical Oversight
and Support Services for the Charnock Well Field.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The professional services agreement to be awarded to Advisian, A WorleyParsons
Group, is for an amount not to exceed $133,443 for three years (including a 15%
contingency), with an option to extend for two additional years at no additional cost.
Funds are available in the FY 2015-16 budget in the Public Works Department. The
agreement will be charged to account 25671.555010. Future year funding is contingent
on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Thomas Poon, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
Reference:
Agreement No. 10210
(CCS)