SR 10-24-2023 5H
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: October 24, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.H
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Water Resources
Subject: Award Purchase Order with Brenntag Pacific, Inc. to Furnish and Deliver
Liquid Hydrofluorosilicic Acid
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing
Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #4464 to Brenntag Pacific, Inc. for the purchase of liquid
hydrofluorosilicic acid for the Public Works Department.
3. Authorize the Procurement Manager to issue a purchase order with Brenntag
Pacific, Inc. for liquid hydrofluorosilicic acid for a total amount not to exceed
$350,000 over a five-year period, with future year funding contingent on Council
budget approval.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica’s Water Resources Division operates a multi-barrier treatment
process at Arcadia Water Treatment Plant (Arcadia WTP) to provide high-quality, safe,
and reliable drinking water for the City’s 93,000+ residents and over 2,700 commercial
customers. As part of the multi-barrier treatment process, the Arcadia WTP adds
fluoride to the final treated water in compliance with California law. Staff recommends
issuing a purchase order with Brenntag Pacific, Inc. in an amount not to exceed
$350,000 over a five-year period for the purchase of liquid hydrofluorosilicic acid for the
Arcadia WTP.
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Discussion
The Arcadia WTP was upgraded in 2010 as part of the Charnock Well Field Restoration
Project that restored local groundwater supplies. The multi-barrier treatment process at
the Arcadia WTP produces high-quality, safe, and reliable drinking water for the city and
consists of green sand filtration, cartridge filtration, reverse osmosis, decarbonation
towers (air stripping), chlorine disinfection, and fluoridation. Fluoridation of the city’s
drinking water supply to maintain optimal fluoride levels is required by the California
State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, to improve oral
health and reduce dental cavities.
The Arcadia Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project, which will increase overall water
treatment plant capacity, efficiency, and safety, is replacing the existing fluoride
saturator system with a more reliable liquid hydrofluorosilicic acid system (purchased as
23% solution of H2SiF6) to maintain the City’s standard of high-quality, safe drinking
water. This compound is widely used at drinking water treatment facilities throughout
the United States.
Vendor Selection
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Brenntag Pacific, Inc.
Evaluation Criteria Price; the ability of the bidder to provide the specified standard
require; and the ability of the bidder to provide the desired
quantity required.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
Bid Data
Date Posted On Advertise In Vendors Date Publicly
Submittals Received
Brenntag Pacific, Inc $3.34/Gallon
Hazma LLC $3.83/Gallon
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Posted (City Charter & SMMC) Downloaded Opened
08/18/2023 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily Press 9 9/14/2023
Best Bidder Justification
Brenntag Pacific, Inc. was selected as the best bidder based on price per gallon.
Environmental Review
The purchase and use of this compound at the City’s Arcadia WTP is categorically
exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301
provides exemption for the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, or minor
alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or
topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing
at the time of the lead agency's determination. The purchase order would continue the
practice of fluoridation as part of the operations at the existing Arcadia WTP. The
agreement would not expand or materially change existing facilities or operations.
Therefore, the award agreement is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of
the CEQA Guidelines.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Water Fund to award a
purchase order to Brenntag Pacific, Inc. for the purchase of liquid hydrofluorosilicic acid
for the Arcadia WTP.
Purchase Order Request
FY 2023-24
Request Amount Department Account # Future Years
Amount
Total Contract
Amount
$50,000 50500003.525081 $300,000 $350,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
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Prepared By: Thomas Poon, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Oaks Initiative Form - Brenntag Pacific, Inc.
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CITY OF SANTA MONICA OAKS INITIATIVE DISCLOSURE FORM
In order to facilitate compliance with the requirements of the Oaks Initiative, the City compiles and maintains
certain information. That information includes the name of any person or persons who is seeking a “public
benefit.” If the “public benefit” is sought by an entity, rather than an individual person, the information includes
the name of every person who is: (a) trustee, (b) director, (c) partner, (d) officer, or has (e) more than a ten
percent interest in the entity.
Public benefits include:
1.Personal services contracts in excess of $25,000 over any 12-month period;
2.Sale of material, equipment or supplies to the City in excess of $25,000 over a 12- month period;
3.Purchase, sale or lease of real property to or from the City in excess of $25,000 over a 12- month
period;
4.Non-competitive franchise awards with gross revenue of $50,000 or more in any 12-month period;
5.Land use variance, special use permit, or other exception to an established land use plan, where the
decision has a value in excess of $25,000;
6.Tax “abatement, exception, or benefit” of a value in excess of $5,000 in any 12- month period; or
7.Payment of “cash or specie” of a net value to the recipient of $10,000 in any 12- month period.
Name(s) of persons or entities receiving public benefit:
Brenntag Pacific, Inc.
Name(s) of trustees, directors, partners, and officers:
Bill Fjelstad, Interim President; Bill Huttner, VP Supply Chain
Name(s) of persons with more than a 10% equity, participation, or revenue interest:
Prepared by: Laura Tua/Pacific/Brenntag Title: Municipal Bid Manager
Signature: Date: September 12, 2023
Email: Ltua@brenntag.com Phone: 562 903-9626
FOR CITY USE ONLY:
Bid/PO/Contract # Permit #
None
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Packet Pg. 163 Attachment: Oaks Initiative Form - Brenntag Pacific, Inc. (6013 : Award PO to Brenntag Pacific, Inc. for Liquid Hydrofluorosilicic Acid)