Title
Discuss and consider action to award a construction contract for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Phase 1 Project and authorizing the City Manager to execute same.
Summary
Competitive sealed proposals were received from three (3) Offerors on September 26, 2019 for the referenced project.
The three (3) Proposals were evaluated by a selection team consisting of five (5) City of Pflugerville staff employees. Scoring by the selection team was made based on reviews of the Proposals by the members of the selection team. The selection team was assisted in their evaluation efforts by reports from the review team made up of staff members from the Owner’s Representative team (Plus Six Engineering) and Design Engineer team (Freese and Nichols) who were charged with review of documents and investigation of references submitted by the Offerors. The results of the selection process and scoring are shown in the attached Offeror Evaluation Worksheet.
The selection team determined that BAR Constructors, Inc., with offices in Lancaster, Texas, submitted the Proposal that provides the best value to the City. BAR Constructors, Inc. submitted a Proposal that offered the lowest proposed contract price and the earliest completion date. BAR Constructors, Inc. is an experienced wastewater treatment plant contractor and has successfully completed similar wastewater treatment plant expansion projects for other agencies.
It is recommended that a contract be awarded to BAR Constructors, Inc. in the amount of $41,863,737.95 to construct the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, Phase 1 project.
Project Background
The City of Pflugerville is in the process of expanding the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant from its current permitted capacity of 5.3 MGD to 10.0 MGD (35 MGD peak two-hour flow) to meet the City’s needs based on historical trends and projected population growth. In addition, the treatment processes are being upgraded to provide biological nutrient removal (BNR) of phosphorous to replace the existing chemical phosphorous precipitation process. Plus Six Engineering, LLC (PSE) serves as Owner’s Representative for the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion. Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI) serves as Engineer of Record for planning, design and construction phase engineering services for the improvements.
The plant expansion will be implemented in three (3) construction phases with Phase 1 expanding capacity to 7.25 MGD, Phase 2 to upgrade treatment processes in existing units and Phase 3 to expand capacity to 10 MGD.
The Phase 1 construction project will provide a new influent pump station, headworks, biological nutrient removal treatment system, clarifier, filters, UV disinfection system, non-potable water, and chemical feed systems. The construction will include three (3) new electrical buildings, two (2) diesel stand-by generators, improvements to the flood protection berm, general site civil improvements, electrical/communications upgrades, and improvements to site security and surveillance. Phase 1 when completed will bring the capacity of the treatment plant to 7.25 MGD, matching the TPDES Permit Phase 1.
The Phase 2 construction project will replace the equipment in the existing biological treatment basins and add basin volume and equipment to upgrade the units to achieve biological nutrient removal and rehabilitate the two (2) existing clarifiers. PhaseXylem Water Solutions, USA, Inc. 2 will also construct a new intermittent use effluent pump station which will enable the plant to discharge under high water level conditions in the receiving stream. It is anticipated that construction for Phase 2 will commence shortly after completion of Phase 1.
A future Phase 3 project will be required to complete the expansion to 10 MGD and will involve construction of a new clarifier and expansion or replacement of the solids dewatering process. The timing of Phase 3 will depend on the actual rate of population growth and corresponding increase in flow to the plant.
OFE Procurement
During project design, it was determined to be in the best interest of the City, to pre-select and assign contracts for critical process equipment. These were included in the procurement packages for the construction of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, Phase 1 project.
Listed below are the four selected companies, contract amount and council authorization date:
1. Circular Clarifier Sludge Collector: Wes Tech Engineering, Inc., $241,459.00, 03/26/2019
2. Carousel Style BNR System: Ovivo USA, LLC, $1,488,590.00, 03/26/2019
3. Automatic Backwash Disk Filters: Alfa Laval, Inc., $1,245,000.00, 03/26/2019
4. UV Disinfection System: Xylem Water Solutions, USA, Inc., $699,500.00, 03/26/2019
Pre-qualification
A pre-qualification process was conducted to establish a list of interested Contractors meeting the minimum qualifications to submit a proposal for the project. The Request for Qualifications was issued on April 17, 2019 and Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) were received on May 15, 2019. SOQs were received from the following potential Offerors:
• Allco, LLC, Beaumont, Texas
• Archer Western Construction, LLC, Chicago, Illinois
• BAR Constructors, Inc., Lancaster, Texas
• Flatiron Constructors, Inc., Broomfield, Colorado
• Flintco, LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• PLW Waterworks, The Woodlands, Texas
Prequalification was determined on a pass-fail of the criteria of experience / past performance of the Offeror, experience and qualifications of key personnel, demonstrated ability to provide performance and payment bonds and insurance, demonstrated safety performance, and demonstrated financial stability.
Based on reviews by Plus Six Engineering as Owner’s Representative and Freese & Nichols as Design Engineer, the following potential Offerors were prequalified to submit a Proposal for Project:
• Archer Western Construction, LLC, Chicago, Illinois
• BAR Constructors, Inc., Lancaster, Texas
• Flatiron Constructors, Inc., Broomfield, Colorado
• Flintco, LLC, Tulsa, Oklahoma
• PLW Waterworks, The Woodlands, Texas
Proposals
Competitive sealed proposals were received from the following three (3) Offerors on September 26, 2019 for the referenced project:
• Archer Western Construction, LLC, Chicago, Illinois
• BAR Constructors, Inc., Lancaster, Texas
• PLW Waterworks, The Woodlands, Texas
Below is a summary of the proposals.
1. Archer Western Construction, LLC, $42,362.938.00, Final Days 809
2. BAR Constructors, Inc., $41,863,737.95, Final Days 753
3. PLW Waterworks, LLC, $44,393,000.00, Final Days 797
Evaluation
Following receipt of proposals, the evaluation team consisting of staff from the City, Owner’s Representative team and Design Engineer team, reviewed proposals against the selection criteria of cost and time, Offeror’s approach to project, Offeror’s company experience, and Offeror’s Key Personnel qualifications. Owner’s Representative staff conducted reference checks on Offeror’s representative projects and key personnel.
On October 3, 2019 the evaluation team met to report on technical review and reference checks, discuss proposals and make a selection. The selection team consisted of five (5) City of Pflugerville staff employees. Following completion of the evaluation session, a short list was determined and interviews were scheduled with the top two Offerors.
On October 8, 2019, interviews were held with Archer Wester Construction, LLC and BAR Constructors, Inc. Following completion of interviews, the evaluation team discussed the merits of each Offeror and City staff determined BAR Constructors as having the best value proposal for the City of Pflugerville. Letters of concurrence and recommendation from Owner’s Representative and Design Engineer are attached.
The final Engineer’s Cost Estimate provided for project was for $42,899,000 and included a 5% contingency. The project requires Substantial Completion on or before November 30, 2021. BAR Constructors proposal is less than Engineer’s Cost Estimate. With an assumed Notice to Proceed date of November 12, 2019, the BAR proposal will have a contract completion date of October 4, 2021.
BAR Constructors proposed to set up their own batch plant for concrete which provides additional concrete quality and schedule control for the project. This is important because the project involves a significant quantity of concrete with a large number of pours. The Contractor having control over batching and delivery, will help keep project on schedule. BAR Constructors is well-known for quality of concrete work in addition to civil and mechanical works needed for the project.
BAR Constructors, Inc. submitted a Proposal that offered the lowest proposed contract price and the earliest completion date. BAR Constructors, Inc. is an experienced wastewater treatment plant contractor and has successfully completed similar wastewater treatment plant expansion projects for other agencies.
Conclusion
It is recommended that a contract be awarded to BAR Constructors, Inc. in the amount of $41,863,737.95 to construct the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, Phase 1 project.
This project will be funded with a combination of wastewater impact fees and utility bonds.
Prior City Council Action
N/A
Deadline for City Council Action
Action is requested on October 22, 2019
Funding Expected: Revenue __ Expenditure _X_ N/A __
Budgeted Item: Yes _X_ No __ N/A __
Amount: _$41,863,737.95_______
1295 Form Required? Yes _X_ No __
Legal Review Required: N/A __ Required _X_ Date Completed: Legal will complete a review of all contract documents prior to City Manager's signature_
Supporting documents attached:
Recommendation Letters
Tabulation Worksheet
Project Map
Recommended Action
Approve award of a construction contract for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Phase 1 Project to BAR Constructors, Inc. the responsible bidder of three (3) bids received on September 26, 2019, in the amount of $41,863,737.95 and authorizing the City Manager to execute same.