November 18, 2003
SUBJECT: Authorization to Amend an Existing Contract to Provide Design and Construction Support Services for Improvements to the City's Water Delivery Control System (#F0310-29)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Approval is requested to amend an existing contract with Carollo Engineers of Walnut Creek for design and construction support services for improvements to the City's water delivery control system (hardware and software) for the Public Works Project Administration Division (Project #UW-00/01-03).
BACKGROUND
On October 2, 2001, Council awarded a contract to Carollo Engineers in an amount not to exceed $190,000 for engineering consulting services to improve the City's water delivery control system which is known as the Municipal Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System (RTC 01-340). Project costs were itemized, as follows: engineering consulting services not to exceed $130,000, bidding and construction support services not to exceed $40,000, and additional services, if authorized by the Director of Public Works, not to exceed $20,000.
DISCUSSION
SCADA system design provides for the remote monitoring and control of the City's water system from a main control computer at the Corporation Yard. Depending on the various modules used at each remote site, the level of control varies from simple telemetry (monitoring of levels and flow) to actually turning valves on and off and adjusting tank flows and levels. Remote sites include Hetch Hetchy sites, well sites, lift stations and water plants throughout the City.
Traditionally, the control commands are sent by radio on an FCC licensed frequency. However, when the original project budget was developed, there were no frequencies available in the Bay Area; and funds were budgeted for the more expensive repeater-style control command system. Recently, staff determined that a frequency reserved for another agency had become available. As a result, the City was able to obtain that frequency; and the communication cost has been significantly reduced. This makes it possible to add nineteen pressure-reducing stations to the twenty-eight sites originally included in the project. This amounts to a potential increase of 67% in sites which will further enhance the City's ability to monitor and control the water system and will increase system reliability for our customers. The additional fee of $39,650 for consultant services is to provide for the design of the nineteen sites. Incorporating the new sites will provide more efficient and expansive control.
FISCAL IMPACT
The requested additional sites will increase the engineering consulting services by $39,650, making a total contract amount not to exceed $229,650. There is no net impact on the project budget as this additional consultant fee and the cost of including additional sites will be offset by the savings resulting from obtaining the FCC licensed frequency. Funds are available in Infrastructure Project #815201 - Water/Sewer Supervisory Control System.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council authorize amendment of an existing contract with Carollo Engineers, in substantially the same form as the attached draft, for design and construction support services for the Municipal SCADA System Improvement Project (Project #UW-00/01-03), to include nineteen additional remote sites and increase expenditures in an amount not to exceed $39,650.
Prepared by:
Elaine Wesely
Purchasing Officer
Reviewed by:
Mary J. Bradley
Director, Finance
Reviewed by:
Marvin Rose
Director, Public Works
Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager
Attachments
A. Draft Amendment to Consultant Services Agreement
B. Consultant Services Agreement (pdf format)