AGENDA TITLE:
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Approve Specifications and Authorize Advertisement for Bids for Directional Boring, Excavation, and Conduit Installation July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2029 (EU)
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MEETING DATE:
May 1, 2024
PREPARED BY:
Tim Combs, Electric Utility Superintendent
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve Specifications and Authorize Advertisement for Bids for Directional Boring, Excavation, and Conduit Installation July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2029.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Lodi Electric Utility (“LEU”) maintains hundreds of miles of overhead electric lines and underground cable to provide safe, reliable electric service to nearly 28,000 customer accounts.
As the underground electric system ages, it becomes necessary to repair and upgrade cables, conduits, and appurtenances. LEU uses the least intrusive and most economically feasible method in replacing the underground infrastructure. This approach requires the use of directional drilling to minimize disturbances to the community, as well as minimize disruption and the replacement of hardscaped surfaces, including roads, sidewalks, and gutters, while doing so with maximum efficiency.
To ensure these services were readily available when needed, City Council approved a contract with Westech Industries, Inc. on June 6, 2018, in the amount of $700,000 per year for a period of three years with the option of two one-year extensions, which would have resulted in a total not-to-exceed contract value of $3,500,000 with the authorized extensions. On May 19, 2021, City Council authorized Change Order No. 1 increasing the total not-to-exceed contract to $4,100,000 through June 30, 2023. Under City Manager authority, Westech’s contract was subsequently amended to add $1,275,000 through June 30, 2024, for a total authorized contract of $5,375,000 to assist with construction efforts to complete the Natural Gas Power Plant facility funded by the California Department of Water Resources.
With Westech’s contract expiring June 30, 2024, and to ensure LEU is receiving competitive pricing for these services, it is once again necessary to go out to public bid for this work for an additional five years. A contract will come before City Council in June for consideration of approval to award a contract for these services to the lowest responsive bidder. These services will be provided on an as-needed and emergency basis, in response to planned and unforeseen work.
Plans and specifications are on file at LEU. The planned bid opening date is May 16, 2024.
STRATEGIC VISION:
5C. Infrastructure: Address deferred maintenance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not-to-exceed $3,500,000 over five years.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
While actual expenses are charged to respective projects and work orders, the contract will reside in the LEU Capital Improvement Program Underground Maintenance Project (EUCP-21006).
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Jeff Berkheimer
Electric Utility Director
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Melissa Munoz
Accounting Manager
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Andrew C. Keys
Interim City Manager