REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Award of Contract to Synagro-WWT, Inc. for Biosolid Disposal and Digester Cleaning (F25-512)
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Approval is requested to award a two-year contract to Synagro-WWT, Inc. of Sacramento in the not to exceed amount of $4,000,000 for biosolid disposal and digester cleaning. Approval is also requested to authorize the City Manager to renew the Agreement for three additional one-year periods, subject to acceptable performance, pricing, and availability of budgeted funds.
EXISTING POLICY
Pursuant to Chapter 2.08 of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code, contracts for this type of service are awarded pursuant to a Request for Proposals (RFP) best value process, unless otherwise exempt from the competitive bidding process. Additionally, City Council approval is required for the procurement of goods and/or services exceeding $250,000 in any one transaction.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guideline Section 15301 as it consists of maintenance of an existing public facility involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The wastewater treatment process at the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) produces biosolids through several treatment processes. The Primary Treatment Process removes organic matter from the influent wastewater stream which is then sent through the anaerobic digestion treatment process. The solids stabilized in the digesters are then processed for beneficial reuse as soil amendments by removing excess water (dewatering) and shipping the dewatered solids to sites for land application or composting. This process produces approximately 425 dry tons of biosolids per year. As part of this process, the anaerobic digesters (tanks) must also be emptied and cleaned of grit and debris that settle at the bottom. The WPCP has four digester tanks, with one cleaned every year
The WPCP oxidation ponds also convert organic matter and ammonia from the Primary Effluent into biomass that settles to the bottom. From the inception of the WPCP in 1956, through 2009, the solids settled in the oxidation ponds and had never been removed, which filled the ponds with sludge and impacted pond effluent quality and reduced the throughput treatment capacity
Beginning in 2009, the City initiated a program to dredge the ponds and dewater the biosolids for beneficial reuse (RTC No. 09-291), and entered into a new contract in 2019 to continue the program (RTC No. 19-0545). Approximately 2,000 dry tons of solids are removed from the ponds each year. The current contract for pond dredging and solids dewatering is set to expire on September 3, 2026. The Sunnyvale Clean Water Program (CWP) anticipates that the ponds will remain in service for at least two more years, until the new conventional active sludge system is online and provides full secondary biological treatment during dry weather. Dredging the ponds to maintain treatment process capacity is essential for the remainder of the ponds' anticipated service life.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on August 7, 2025, through the City’s PlanetBids public procurement network for the biosolid disposal and digester cleaning services. A job walk was conducted on August 26, 2025. Two responsive proposals were received on September 18, 2025. The two proposals were reviewed and evaluated by Environmental Services Department staff.
The firms were evaluated based on their qualifications, experience, organization, management plan, and pricing. It was determined that the proposal from Synagro-WWT, Inc. provided the best value for the City. The City then engaged in contract negotiations with Synagro, resulting in a $21 per dry ton discount for Pond Solids Dredging and Disposal and an additional $230 per dry ton discount when the biosolids can be land-applied rather than composted. A $130 per dry ton discount is also available when digester biosolids can be land-applied.
The proposed rates for year one will be $1,759 per dry ton for pond solids ($1,529 with discount), $1,357 per dry ton for digester solids ($1,227 with discount), and $325,000 per digester cleaning event. The contract includes annual inflation and fuel surcharge adjustments.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding is available in Fund 6081 - Wastewater Management under Project 825521 - WPCP Biosolids Processing.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Take the following actions:
- Award a contract in substantially the same form as Attachment 1 to the report in the amount of $4,000,000 to Synagro-WWT, Inc.
- Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract when all necessary conditions have been met; and
- Authorize the City Manager to renew the Agreement for three (3) additional one-year periods, within approved not-to-exceed budgeted amounts.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
_X_ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
___ Contract between public agencies
___ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: David Battaglia, Purchasing Officer
Reviewed by: Matthew Paulin, Director of Finance
Reviewed by: Ramana Chinnakotla, Director of Environmental Services
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Service Agreement
2. Project Budget Summary Sheet