REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Award of Contract to Purchase Chlorine for the Water Pollution Control Plant (F15-16)
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Council approval is requested to award a contract in the amount of $125,000 to Sierra Chemical Company of Sparks, Nevada to supply elemental (liquid) chlorine for use by the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP or Plant). Approval is also recommended to delegate authority to the City Manager to renew the contract for up to two additional one-year periods, subject to available funding, operational need and acceptable pricing/service.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Chlorine is used by the WPCP to disinfect the treated wastewater prior to discharge in the Moffett channel, or for reuse in the City's recycled water system. Pathogen reduction through disinfection is required by WPCP's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that specifies water quality requirements for discharge of treated wastewater. If the Plant fails to meet these requirements at any time the City may be subject to penalties and/or administrative orders.
The Plant currently uses elemental chlorine, which is stored under pressure as a liquid and converted to a gaseous state. Gaseous chlorine is highly volatile and is no longer in widespread use (Sunnyvale and Sacramento are the only known jurisdictions in Northern California who utilize gaseous chlorine). A capital project to convert from gaseous to liquid-only chlorine will be bid this fiscal year, but the current process will remain in place until the new system can be commissioned (at the earliest in FY 2015/16).
A competitive bid to establish the current contract was issued in October 2011. Sierra Chemical was the only bidder, and is the only known provider of elemental chlorine in the region. It is highly unlikely that the City will receive competitive bids from other firms, so an exemption from competitive bidding is recommended in this instance. Sec...
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