REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Award of Contract for Removal of Overgrown Vegetation from the Oxidation Ponds and Levee Areas at the Water Pollution Control Plant (F16-23)
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Approval is requested to award a contract in an amount not to exceed $244,740 to Aquatic Environments, Inc. of Concord to remove approximately 12 acres of overgrown vegetation at the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP or Plant) oxidation ponds and levee areas. Approval is also requested for a 10% contract contingency in the amount of $24,474.
EXISTING POLICY
Pursuant to Section 2.08.060 of the Sunnyvale Municipal Code, maintenance work anticipated to cost more than $50,000 is conducted through the issuance of an Invitation for Bids (IFB), with a contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination for this project is a categorical exemption pursuant to Class 1, Section 15301. Class 1 exemptions include repair, maintenance and minor alterations of existing public facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The oxidation ponds are an integral component of the secondary treatment process at the Plant. During this process, the ponds are utilized to effectively remove soluble organic material, suspended solids, and ammonia inherent to wastewater and upon which strict discharge limitations have been placed by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). The network of levees surrounding the Oxidation Ponds and recirculation channels have become significantly overgrown with emergent vegetation, placing increased risk of clogging/damaging integral pond effluent and recirculation pumping equipment (weed removal was last conducted in 2009). There are approximately 12 acres of vegetation to be removed.
An IFB for the weed removal work was issued on August 18, 2015, through the City's public procurement network. Fou...
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