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Item 1.A.3.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 11/25/2024 |
| Title: | W.O. 24-31: WRF Solids Process Building Ventilation |
| Presented by: | Debi Meling |
| Department: | Public Works |
| Presentation: | No |
| Legal Review: | Template Contract |
| Project Number: | N/A |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council award a contract for W.O. 24-31: WRF Solids Process Building Ventilation, to Empire Heating and Cooling, in the amount of $469,225.00.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
W.O. 24-31: WRF Solids Process Building Ventilation will provide updates to the WRF Solids Process Building heating, ventilation, and controls (HVAC).
The Solids Process Building currently utilizes the HVAC from the original construction during the late 1970's. This building is continually occupied by operations and maintenance staff. It houses the control room, the maintenance shop, solids processing equipment, and chemical tanks for solids processing. There are elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide present in this building due to operation of the solids processing equipment. In the current configuration of the HVAC equipment, air inside the building is allowed to recirculate rather than bring in fresh air from the outside, particularly when outside temperatures are below freezing. Recirculation of plant air that contains hydrogen sulfide in continually occupied spaces poses a health and safety hazard to plant personnel. In addition, the hydrogen sulfide present in the air is corrosive to the sensitive electrical equipment located within the building, greatly reducing its functional lifespan, leading to excessive maintenance costs and costly repairs.
This project will replace the air handling unit for the control room with a furnace and cooling coil, pressurization of the mechanical room to push out process and shop floor air, and adding preheat coils with glycol to the remaining air handling units so they can utilize outside air at all times of the year without a danger of freezing. In addition, new HVAC controls will be provided. This project was a planned maintenance project for FY25 using Wastewater O&M funds.
The project was advertised on September 27, October 4th, October 11th, October 18th, and October 25th, 2024, in the Yellowstone County News and on the City’s website. Bids were opened on October 29th and two bids were received. Empire Heating and Cooling submitted the lowest, responsible bid.
The Solids Process Building currently utilizes the HVAC from the original construction during the late 1970's. This building is continually occupied by operations and maintenance staff. It houses the control room, the maintenance shop, solids processing equipment, and chemical tanks for solids processing. There are elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide present in this building due to operation of the solids processing equipment. In the current configuration of the HVAC equipment, air inside the building is allowed to recirculate rather than bring in fresh air from the outside, particularly when outside temperatures are below freezing. Recirculation of plant air that contains hydrogen sulfide in continually occupied spaces poses a health and safety hazard to plant personnel. In addition, the hydrogen sulfide present in the air is corrosive to the sensitive electrical equipment located within the building, greatly reducing its functional lifespan, leading to excessive maintenance costs and costly repairs.
This project will replace the air handling unit for the control room with a furnace and cooling coil, pressurization of the mechanical room to push out process and shop floor air, and adding preheat coils with glycol to the remaining air handling units so they can utilize outside air at all times of the year without a danger of freezing. In addition, new HVAC controls will be provided. This project was a planned maintenance project for FY25 using Wastewater O&M funds.
The project was advertised on September 27, October 4th, October 11th, October 18th, and October 25th, 2024, in the Yellowstone County News and on the City’s website. Bids were opened on October 29th and two bids were received. Empire Heating and Cooling submitted the lowest, responsible bid.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- The Council may: Award W.O. 24-31: WRF Solids Process Building Ventilation, to Empire Heating and Cooling in the amount of $469,225.00;
- Not award a contract and reject all bids. If the project is not awarded, the WRF Solids Process Building ventilation will continue to recirculate inside air within the building. This will continue to be a hazard to the operations and maintenance staff, and continue to corrode sensitive electrical equipment that is housed within the building.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The following bids were received:
The project was budgeted in FY25 using Wastewater O&M funds in the amount of $350,000. The shortfall of $119,225 will be funded by deferring the Air Flotation Thickener building roof replacement project (budgeted in the amount of $250,000). The AFT roof replacement will be deferred to FY26 to allow this project to be completed, since it is a higher priority for plant personnel health and safety considerations.
| Empire Heating and Cooling | Norpac Sheetmetal | |
| TOTAL Bid | $469,225.00 | $471,000.00 |
The project was budgeted in FY25 using Wastewater O&M funds in the amount of $350,000. The shortfall of $119,225 will be funded by deferring the Air Flotation Thickener building roof replacement project (budgeted in the amount of $250,000). The AFT roof replacement will be deferred to FY26 to allow this project to be completed, since it is a higher priority for plant personnel health and safety considerations.