The present contract for polyaluminum hydroxychloride (PACL) blend expires on March 8, 2013.  PACL is used as a coagulant at the water treatment plant to remove suspended material in the water as part of the total treatment process.  Letters to potential suppliers outlining the testing requirements and requesting that they prequalify their products were sent out in April 2010 and December 2011 in preparation for this bid cycle.  The letters are required to be sent very early prior to bidding the potential products to allow the products to be tested extensively to insure their performance meets the requirements for treatment in the water treatment plant.  PACL blends must be pre-approved through bench and plant scale testing before a bid for the product will be accepted.  PACL blends are proprietary products and these blends supplied by different vendors have differences in composition and efficacy. 

The purpose of this bid is to obtain a fixed unit price in terms of price per pound ($/lbs) for a one (1) year period, with an option to extend the contract one (1) year at a time, for up to a total of three (3) years.

The City Council may:

• Approve the award for the PACL Blend to Kemira Water Solutions, Inc.; or 
• Reject all bids and not award the chemicals contract.
   

There are sufficient funds in the FY2013 Water Treatment Plant Chemicals account to cover purchases of this chemical.  Bid award is based upon the railcar price which is the primary method of delivery. One bid was received on January 29, 2013, as follows:

Supplier	Product	Pricing
		Railcar	Truck	Tote (275 gal.)
Kemira Water Solutions Inc.	PAX-CL3920LX	$0.363/lb	$0.383	No Bid

Staff recommends that Council award the contract to supply PACL to Kemira Water Solutions, Inc. for one year with an option to renew the contract, one year at a time, for up to three years at a purchase price during the first year of $0.363/lb when delivered by railcar.