Staff recommends the City Council award a contract for W.O. 20-40, Walter Pump Station Generator, to CEI Electrical Contractors (Colstrip Electric) for the Base Bid amount of $281,000.00.
 

W.O. 20-40, Walter Pump Station Generator, is intended to install a new and permanent backup generator at Walter Pump Station.  Backup power service is currently provided by a portable generator that may or may not be readily available due to it being needed elsewhere within the City's water distribution system. The project generally consists of the following components and work: construction of a concrete pad for a new generator; furnish and install a new generator; related electrical and control work; and miscellaneous related work at, on, or around the existing building and site.  The additive alternate was included in the bid as we were informed by Northwestern Energy that we may have had to make a different electrical connection than what was designed.  Since the project bid, we were told we could connect as planned so the additive alternate is not necessary.

The project was advertised on May 22, May 29, and June 5, 2020, in the Yellowstone County News and on the City’s website.  Bids were opened on June 9, 2020, and three bids were received.  Colstrip Electric submitted the lowest, responsible bid.

City Council may:

• Award W.O  20-40, Walter Pump Station Generator, to CEI Electrical Contractors in the amount of  $281,000.00; or
• Do not award a contract and reject all bids.  If the project is not awarded, Walter Pump Station will have to rely on using a portable generator, which does not provide as reliable or timely backup.

 
The following bids were received:

Contractor	Base Bid	Additive Bid Alternate
Ace Electric, Inc.	$ 302,958.00	$ 6,072.00
YSTAAS Electrical Services LLC	$ 324,598.00	$54,780.00
CEI Electrical Contractors            (Colstrip Electric)	$ 281,000.00	$15,000.00

 
The additive alternate is not needed for the project and is not being recommended for award.  The project was budgeted in FY20 using water funds.  The amount budgeted was $1,600,000 and the work was separated into two projects.  The other portion of the project is new pumps at the Walter Pump Station that was previously awarded for $563,883. The remaining budget will be used to for engineering charges, change orders if they occur, and future water projects.