.png) |
VICTOR VALLEY WASTEWATER RECLAMATION AUTHORITY Board Of Commissioners Staff Report |
| TO: | VVWRA Board of Commissioners |
| FROM: | Darron Poulsen, General Manager |
| SUBMITTED BY: | Latif Laari, Environmental Compliance Manager |
| DATE: | 01/29/2026 |
| SUBJECT: | Recommendation to Authorize the General Manager to Approve a Contract with Hoch Consulting to Provide Engineering Services for the Potable Water Supply Pipeline Design and Environmental Permitting Project in an Amount Not to exceed $399,971, Pending Legal Review and Approval of the Agreement.
|
| Fiscal Impact | Yes |
| Account Code: | 01-02-000-9000-9999-R157 |
| Funds Budgeted/ Approved: | Yes |
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of Commissioners authorize the General Manager to approve a contract with Hoch Consulting to provide engineering services for the Potable Water Supply Pipeline Design and Environmental Permitting Project in an amount not to exceed $399,971, Pending legal review and approval of the agreement.
PREVIOUS ACTION(S)
None
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Current Water Supply Challenges at the regional plant:
VVWRA currently relies on two groundwater wells to provide approximately 60 gallons per minute (gpm) to support the Regional Treatment Plant, American Organics, and Anaergia facilities. These existing wells present significant operational challenges:
VVWRA currently relies on two groundwater wells to provide approximately 60 gallons per minute (gpm) to support the Regional Treatment Plant, American Organics, and Anaergia facilities. These existing wells present significant operational challenges:
- Contamination Risk: The wells are located adjacent to wastewater facilities, creating elevated contamination risks to the potable water supply.
- The current water quality does not meet appropriate drinking water standards and staff at VVWRA and American Organic have to drink only bottled water
- Insufficient Fire Flow Capacity: The current system fails to meet the required 3,000 gpm fire flow demand for American Organics facilities at the required 40 psi residual pressure.
In addition to the operational challenges detailed above, in 2022 VVWRA had an annual inspection from the California Department of Drinking Water (DDW) to inspect our potable water system. In the report generated by the DDW inspection, they made a recommendation that our current operations are not sustainable and that we need to consider upgrading our potable system to acceptable drinking water standards. A study was completed in 2023 by Civiltec Engineering to evaluate what potable water system would need to be installed to meet the required quality and volume standards. The final study proposed the need for a new deep water well outside the VVWRA operations, a connecting water pipe back to the facility and an ion-exchange treatment system to remove any negative constituents. The engineering estimate to construct all of those assets was over $12M. Due to the high cost of constructing an acceptable drinking water system, the decision was made to seek alternative options, including a potable connection to the City of Victorville's potable water system.
Project Objectives:
To address these deficiencies and concerns, VVWRA is pursuing the design and construction of a new potable water supply pipeline that will:
To address these deficiencies and concerns, VVWRA is pursuing the design and construction of a new potable water supply pipeline that will:
- Connect to the City of Victorville's 18-inch potable water main near the High Desert Power Plant
- Provide a safe, reliable potable water source for the Authority, American Organics, and Anaergia
- Ensure fire flow delivery of 3,000+ gpm at greater than 40 psi residual pressure
- Establish separate service meters for the Authority and American Organics
- Secure necessary easements and permits across federal property (U.S. Air Force/San Diego Logistics Airport)
- Deliver final contract documents suitable for bidding and construction
Project Feasibility:
This project is supported by a 2023 Feasibility Study (Exhibit 1) and subsequent planning efforts, which determined that the project is feasible, constructible, and critical for fire safety and potable water reliability.
Procurement Process:
In September 2025, VVWRA issued a Request for Proposals seeking qualified engineering firms to provide design, environmental permitting, and construction support services for the pipeline project. The RFP was advertised publicly and posted on the PlanetBids procurement portal. A total of two bids were received, both determined to be qualified and responsive:
This project is supported by a 2023 Feasibility Study (Exhibit 1) and subsequent planning efforts, which determined that the project is feasible, constructible, and critical for fire safety and potable water reliability.
Procurement Process:
In September 2025, VVWRA issued a Request for Proposals seeking qualified engineering firms to provide design, environmental permitting, and construction support services for the pipeline project. The RFP was advertised publicly and posted on the PlanetBids procurement portal. A total of two bids were received, both determined to be qualified and responsive:
| Engineering Firm | Bid Amount for all tasks |
| Hoch Consulting | $399,971 |
| Dudek | $664,000 |
Following a comprehensive and thorough review of all proposals received for the Potable Water Supply Pipeline Design, Environmental Permitting, and Construction Support Services project, VVWRA has determined that Hoch Consulting's proposal is the most responsive to the Authority's requirements and project objectives. Based on the evaluation of all required criteria, including technical approach, relevant experience, project management capabilities, qualifications of key personnel, technical resources, proposed schedule, and cost, Hoch Consulting has been identified as the firm best suited to successfully deliver this critical infrastructure project.
Contract Scope of Services:
The contract with Hoch Consulting will encompass the following services (Exhibit 2):
Tasks 1–7
VVWRA intends to award the contract to Hoch Consulting for Tasks 1 through 7 at this time in the not-to-exceed amount of $399,971.00. These tasks include:
Contract Scope of Services:
The contract with Hoch Consulting will encompass the following services (Exhibit 2):
Tasks 1–7
VVWRA intends to award the contract to Hoch Consulting for Tasks 1 through 7 at this time in the not-to-exceed amount of $399,971.00. These tasks include:
- Task 1: Project Administration and Management
- Task 2: Environmental Documentation and Permitting (CEQA Mitigated Negative Declaration)
- Task 3: Preliminary Design (topographic survey, utility research, geotechnical investigation, hydraulic analysis)
- Task 4: Final Design (Plans, Specifications, and Estimates at 50%, 90%, and 100% design stages)
- Task 5: Funding Support (optional funding strategy and grant assistance)
- Task 6: Assistance During Bidding (bidder coordination, addenda, bid evaluation)
- Task 7: Engineering Services During Construction (submittal review, RFIs, design clarifications, progress meetings)
Based on the background information and the results of the RFP, staff recommends that the Board of Commissioners authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with Hoch Consulting to provide engineering services for the Potable Water Supply Pipeline Design and Environmental Permitting Project in an amount not to exceed $399,971, Pending legal review and approval of the agreement.