HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 Professional Engineering services Agenda Item #
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UCKEE
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DistrictPublic Utility
Workshop
To: Board of Directors
From: Joe Horvath, District Electrical Engineer
Date: January 31, 2007
Date of Board Meeting: February 7, 2007
Subject: Professional Engineering Services RFQ
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
Professional engineering services are required for the design of several capital
improvement projects in the District's electrical distribution system. This workshop item
is to briefly discuss these projects and the proposed Request for Qualifications (RFQ)
process.
2. HISTORY
The approved 2007 operating budget includes capital improvement projects necessary
for the District's electrical system. The projects that require professional engineering
design services include the following: Donner Lake Substation Rebuild, Tahoe Donner
Substation Rebuild, and the new Donner Lake Circuit No. 3 feeder. The funding
source for these projects is electric facility fees.
Donner Lake Substation Rebuild: The existing substation is the oldest original
substation in the District's electric system. It is more than 30 years old, and it is the
smallest capacity substation in the District's system. This project will upgrade the
substation capacity from 3.75 MVA to 15MVA, equivalent to the District's other
substations. This is an approved Master Plan project for providing increased electrical
capacity.
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Tahoe Donner Substation Rebuild: The existing fuses protecting Tahoe Donner
Substation do not coordinate with Sierra Pacific or PG&E's 60kV line protection due to
increased load growth. These fuses require approximation 5 to 10 seconds to operate.
During this time, significant damage to transformers and equipment can and has
occurred. Mitigation requires the installation of a 60kV circuit switcher and protective
relaying such that clearing times can be significantly reduced to coordinate with our
utility neighbors and avoid equipment damage.
Donner Lake Circuit No. 3: This is a new 12.47kV distribution feeder that will
originate at the District's Donner Lake Substation and connect to the Tahoe Donner
area. This new feeder will be approximately 2 miles long. It is proposed to be
underbuilt on Sierra Pacific's existing 60kV transmission line that connects Donner
Lake and Tahoe Donner Substations. This is an approved Master Plan project for
providing increased electrical capacity.
3. NEW INFORMATION
The RFQ document will contain a general description of the required professional
engineering services and a brief description of each capital improvement project
requiring design services. The successful firm will be selected through a qualifications-
based selection process that is deemed to be most advantageous to the District.
Interested firms will be required to submit a Statement of Qualifications that addresses
the experience and qualification of the firm and key personnel to be assigned to the
District's projects. In addition, resumes of key personnel, profiles of similar projects
completed by each firm, and other such information will be solicited for the District's
consideration and evaluation. After selection of the successful firm, the District will
negotiate a contract for design services and present it to the Board for their approval.
We anticipate bringing a contract, or contracts, to the Board in the March/April
timeframe.
4. RECOMMENDATION
This is a workshop item. No formal Board action is suggested.
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