HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 Approval of Pioneer Trail Pipeline Design Contract
AGENDA ITEM___10_____
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MEETING DATE: November 4, 2020
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Brian Wright, Assistant GM/Water Utility Director
SUBJECT: Award of a Professional Services Contract to Perform Design
Assistance for the Pioneer Trail Pipeline Project
APPROVED BY__________________________________
Brian Wright, Assistant General Manager/Water Utility Director
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Authorize the General Manager to execute a professional services contract with
Waterworks Engineers to provide design assistance for the Pioneer Trail Pipeline
Project in an amount not to exceed $110,000.
2. Approve the transfer of $110,000 from the Water Capital Reserve Fund to the
Water General Fund
BACKGROUND:
The Tahoe Donner subdivision consists of approximately 5,600 single family homes, about
400 multi-family residential units, a golf course, downhill ski area, cross-country ski area
and other amenities. This represents about 44% of the District’s water system customers.
An additional 500 residential units are expected in the Tahoe Donner area at full buildout
conditions. The entire subdivision is served by a single 14” welded steel pipeline with two
pump stations and two storage tanks that essentially serve as forebays. These facilities
were constructed in the early 1970s and are approaching the end of their useful life.
The District previously identified the need to construct a second pipeline into Tahoe
Donner as noted in the current Water System Master Plan. The master plan identified the
need for a 20” pipeline, however recently updated buildout water demand projections
support a reduction in pipeline size to 16” diameter.
The proposed route for the pipeline is shown in Figure 1-Conceptual Alignment Pioneer
Trail Pipeline (included with this report as Attachment 1). On the eastern end, the new
pipeline will connect to an existing 24” pipe near Pioneer Trail and Comstock Drive. The
western end will connect to an existing 16” pipe at the intersection of Northwoods
Boulevard and Lamplighter Way. The pipeline alignment generally follows the route of a
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planned extension of Pioneer Trail westward to Northwoods Boulevard by the Town of
Truckee. The District will be coordinating with the Town and other utilities to minimize any
future conflicts between the proposed water pipeline and other planned improvements, and
evaluate opportunities to coordinate construction activity where feasible to reduce overall
costs. The District will be using the project title “Pioneer Trail Pipeline” to refer to this
project.
The planned pipeline route requires a crossing of Trout Creek. Two potential creek
crossing locations have been identified. One location is adjacent to the existing bridge for
the paved recreation trail. The second location is adjacent to an existing large diameter
culvert for a service road to the Coyote Moon Golf Course. From the potential creek
crossings to Northwoods Boulevard, two alternative pipeline routes have been identified.
The overall capital improvement project will include the construction of a new pump station
needed to lift water into the Tahoe Donner area. The planned location for the new pump
station is on District-owned property in close proximity to the District’s 6170 Storage Tank
Facility and the
The overall project design requirements consist of the three components:
Overall pipeline design
Trout Creek crossing
Pump station design
Pipeline Design:
The District will perform the overall pipeline design in-house. Considering the anticipated
flow rates and velocities, performing a hydraulic transient analysis of the new pipeline is
prudent. Performing such an analysis requires specialized software and expertise that is
beyond the District’s in-house capabilities and the use of an outside consultant is
necessary.
Trout Creek Crossing:
Potential methods for the Trout Creek crossing involve both overhead and below grade
crossings with a number of potential techniques available. The evaluation and design of
this crossing involves expertise in geotechnical engineering, structural engineering and
trenchless construction methods that is beyond the District’s in-house capabilities.
Therefore, the use of an outside consultant is necessary.
Pump Station Design:
Historically, the District has utilized a combination of District staff resources and contracted
services to construct new pump station and well structures. Upon further evaluation of the
District’s anticipated project schedule and work load, staff has determined the need for the
new pump station to be fully constructed by an outside contractor. Taking this approach
into consideration, a more thorough and complete set of bid documents will be needed for
an effective public bidding process and the use of an outside consultant is planned for this
design work.
In September 2020, the Water Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to
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secure a consultant to design the Trout Creek crossing and to perform the hydraulic
transient analysis. Separate RFPs for the final design of the pump station and
environmental review requirements will be issued at a later date.
Five proposals were received in response to the RFP:
Eastern Sierra Engineering – Reno, NV
Farr West Engineering – Reno, NV
Lumos And Associates – Carson City, NV
SCO – Grass Valley, CA
Waterworks Engineers – Roseville, CA
A staff committee was selected and the proposals were evaluated based on the following
criteria:
Proposed scope of work and project methodology (30%)
Experience of the firm with similar pipeline design projects (15%)
Experience of project team with similar pipeline design projects (20%)
The firm’s procedures, methodology and quality assurance/quality control (5%)
References (10%)
Cost (20%)
After completion of the technical review, the proposals from Farr West and Waterworks
were judged to be clearly superior to the other three. Both of these proposals showed a
more thorough understanding of the District’s objectives and the technical challenges
associated with the creek crossing. The technical scoring had Waterworks rated slightly
higher, but either proposal would meet the District’s needs.
Consulting Firm Rank
Water Works Engineering 1
Farr West Engineering 2
Lumos & Associates 3
Eastern Sierra Engineering 4
SCO Engineering 5
Technical Scoring Results
The proposed costs were then reviewed. The cost proposals from the five firms ranged
from just over $65,000 to just under $152,000. There was a significant difference in the
costs between the two favored proposals with Farr West just under $152,000 and
Waterworks at about $100,000.
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Consulting Firm Rank
Lumos & Associates 1
Eastern Sierra Engineering 2
Waterworks Engineering 3
SCO Engineering 4
Farr West Engineering 5
Proposal Cost Ranking
An aggregated ranking (technical capability & cost) of the proposers was developed:
Consulting Firm Rank
Waterworks Engineering 1
Farr West Engineering 2
Lumos & Associates 3
Eastern Sierra Engineering 4
SCO Engineering 5
Overall Scoring
Therefore, it is recommended that the contract be awarded to Waterworks Engineering.
The overall project schedule is:
November 4, 2020 – Award contract to consultant for Trout Creek crossing
Spring 2021 – Determine preferred creek crossing alternative
Spring 2021 – Retain consultant for pump station design
Spring 2021 – Retain consultant to for environmental review (CEQA)
Summer 2021 – Complete creek crossing design and hydraulic transient analysis
Summer/Fall 2021 – Complete overall pipeline design
Summer/Fall 2021 – Complete pump station design
Summer/Fall 2021 – Complete CEQA process
Summer/Fall 2021 – Obtain necessary permits
Summer/Fall 2021 – Finalize land rights and easements
Winter 2021/2022 – Bidding and advertising
Summer 2022 – Project construction
The District has discussed this planned pipeline project with the Town of Truckee and the
local utility providers. In 2002, a preliminary alignment study for the Pioneer Trail roadway
extension was undertaken by the Town. The Town has indicated that it will be performing
additional design work associated with the roadway extension. The Town’s current
schedule anticipates a two to three year effort to design and permit the roadway extension
with construction of the roadway sometime in the next five to ten years, depending upon
the available funding. At this time the schedule does not match with the District’s schedule
for the pipeline construction. The District will continue the effort to coordinate with the Town
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to minimize any future conflicts.
Additional project coordination efforts will include other underground utility infrastructure
such as the District’s installation of communication conduits to support the continued
expansion of the SCADA fiber optic communications network.
Southwest Gas (SWG) has a situation similar to the Water Department, where the entire
Tahoe Donner subdivision is served by a single gas pipe. SWG has expressed interest in
a joint project to create a second source of supply to Tahoe Donner. The feasibility and
cost sharing arrangement of a joint project will be investigated as the project proceeds
through the design phase.
This project is being conducted in support of the following District objectives and goals:
1.05.020 Objectives:
3. Provide reliable and high quality water supply and distribution system to meet current
and future needs.
1.05.030 Goals:
3.4 Conduct effective and efficient operations, maintenance and replacement programs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost proposal from Waterworks Engineering was $99,881. It is recommended that a
ten percent change order allowance be established for a total authorization of $110,000.
This project was not included in the Board approved FY2020-21 Water Operations Budget.
The engineering design services identified in this item are in preparation for the larger
overall capital improvement project which includes the construction of a new pump station
and the addition of a second storage tank at the 6170 Tank facility. The current Water
Capital Reserve Fund balance is approximately $1.6M with sufficient funds for this item.
Transfer of funds from the capital reserves in the amount of $110,000 will leave a balance
of $1,506,000, which is $2,494,000 below the District target balance of $4M. Monies will
be replaced as capital funds become available.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Attachment 1, Figure 1
2. Attachment 2, Budget Adjustment Form