HomeMy WebLinkAbout#9 Electric Engineering Consulting AGENDA ITEM #9
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MEETING DATE: July 17, 2024
TO: Board of Directors
FROM: Keith Renshaw, Electric Engineering Manager
Jared Carpenter, Electric Utility Director
SUBJECT: Consideration to Execute a Professional Services Contract for
Electric Engineering Consulting
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APPROVED BY:
Brian C. Wright, General Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the General Manager to execute a professional services contract for electrical
engineering support for 2024 with NV5 consulting engineers for a not to exceed
$250,000, with an option to extend the contract for an additional year in FY2025
BACKGROUND:
For many years, the District has utilized a professional service contract for electric
engineering consulting services. Consulting work has included specialized engineering
support for substation improvement projects, system impact studies, electric capital
improvement projects, and other engineering support as needed. For many years
Qualus Engineering (Qualus) has been the District's primary engineering consultant for
electric engineering. The District is currently under contract with Qualus for support in
2024 with Qualus primarily supporting the Martis Valley Substation Rebuild
project. Qualus is also providing some assistance with pole survey and analysis for
overhead rebuild projects, but are limited in bandwidth and unable to provide timely
support for consulting services needed in the short term.
ANALYSIS AND BODY:
In November 2023, the Board approved a professional service contract for NV5 for
engineering consulting services for what will be the District's first Battery Energy
Storage System (BESS). Staff has had a positive experience working with the NV5
team on the project thus far, and NV5 has proven their depth and breadth of
engineering expertise while working on the BESS project.
The Electric Department has a number of Captial Projects planned and budgeted for in
FY24-25 that require additional engineering support. With the Electric Engineering
group only being fully staffed since January 2024, Electric Engineering requires
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additional support to catch up on the design phase for multiple capital projects. Those
projects include the SCADA Reliability Improvement Project (SRIP) Phase 6, the
Glenshire 12.47kV/14.4kV feeder project, as well as other overhead rebuild master plan
and capital improvement projects still needing design. Given the specialized nature of
the projects, our existing and successful relationship with NV5, staff recommends that
the District enters into a professional services contract with NV5 for electric engineering
consulting support for the remainder of FY24 for a not-to-exceed amount of $250,000.
Section 3.08.050.4 of District Code allows agreements for special services if "the
General Manager determines that no proposals are necessary, then he/she may enter
into an agreement for the special services up to his/her Board authorized spending
limit. Should the amount exceed the General Manager's spending limit, approval to
enter into an agreement will be brought to Board of Directors for their consideration."
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
District Code 1 .05.020 Objectives:
4. Provide reliable and high quality electric supply and distribution system to meet
current and future needs.
District Code 1 .05.030 Goals:
4. Take the best of private sector thinking to modernize the utility and add value to our
communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Board approved TDPUD Capital Budget for FY24-25 includes estimated
engineering costs for the capital projects intended to use the engineering consulting
services recommended in this agenda item. This agenda item requests an annual
authorization of $250,000 for FY24 and $250,000 for FY25 for NV5 to support existing
budgeted Capital Projects..
ATTACHMENTS:
None
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