Subject:  CENTRAL SERVICE YARD EMERGENCY GENERATOR

 

COUNCIL DISTRICT: Citywide

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Report on bids and award of contract for the Central Service Yard Emergency Generator Project to the low bidder, Steiny and Co., Inc., in the amount of $270,620, and approval of a contingency in the amount of $30,000.  CEQA: Negative Declaration.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The City of San José has a policy of installing emergency electrical power generators at all service yards.  An emergency power generator can provide enough power to a facility to assure continued operation during extended PG&E power outages.  The Department of General Services requested that the Department of Public Works provide engineering services to prepare contract drawings and specifications to install an emergency generator at the Central Service Yard. As of June 1st the permit regulations of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District were changed.  The revised permit was issued August 22nd and then a review period of 20 days began.  At its conclusion a negative declaration was issued by the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement for the project.

 

This diesel-powered generator will be used strictly for emergency situations.  It will not be used for supplemental power or as an auxiliary source.  In a protracted emergency such as both the immediate response and recovery phases following an earthquake, for example, diesel fuel will be the most available and reliable fuel source.

 

The City has diesel fuel emergency generators at key fire stations, pump stations, and sanitary lift stations.  There can be no interruption of use of the equipment at these facilities.  To that end, one of the first items on the Department of General Services emergency response check list is to determine the fuel state of each of these generators.  The department already has on file at the Emergency Operations Center the amount of time each generator can be operated before needing to be refueled.  Upon activation of the Logistics functions in the emergency center, General Services will dispatch one of its fuel trucks on refueling distribution cycle to ensure that all emergency diesel generators continue in operation.

 

ANALYSIS

 

Bids were received on May 10, 2001 with the following results:

 

 

Contractor

 

Base Bid

Variance

Amount

Over/(Under)

Percent

Sheets Enterprises

  (San José)

$453,807

$128,807

39

Bay Counties Electric, Inc.

  (San José)

352,900

27,900

8

Engineer’s Estimate

325,000

---

---

McDonald Electric, Inc.

  (San Martin)

305,844

19,156

5

Steiny and Co., Inc.

  (Vallejo)

270,620

54,380

16

 

The low bid submitted by Steiny and Co., Inc. in the amount of $270,620 is 16.7 percent lower than the Engineer’s Estimate.  Staff considers this to be a good price for the work involved in this project.  Steiny and Co., Inc. agreed that its bid would be effective until the City could award the contract for this project.

 

A contingency in the amount of $30,000 is requested for unforeseen conditions that may arise during construction.

 

PUBLIC OUTREACH

 

This proposed project was listed on the City’s Internet Bid Line and advertised on two separate occasions in the San José Mercury News and San José Post Record.  Bid packages for all Department of Public Works construction projects are routinely provided to a standard list of various contractor organizations, builder’s exchanges and disadvantaged business organizations, including United Minority Business Enterprises and the San José Minority Business Development Center.

 

COORDINATION

 

This project has been coordinated with the Department of General Services, and the Offices of the City Attorney, Risk Manager, and Equality Assurance.

 

COST IMPLICATIONS

 

1.         COST OF RECOMMENDATION:  $270,000

 

2.         COST OF PROJECT:

 

                        Project Development *                                                                                 $    8,000

                        Construction                                                                                                  270,620

                        Design and Construction Management*                                                            65,000

                        Contingency                                                                                                    30,000

                        TOTAL                                                                                                       $373,620

 

* Funds were appropriated for Design and Development during last fiscal year, and of that amount, $30,000 remains.

 

3.   SOURCE OF FUNDING:  395 – Construction and Conveyance Tax – Service Yards

 

4.   ESTIMATED START DATE OF CONSTRUCTION:  October 2001

 

5.   ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE OF CONSTRUCTION:  December 2001

 

BUDGET REFERENCE

 

Fund:                            395

Appn:                           6862

RC:                              114743

Amount:                       $333,500

Budget Document:        2001-02 Appropriation Ordinance, Section 12.50, Item 1(o)

 

NONDISCRIMINATION

 

The City of San José Nondiscrimination Requirements are included in this project as required by Chapter 4.08 of the San José Municipal Code.

 

CEQA

 

Negative Declaration.

 

 

RAJEEV BATRA

Acting Director, Public Works Department