CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approve the award of Bid 25-009, Springbrook Prairie Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation, to Visu Sewer, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $5,230,148 plus a 3% contingency
body
DEPARTMENT: Water Utilities
SUBMITTED BY: Darrell Blenniss, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
In support of the City’s priority to provide utility services that are reliable and safe, in February 2026, Water Utilities issued Bid 25-009, Springbrook Prairie Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation. The project includes the cured-in-place pipelining of 5,135 feet of the 42” T01 Sanitary Interceptor, bypass pumping, auger and push of a 30” bypass under 75th Street and manhole lining rehabilitation of 15 manholes. The project also includes the removal of two manholes and their replacement with a single Vortex Flow drop structure. Work will involve the restoration of native prairie plantings disturbed by construction in accordance with DuPage County and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County requirements.
The purpose of the project is to rehabilitate the 50+ year old T01 Sanitary Interceptor and manholes to ensure they will remain in service without unexpected failures for the foreseeable future. The project is located in the northern half of Springbrook Prairie. A Phase II portion of the project will rehabilitate the remainder of the interceptor and manholes in the southern half of Springbrook Prairie.
DISCUSSION:
|
Advertisement Date: |
2/13/2026 |
Notices Sent: |
2,891 |
|
Opening Date: |
3/30/2026 |
Plan holders: |
37 |
|
|
|
Proposals Received: |
2 |
Bids were received from the following vendors:
|
Vendor Name |
Bid |
|
Engineer’s Estimate |
$3,224,950.00 |
|
Visu Sewer, Inc. |
$5,230,148.00 |
|
Hoerr Construction, Inc. |
$8,153,251.00 |
Visu Sewer, Inc. submitted the lowest bid for the project at $5,230,148.00.
The discrepancy between the Engineer’s Estimate and the low bid is due to several factors. During the design phase, budget quotes were provided by vendors, and it appears industry costs have escalated since that time. The quote for bypass pumping during design was approximately $300,000, whereas the bids came in at $1.1 million and $1.4 million. The estimate for lining was $400/ft, and the bid costs were $500/ft and $575/ft. These two items alone amount to a $1.5 million discrepancy. Additionally, the general complexity of the project and the limited availability of qualified contractors contributed to the difference between the Engineer's Estimate and the bids received.
Staff recommends awarding a contract to Visu Sewer, Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the procurement of construction services, as defined by Section 1-9B-7 of the Procurement Code (RBO-qualified).
The substantial completion date for this project is December 31, 2026, with a final completion date of April 1, 2027.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP#: WW047 - Springbrook Interceptor (T01) Rehabilitation - Dragon Lake Phase I
Springbrook Prairie Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation will be charged to the Infrastructure account listed below. The 2026 Budget includes $3,180,000 for the completion of this project. The award amount, plus contingency, is not favorable to the budget; however, other bids in the Water Utility’s CIP have come in lower than expected. Therefore, it is expected that this award can be accommodated within the budget.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
|
41251500-551502 |
Water Utilities |
$86,910,285 |
*Per Council directive, contingency on construction projects is set at 3% on projects over $500,000 and 5% on projects under $500,000.