CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approve the award of Bid 18-241, Liquid Cationic Emulsion Polymer for Gravity Belt Thickening, to SNF Polydyne Inc. for an amount not to exceed $131,971 and for a 24-month term
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DEPARTMENT: Water Utilities
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Curran, Interim Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Water Utilities issued Bid 18-241 seeking the services of a qualified vendor to provide liquid cationic emulsion polymer for use at the City’s Springbrook Water Reclamation Center (SWRC). The liquid cationic emulsion polymer is used specifically in the gravity belt thickeners (GBTs) for processing aerobically digested waste activated sludge in the Gravity Belt Thickener Building. SWRC anticipates processing up to 10,000 dry tons of aerobic digester sludge during the 24-month contract term.
As part of the bid process, qualified polymer vendors’ products were tested at full plant scale conditions and evaluated for most optimum performance. The performance testing established agreed upon representative dosages to accomplish required results per the Utilities’ specifications for GBT thickening. Respective vendors’ dosages were determined as a prerequisite prior to the bid cost numbers being submitted.
DISCUSSION:
Advertisement Date: 10/01/2018 Notices Sent: 74
Opening Date: 01/08/2019 Planholders: 10
Responses Received: 1
Bids were received from the following vendors:
|
Vendor |
Total Bid Amount |
|
SNF Polydyne Inc. |
$131,971 |
Historically, there have been three vendors that participated in this bid: BASF Corporation, Polydyne and Solenis. BASF declined to bid because they are currently in the process of merging with Solenis. The remaining two suppliers, Polydyne and Solenis, participated in the pre-qualification process. Solenis did not qualify because they did not meet the minimum required average cake solids of 6.5%.
Polydyne’s cost per pound of polymer increased $0.443 per pound from $0.747 to $1.19. The prior thickening polymer contract was a 20-month contract term from May 2017 through December 2018, with a one-year option to extend. The vendors for the thickening and dewatering polymers both declined the one-year extension options because of the increase in raw material and transportation costs over the original contract term. Although the cost increase is substantial, staff does not expect that rebidding would result in a better unit price based upon the current market conditions.
The term of the award is January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020 with 1, one year option year to extend the contract.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP #: N/A
Polymer is expensed to the salt and chemical account listed below. A total of $36,900 is budgeted for polymer for biosolids thickening in 2019. Polymer cost per pound increased significantly in the past year. The Water Utilities will monitor expenses throughout the year to account for the budget overage.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
|
41251530-541409 |
Water & Wastewater |
$313,000 |