DATE: March 25, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Contract Change Order for Contract 18-07-C Fresno County Westside Groundwater Project, El Porvenir (CSA 30) & Cantua Creek (CSA 32) Pilot Hole Testing and Production Well Construction, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Project No: 1000359-005C
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Authorize the Chairman to execute Contract Change Order No. 9 for Contract No. 18-07-C Fresno County Westside Groundwater Project due to increased costs in materials, which were necessary to complete the project. The proposed change order exceeds the authorized Chairman’s limit of $2,453,278 and will increase the total amount of the contract from $3,745,014 to $3,850,923.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will authorize the Chairman to execute Contract Change Order No. 9, which is necessary to the pay the contractor for work already completed on the project. This item pertains to a location in District 1.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There is no alternative to the recommended action, as the change order is necessary to pay the contractor for the work completed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. All costs associated with the project are state funded through the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). Costs will be funded by CSA 32, and then reimbursed as funding is received from SWRCB. Approval of the recommended action will increase the Contract Change Order limit by $105,909 from $2,453,278 to $2,559,187 bringing the maximum amount of the construction contract from $3,745,014 to $3,850,923. The construction costs have been budgeted in the Department of Public Works and Planning CSA 32 Org 9172 FY 2024-2025 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The SWRCB issued a compliance order to the County because the drinking water produced by CSA 30 and CSA 32 water systems exceeds disinfection byproducts (DBP) maximum contaminant levels. To reduce the amount of DBP in the drinking water the County has been constructing new water supply wells and manganese treatment facilities to replace the existing surface water treatment plant facilities under additional contracts, using DWSRF grant funds. Additionally, the communities’ water distribution infrastructures were improved and pipelines replaced in another project to improve flows and reduce water waste, using Department of Water Resources Drought Emergency funding and DWSRF grant resources.
On September 25, 2018, the Board approved an agenda item conditionally awarding Contract No. 18-07-C to Zim Industries, Inc. in the amount of $1,291,736 and the contract was executed by the Chairman once the condition of approval by the SWRCB was met. The project is intended to provide a reliable supply of potable water to communities of CSAs 30 and 32.
On December 15, 2020, the Board approved an agenda item executing a Contract Change Order for Contract No. 18-07-C to authorize the additional work of drilling two new wells (one at CSA 30 and one at CSA 32), bringing the total number of wells to four and equipping all four wells with well heads and pumps and connecting the wells to the existing distributing systems. Hence, increasing the contract amount by $2,453,278, thereby exceeding the authorized limit of $77,086 to a contract total of $3,745,014.
While constructing the project, the actual water table depth was found to be deeper than originally anticipated. Therefore, it was necessary to increase the pumps sizes and pumps setting to deeper depths to increase reliability of the wells to access the groundwater. Due to the delays, project scope changes, and the increased costs of the necessary materials, it is necessary to adjust compensation for the increased costs. Upon your Board’s approval of the recommended action, Contract Change Order No. 9 will be executed by the Chairman.
OTHER REVIEWING AGENCIES:
SWRCB is providing project oversight as the financing authority.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #74, December 15, 2020
BAI #67, September 25, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Map
On file with Clerk - Contract Change Order No. 9
CAO ANALYST:
Salvador Espino