Subject: S30-L24629.A1 - Approve an amending ordinance to increase the maximum contract amount to Contract No. 4600012495 from $1,345,225.00 to $1,681,531.25 for valve assessment and testing on-call program and services for the Department of Public Works and Engineering.
The Director of the Department of Public Works and Engineering and the City Purchasing Agent recommend that City Council approve an amending ordinance to increase the maximum contract amount from $1,345,225.00 to $1,681,531.25 for the contract between the City of Houston and Wachs Valve and Hydrant Services, LLC for Valve Assessment and Testing On-Call Program and Services for the Department of Public Works and Engineering.
This contract was awarded on February 26, 2014 by Ordinance No. 2014-0154, for a one year term with two one-year options in an amount not to exceed $1,345,225.00 and expenditures as of July 13, 2015 totaled $1,341,760.00. The valve assessment program is a pivotal component of the City’s water distribution system. When a distribution main or line breaks, it interrupts the supply of water to the citizens of Houston and may result in health and safety issues. The valve assessment program allows the City to promptly target water valves in need of repair and update its database with the precise locations of valves in the City’s extensive network. Through the current assessment program the City has been able to forecast the number of cuts required along a water line, to immediately identify the number of valves that are inoperable along that broken water main. The increase in spending authority will facilitate the City’s continued ability to perform predictive analysis on water valves and effectively resolve issues with its water distribution lines until a new award can be presented at City Council.
The scope of services requires the contractor to locate water valves throughout the City of Houston’s water distribution system and map their locations using GPS and other methods. Additionally, the contractor will exercise the valves (turn them on and off), perform minor repairs, and create a deliverable database to analyze the results of the testing program. Work will be performed by work orders issued on an as-needed basis.
This contract was awarded with a 10% goal for MWBE participation. Wachs Valve and Hydrant Services, LLC is currently achieving 4.55%. Wachs Valve and Hydrant Services, LLC is working with the current subcontractors to improve safety and proficiency performance, and with the Office of Business Opportunity to find additional M/WBE firms who provide these services.
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Calvin D. Wells, City Purchasing Agent Department Approval Authority Signature
Finance/Strategic Procurement Division Dale A. Rudick, P.E., Director