REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: RANDALL W. MORRISON, PE, Director Capital Projects Department BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director Department of Public Utilities BY: FRANCISCO V. MAGOS II, PE, Assistant Director Capital Projects Department, Utilities and On-Site Project Management Division PATRICIA DIEP, Project Manager Capital Projects Department, Utilities and On-Site Project Management Division SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to the Replacement of Fiber Optic Cabling at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility Project (Bid File 12401875) (Council District 3): 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff's determination, pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines for the Replacement of Fiber Optic Cabling at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility Project. 2. Award a construction contract in the amount of $217,286.89 to GA Technical Services, Inc., of Glendora, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Replacement of Fiber Optic Cabling at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility Project. ..Body RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends Council (1) adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff's determination, pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines for the Replacement of Fiber Optic Cabling at the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility Project (Project), (2) award a construction contract to GA Technical Services, Inc. in the amount of $217,286.89 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign and execute all documents on behalf of the City of Fresno (City). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The existing multimode fiber optic cable installed in the early 1990s for data transport within the network and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems at the Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility (RWRF) is no longer sufficient due to technology advancements. The Project entails replacing it with single-mode fiber optic cable to meet modern standards for compatibility and data throughput. Staff recommends Council approve the award of a construction contract in the amount of $217,286.89 to GA Technical Services, Inc. of Glendale, California to replace the aging multimode fiber optic cable. Funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Improvement Budget within the Wastewater Management Division's Sewer Enterprise Fund. BACKGROUND The RWRF has over five (5) miles of fiber optic cable that needs to be replaced. This current fiber optic cable was installed in the early 1990s and is a multimode type utilized for data transport within the network and SCADA systems. However, advancements in technology and equipment have rendered the current fiber optic cable insufficient for optimal data transport. The Project will include replacing the multimode fiber optic cable with single-mode fiber optic cable, which meets modern standards for compatibility and data throughput. Following the preparation of project plans and specifications, a Notice Inviting Bids was advertised and published in the Fresno Business Journal, Planet Bids, and posted on the City's website on April 1, 2024. Specifications were distributed to twenty-five (25) prospective bidders and posted at eight (8) Building Exchanges. Three (3) sealed bid proposals were received and publicly opened on April 23, 2024, all of which were considered responsive and responsible. The bid proposals ranged from $217,286.89 to $589,165.00. GA Technical Services, Inc, was identified as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in the amount of $217,286.89. The bids will expire on June 26, 2024. If the bids are rejected or expire, the Project must be rebid which will result in a delay to the project. Staff recommends Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption per staff's determination, pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines and award a construction contract to GA Technical Services, Inc. in the amount of $217,286.89 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and authorize the Capital Projects Director or designee to sign and execute all associated documents on behalf of the City. The Community Workforce Agreement (PLA), adopted by Council in September 2021, does not apply to this contract because the construction contract estimate for this Project was less than $1 million, pursuant to the terms of the PLA. The City Attorney's Office has reviewed and approved the contract documents as to form. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS Staff performed a preliminary environmental assessment for this Project and determined that it falls within Sections 15301/Class 1 and 15302/Class 2 of the Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines because the Project will only replace the existing multi-mode fiber optic cable with the new single-mode fiber optic cable to adequately support transport data for the network and SCADA systems at the RWRF. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to this Project. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented as none of the prospective bidders are a local business as defined by the Fresno Municipal Code. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the General Fund. This project is located in Council District 3. Funding for this Project is included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Improvement Budget within the Wastewater Management Division's Sewer Enterprise Fund. Attachments: Environmental Assessment Bid Evaluation Fiscal Impact Statement Standardized Contract Vicinity Map Location Map