2015 2:00:00 PM

Monday, June 8, 2015 2:00 PM
Council Chambers, Legislative Bldg, 745 4th St., Sparks

General Business: 9.5

Title: Consideration and possible approval to extend Contract #C-1090 (Bid #08/09-002) to Polydyne, Inc. for the purchase of Dewatering Polymer, (Clarifloc WE- 713) at the current price of $1.07/lb., at an approximate annual expense of $1,057,000, delivered through June 30, 2016.

Petitioner/Presenter: Neil C. Krutz, P.E. – Deputy City Manager/Michael Drinkwater P.E. - Plant Manager / Todd Saxberg - Operations Manager

Recommendation: Extend the Dewatering Polymer contract as recommended by staff.

Financial Impact: There is no impact to the General Fund, or to TMWRF Operating, Fund 5605, this fiscal year. The current contract will be extended into Fiscal Years 15-16 and 16-17. $1,057,000 of appropriations is included for Fiscal Year 15-16 in the TMWRF operating budget, approved by the JCC March 6, 2015. Up to $1,057,000 of expenses will post to Account 603315, Chemicals- Dewater Polymer using Program 131505, TMWRF Operations. Following quarterly reconciliation of TMWRF’s operating expenses, affecting the Sanitary Sewer Operations fund (1630), Sparks is quantifying reimbursement from the City of Reno based on actual flow splits provided by ADS Environmental. The breakdown will be based on TMWRF flows in the quarter that the expense incurred. The flow split for the quarter ending March 30, 2015, Fiscal Year 2014-2015, was 34.09% / 65.91% for the Cities of Sparks and Reno respectively and the approximate split is outlined in Attachment 1, Figure 1.

Total Costs: $1,057,000.00

Fund: Joint Treatment Plant Account: 603315
Program: TMWRF Operations (131505)
Amount: $1,057,000.00 Budget Status: Budget Exists

Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.

Agenda Item Brief:

Staff requests the extension of the current polymer contract with Polydyne, Inc., through June 30, 2016.

Background:

Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) uses polymers and other chemical coagulants to aid in binding settleable suspended particles together for their removal from water. The settled sludge fraction is dewatered by centrifuge to about 15% solids to meet landfill acceptance requirements and minimize transportation and disposal costs. Polymer is the binding force in this dewatering function at TMWRF. We have done numerous trials and studies on the dewatering equipment (centrifuges) with different polymers as well as countless hours of small scale evaluations in the lab testing/assessing different polymer chemistries for cost vs. performance. The current contract vendor continues to be the most cost effective solution for the treatment plant.

Analysis:

The current Clarifloc WE-713 cationic polymer used at TMWRF is a unique, proprietary product specially developed for the sludge characteristics of Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation facility. It is categorized as an extremely high-charge and high molecular weight, cationic emulsion polymer. It is ideal for our centrifuge dewatering applications. Due to its high charge and molecular weight, it is able to generate strong binding forces that can withstand the high shear forces inside a centrifuge.

No other polymer supplier in the industry has offered the same comprehensive range of unique capabilities and resources to meet TMWRF’s requirements for optimal cost performance and process compatibility. This is evidenced by Polydynes’ longstanding bid trial success and below market pricing afforded the TMWRF facility. Polydyne has agreed to hold firm pricing from the current contract ensuring TMWRF has the most cost effective product. Local price comparisons show $1.15/lb. to be typical for Northern California and the Bay area. A price comparison is attached to the extension letter for review.

Alternatives:

The manager could direct staff to provide other alternatives.

Recommended Motion:

I move to approve the extension of the dewatering polymer contract through June 30, 2016 with Polydyne, Inc., as recommended by staff.

Attached Files: