Agenda Item Wording:
title
Contract for materials testing services for the construction of Digester 9 - Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Krazan & Associates to provide materials testing and special inspection services for the construction of Digester 9 at the Water Reclamation Facility in the amount of $122,550.
body
Agenda Date: 11/02/2026
Prepared by:
Rehana Lustyan, Senior Project Manager, Rehana.Lustyan@visalia.gov - 559-713-4176
Ben Litwack, Public Works Manager, Ben.Litwack@visalia.gov - 559-713 4671
Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, Nick.Bartsch@visalia.gov - 559-713-4052
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Krazan & Associates, Inc. to provide materials testing and special inspection services for the construction of Digester 9 at the WRF in the amount of $122,550.
Summary:
The City received a proposal from Krazan & Associates, Inc. to provide construction-phase materials testing and special inspection services for the construction of Digester 9 at the Water Reclamation Facility. These services are required to verify compliance with the project’s technical specifications prepared by Carollo Engineers and to ensure all work meets City and regulatory construction quality standards.
Krazan is one of the five firms prequalified under RFQ 23-24-04, Annual Materials Testing Services, and is next in the established rotation for assignment. The on-call contract was renewed on March 17, 2026, and remains active. The total estimated cost for the Digester 9 materials testing scope is $122,550, consistent with the 2026 on-call fee schedule.
Background Discussion:
The Digester 9 Project is part of the Water Reclamation Facility’s (WRF) multi-year solids handling and process reliability improvements. The WRF has experienced capacity and operational challenges due to aging infrastructure, increased influent flows and loadings, and structural and mechanical limitations of existing digestion systems. In response, the City contracted with Carollo Engineers in 2023 to complete a condition assessment, near-term Facility Plan, and 20-year Master Plan update for the WRF. This work identified more than $58 million in near-term improvements needed to maintain regulatory compliance, ensure operational reliability, and support projected capacity needs. Construction of a new anaerobic digester, Digester 9, was one of the highest-priority recommendations. Carollo’s condition assessment and facility planning effort confirmed that the existing digestion system lacks sufficient redundancy and operational flexibility. The existing digesters cannot be taken offline for extended maintenance without risking process instability. Adding Digester 9 will provide additional volume, improve volatile solids reduction reliability, enhance process resilience, and allow the existing Digester 8 to be taken out of service for rehabilitation when needed.
Construction of Digester 9 includes:
• A new 2-million gallon (approx.) reinforced concrete anaerobic digester tank
• Structural, mechanical, electrical, and SCADA integration work
• Yard piping and tie-ins to existing systems
• Heating systems, mixing equipment, gas handling, and associated appurtenances
• Site improvements required to connect Digester 9 to existing solids processing infrastructure
Because the project involves reinforced concrete, structural steel, prestressed elements, mechanical process equipment, and extensive earthwork, construction-phase materials testing and special inspections are essential to verify compliance with the approved plans, specifications, and applicable building code requirements. These services include soil compaction testing, reinforcing steel and masonry inspection, concrete sampling and compressive strength testing, shotcrete and prestress inspection, epoxy/anchor bolt testing, asphalt testing (as applicable), and laboratory review of all associated testing results.
Under RFQ 23-24-04, the City maintains an on-call list of five qualified materials testing laboratories (Krazan, Moore Twining, Kleinfelder, BSK, and NV5). Purchasing and Engineering confirm that:
• Digester 9 is funded with local funds only,
• Krazan is next in rotation for assignment,
• The annual NTE of $300,000 for Contract C25060 will not be exceeded, and
• The testing scope is fully consistent with services authorized under the City’s on-call materials testing contract.
The engineering design for Digester 9 was procured separately under RFP 24-25-07, with Carollo awarded a contract for $3.87 million to perform design, bid-phase assistance, construction-phase support, and commissioning services. Carollo’s design was based on a current estimated construction cost of $38.7 million, and the total CP0789 project budget of $42.9 million reflects both design ($4.2 million) and construction-phase activities, including construction, construction management, staking, materials testing, and contingency.
Krazan’s proposal for materials testing services, prepared under the 2026 on-call fee schedule, includes $107,675 in inspection labor and $14,875 in laboratory testing, for a total of $122,550.
Fiscal impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
The Digester 9 Project CP0789 is a major capital improvement to the Water Reclamation Facility with a total project budget of $42.9 million, consisting of:
• $4.2 million allocated for the design phase (Carollo Engineers’ design and supporting engineering services)
• $38.7 million allocated for the construction phase is split between the Wastewater Enterprise Fund 431 at 70% and the Sewer Capital Fund 232 at 30%, and includes the following services:
o Construction
o Construction Management
o Staking
o Materials Testing
o Project administration and contingency
The construction-phase materials testing is an essential portion of this overall project delivery and is included within the established CP0789 project budget in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Prior Council Action:
April 3, 2023 - Council authorized the City Manager to award an emergency contract to Carollo Engineers in the amount of $515,400 to perform the Condition Assessment, Facility Plan, and Master Plan Update at the WRF, and authorized the appropriation of $550,000 from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund (431).
December 18, 2023 - Council approved a contract with Carollo Engineers for engineering services related to identified near-term WRF projects, including initial scoping for Digester 9, in the amount of $887,200 and also authorize the appropriation of $975,000 from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund (431).
February 20, 2024 - Council received a work session report and update presentation on the WRF Condition Assessment, Facility Plan, and Master Plan Update.
June 17, 2024 - Council received a final report and presentation on the Master Plan for the Water Reclamation Facility.
August 19, 2024 - Council officially approved and adopted the Master Plan for the Water Reclamation Facility.
2023-2024 CIP Adoption - Council programmed the Anaerobic Digestion Capacity Expansion (Digester 9, CP0789) as a funded near-term capital project.
May 13, 2025 - Council approved updates to the FY 2025/26 Wastewater CIP Budget, including appropriation of $24,760,000, of which $4,200,000 was allocated to CP0789 for Digester 9 design work.
October 6, 2025 - Council authorized the City Manager to award a contract to Carollo Engineers in the amount of $3,873,767 for professional services related to the design of Digester 9 at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
2025-2026 Budget Approval - Council approved the total Digester 9 project budget of $42.9 million (design + construction).
January 2025 - Council approved award of on-call materials testing contracts under RFQ 23-24-04, including Contract C25060 with Krazan, authorizing their use for City capital projects.
Alternatives:
To not authorize the purchase order and solicit a project-specific competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for this scope of work. A competitive qualifications-based selection process has already occurred under RFQ 23-24-04, and there is no reason to believe qualifications or pricing would be any more competitive in a secondary solicitation. This is not recommended and would delay construction-phase testing and may impact the contractor’s progress once Digester 9 construction begins.
Recommended Motion (and alternative motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Krazan & Associates, to provide materials testing and special inspection services for the construction of Digester 9 in the amount of $122,550.
Environmental Assessment Status:
Construction-phase testing services do not constitute a project under CEQA; they support implementation of an already approved capital project.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review:
Covered under prior environmental determinations for Water Reclamation Facility improvements.
Deadline for Action: 11/02/2026
Attachments:
1. Krazan Proposal for Materials Testing for Digester 9 Construction
2. 2026 Krazan On-Call Rate Schedule
3. Krazan On-Call Contract C25060
4. Krazan Professional Services Agreement for Materials Testing for Digester 9 Construction
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Select all that apply.
|
■  Economic Vitality |
□  Organizational Excellence |
■  Fiscal Strength |
■  Infrastructure & Growth |
□  Quality of Life |
11/02/2026