Agenda Item Wording:
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Approve a contract amendment with Aquafix, Inc. - Approve an amendment to the contract with Aquafix, Inc. to increase the annual not-to-exceed amount from $18,960 to $55,000 to supply Aquafix DeFoam 3000 to the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
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Prepared by:
Ben Litwack, Public Works Manager, 559-713-4671, ben.litwack@visalia.gov
Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, 559-713-4052, nick.bartsch@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that City Council approve an amendment to the contract with Aquafix, Inc. to increase the annual not-to-exceed (NTE) amount from $18,960 to $55,000 and the total five year contract NTE from $95,000 to $260,000 to supply Aquafix DeFoam 3000 to the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
Summary:
The City of Visalia relies on Aquafix's DeFoam 3000 to control digester foaming, which can disrupt operations and regulatory compliance at the WRF. Due to higher-than-expected solids handling and industrial discharge variability, actual chemical demand has doubled compared to original projections, making the current annual NTE insufficient. To maintain uninterrupted operations, staff recommends increasing the annual NTE to $55,000 and the total contract limit to $260,000 over the five year period.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia contracts with Aquafix, Inc. (Contract C24062) for supply of DeFoam 3000, a defoaming agent used in the wastewater treatment process. Foaming in digesters can be caused by variabilities in the constituency of the incoming solids. Foaming creates a large mess, prevents maintenance crews from performing service on vital equipment, and upsets process flows. This product is essential in restoring stable operations in digesters and when foaming problems occur, ensuring regulatory compliance and preventing process upsets.
When the contract was originally executed, the projected annual usage was estimated at a lower rate. However, operational conditions at the...
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