Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities

TO:	David Corliss, Interim City Manager  Debbie Van Saun, ACM, Community Development Services
FROM:	Mary Baker, Project Engineer, Utilities
CC:	Dave Wagner, Assistant Director, Utilities Philip Ciesielski, Utilities Engineer Mark Hegeman, Wastewater Treatment Manager Dave King, Wastewater Maintenance Manager Michael Tubbs, Management Analyst
Date:	March 8, 2006
RE:	Anaerobic Digester Kaw Water Plant Building Rehabilitation Study Consultant Selection - Utilities Project KW06-01 Anaerobic Digester Improvements Project   W06-01 Grit Removal Equipment Improvements Project W04-02 Screenings Washer Compactor Project

Please include the following item on the consent agenda for the March 14, 2006 City Commission meeting.

Negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation to design improvements to the anaerobic digester process at the Kaw Wastewater Treatment Plant.   

Project Description :

The project involves converting an existing storage tank into a third anaerobic digester vessel and modifying the gas control building/equipment to allow processing additional digester gas. This is a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) project that was recommended as part of the 2003 Wastewater Master Plan.    Additional project scope includes replacing or upgrading aging and obsolete solids handling equipment.  Solids handling modifications were originally small maintenance projects.

Project Status/ Details:

January 2006: The Utilities Department requested proposals and received a response from Black & Veatch Corporation (B&V).  Camp Dresser McKee, Burns & McDonnell and Olsson Associates attended the mandatory site visit but elected not to submit proposals.  Carollo Engineers did not respond to the RFP.

February 2006: Utilities staff evaluated the proposal and recommends negotiating a contract with B&V based on Black & Veatch’s familiarity with the City’s existing digester process, experience with similar digester upgrade projects, and ability to coordinate design at the Kaw Wastewater Treatment plant with regulatory matters and schedule for the future Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Proposed Schedule:

Black and Veatch submitted the following preliminary schedule.  Actual construction time will depend on the results of the project predesign phase.

Preliminary Design: April through June 2006

Final Design: July through December 2006

Construction: Mid 2007 though early 2008

Project Funding:

This project will be funded from the 2006 Utility Department Capital Improvement Project non-bonded construction fund.

Action Request:

The Utilities Department seeks approval from the City Commission to negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Black & Veatch to design modifications to the anaerobic digester process at the Kaw Wastewater Treatment Plant.