Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David L. Corliss – City Manager Cynthia Boecker - Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard - Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Mike Lawless – Asst. Director of Utilities
CC:	Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities Philip Ciesielski – Asst. Director of Utilities Beth Frailey Krishtalka – Management Analyst
Date:	April 19, 2010
RE:	Agenda Item – Purchase wastewater and water modeling software from Bentley Systems, Inc.

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the April 27, 2010 meeting:

Authorize Staff to purchase 1 license each of wastewater and water modeling software from Bentley Systems, Inc.

Project Description

The Wastewater Master Plan scope of services included the City selecting and purchasing modeling software to be used for this project as well as, the Water Master Plan. Selection of the software vendors to provide demonstrations started with establishing base criteria for the software and vendors to meet. The criteria included the following:

1. Commercially available

2. Vendor could supply dynamic sewer and water system models

3. GIS Interface

Only two software vendors met the criteria: Bentley Systems and MWH Soft. Each vendor was invited to present a demonstration of the software to Utilities and Public Works Department staff as well as, Burns & McDonnell. Utilities GIS data for wastewater and water was provided to the vendors. Each vendor was provided 4 hours to demonstrate the capabilities and functionality of their products.

The demonstrations of each software were very comparable. Staff considered a number of different criteria in the evaluation of the software, some of which are listed below.

· Hydraulic Features                        Data Structure

· GIS Interface                              Multiple Platform

· Additional Modules                       Output Presentation

· Virtual Server Compatible              VFD Capabilities

· Local Users                                 Skeletonized Data Retention

· Initial Cost                                  Maintenance Cost

After considerable discussion and checking references, staff concluded that the Bentley Systems software will provide the best and most cost effective solution for water and sewer system modeling for the City of Lawrence.

	Initial Cost	5 Year Cost (Purchase & Maintenance)
	1 License Each Water & Sewer	1 License Each Water & Sewer
MWH	$                42,000	$                                     81,000
Bentley	$                35,350	$                                     59,350

Project Funding: 

Funding for the sewer modeling software was included in the 2009 Capital Improvement Program and funding for the water modeling software was included in the 2010 Capital Improvement Program.

Action Request: Authorize staff to purchase 1 license each of wastewater and water modeling software from Bentley Systems, Inc.

Thank you for your assistance. Please advise if you have any questions.