R2025-317 Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Purchase Order Furnishing Water Treatment Chemical - Alum, for the Year 2026, Purchase #PUR2025-09

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Council Memo Public Works Department No. 2025-113 DATE: 12/15/2025 TO: Honorable Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council Members FROM: Melissa Hon,Interim City Manager Matt Newell,Director of Public Works Robert Weil,Water Production Manager SUBJECT: Resolution Accepting the Bid and Authorizing the Execution of a Purchase Order Furnishing Water Treatment Chemical-Alum,for the Year 2026,Purchase#PUR2025-09 SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign, and the City Clerk to attest, a series of resolutions accepting the bids and authorizing the execution of purchase orders for furnishing water treatment chemicals for the year 2026,Purchase#025-09. BACKGROUND: The following is a list of the chemicals and how they are used in the water purification process. Alum—to coagulate; clarifying agent Carbon—used for taste and odor control; control of atrazine and other compounds Carbon Dioxide—lowers the pH level Chlorine—primary disinfectant Hydrofluorosilicic Acid—reduces tooth decay Lime—water softening agent. This year, a new form of lime, hydrated,high-density lime, is being used. It is more costly but also more effective, and the feed equipment is much simpler to maintain. Sodium Chloride—used to regenerate the anionic exchange beds used for nitrate reduction Sodium Chlorite—disinfectant;used for taste and odor control Sodium Hexametaphosphate—used to counteract calcium hydroxide;prevents scaling; filter protection The City's buyer solicited competitive bids for all of the above chemicals, except CO2. The CO2 supplier offered to extend the same price for another year, and this was seen as advantageous to the City and is included herein for Council approval of the extension. The selected bidders have provided the City with the necessary bonding,NSF and AWWA certifications required for their chemicals. The bid tabulation is attached in Exhibit A. For seven of the chemicals, staff is recommending that the low bidder receive the purchase order to supply those chemicals. In the case of Carbon,the best bidder is based both on price and performance. An outside lab tests a sample of each product and calculates a performance factor based on how much of the vendor's product it takes to remove the anticipated level of contamination. In other words, a low number in the performance factor indicates a more effective product. Carbon Activated had the lowest weighted bid with a price of$2,240/ton and a performance factor of 1.10,resulting in$2,464. Ingevity Corporation had a slightly better performance factor, 1.00 but their price of$2,700/ton resulted in a weighted