TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities
SUBJECT:
title
Award of Contract for the 2025 Lead Service Line Replacement Project to Brandt Excavating Inc in the amount of $599,333.53
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BACKGROUND:
The Department of Public Utilities has previously developed a lead water service line replacement program. The program identified three scenarios for lead service line replacement: (1) Lead Services Disturbed During Water Main Replacement Program, (2) Lead Service Identified During Leak Repair or Meter Replacement, and (3) Lead Water Service Identified During Inventory but Not Disturbed. The goal of this lead service replacement project is to address Scenario 3.
The 2025 Lead Service Line Replacement Project scope includes a quantity of 40 lead water service lines including both the public (water main to b-box) and private (b-box to house) portions. There will be no cost to the homeowner for this work. This project will target replacing the lead water services that will not be replaced as part of the City’s water main replacement program.
Staff has submitted a loan application to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Public Water Supply Loan Program. The Public Water Supply Loan Program has identified that programs to complete full lead water service line replacement are eligible for principal forgiveness and the IEPA is holding $3,027,000.00 in principal forgiveness funds in reserve for the City. The lead service lines encountered during the 2025 water main replacement projects will also be paid for with this IEPA loan and qualify for forgivable principal funds.
Invitation to bid for the project was advertised in the Joliet Herald-News on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. The Public Service Committee will review this matter.
CONCLUSION:
On Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., five (5) sealed bids were received for the 2025 Lead Service Line Replacement Project. The bid summary is as follows:
CONTRACTOR BID AMOUNT
Brandt Excavating Inc, Morris, IL $599,333.53
Stip Bros Excavating Inc, Joliet, IL $644,757.83
Airy’s Inc, Tinley Park, IL $659,379.00
Austin Tyler Construction Inc, Elwood, IL $675,104.40
IHC Construction, Elgin, IL $1,306,168.00
Engineer’s Estimate $520,000.00
The low bid from Brandt Excavating Inc, in the amount of $599,333.53, is 15.26% above the engineer’s estimate. Brandt Excavating Inc has previously completed similar work for the City and completed this work to the City’s satisfaction.
Funds will be charged to the 2025 Lead Service Line Replacement Fund (Org 53880000, Object 557200, $599,333.53).
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council award, subject to IEPA approval, the Contract for the 2025 Lead Service Line Replacement Project, in the amount of $599,333.53, on behalf of Brandt Excavating Inc.
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