TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities
SUBJECT:
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Award of Professional Services Agreement for District Metered Area Management to McKim & Creed Inc. in the Amount of $168,000.00
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BACKGROUND:
On January 5, 2021, the Mayor and City Council approved Resolution No. 7613, committing to water conservation through the reduction of non-revenue water in order to comply with the allocation requirements of the Level of Lake Michigan Act, 615 ILCS 50, and the corresponding State regulations. A condition of the City’s Lake Michigan water allocation permit is completion of the City’s Non-Revenue Water Reduction Plan. A component of this plan is dividing the City’s water distribution system into smaller zones where the water loss in each zone can be monitored. These “zones” are referred to as “district metered areas,” called “DMAs”. The City currently has 6 DMAs and is in process of installing an additional 20 metering sites, to establish an additional 6 DMAs, resulting in a total of 12 DMAs and 26 metering sites. The attached exhibit shows the location of the metering sites and the zones. Of the 26 metering sites, 4 metering sites are main meters that the City will continue to operate, and the remaining 22 sites are insert-meter sites that a vendor is needed to provide metering equipment for, and to operate and maintain the sites.
In January 2024, the City published a Request for Qualifications for the Water Loss Control Technical Assistance Program. Seven (7) qualifications were received, four (4) firms were interviewed, and the selection committee identified McKim & Creed, Inc. as the most qualified firm to complete management of the District Metered Areas. McKim & Creed Inc. has successfully completed similar projects for communities throughout the United States. A few of McKim & Creed Inc.’s clients include Asheville, North Carolina; Knoxville TX Utilities Board, and Skokie, Illinois. They have a team of seasoned engineers and field technicians that are experienced in implementation and management of DMAs. Accordingly, McKim & Creed Inc. was requested to provide a proposal to complete this work.
The Public Service Committee will review this matter.
CONCLUSION:
McKim & Creed Inc. provided a proposal, in the amount of $700 per site per month to perform the District Metered Area Management. Two (2) meters are ready to be brought online in April 2026, and the remaining 20 sites will be brought online as they are installed, resulting in a contract amount of $168,000.00. The scope of work includes providing and installing all needed metering and communication equipment, maintaining all equipment, and monitoring the metering data to ensure the meters are communicating with the City’s data systems (Sensus and Xylem Vue). This contract will span from April 2026 through May 2027 at which time the City will consider renewal of the contract.
Section 2-438 of the City of Joliet Code of Ordinances states that purchases whose estimated cost is in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be awarded without written specifications or bidding under certain circumstances. Two (2) of these circumstances apply:
(f) Purchases when authorized by a concurring vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Mayor and City Council;
(g) Purchases of professional services.
Funds will be charged to the Water & Sewer Operations Fund / Meter Repair / Professional Services (Org 50080320, Object 523300, $168,000.00).
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council approve the Professional Services Agreement for District Metered Area Management, in the amount of $168,000.00, on behalf of McKim & Creed Inc.
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