Nov 09, 2022 Water and Wastewater Commission

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:04]

OKAY, IT'S 6 0 6 RIGHT NOW.

AND WE WILL START WHAT IN THE WESTWATER COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING.

AND WE HAVE COMMISSIONER PAN LEE CASTLEBURY FISHER, AND IN PERSON PRESENT.

AND WE HAVE COMMISSIONER MO MICHELLE AT IN REMOTE.

UH, WE MOVE, THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMUNICATION, SO WE WILL MOVE

[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

COMMISSIONERS.

GOT ANY QUESTION, ANY ADD, EDITING OR ANY MOTION? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER PEN AND I SECOND.

SECOND BY VICE CHAIR CA PERRY.

OH, IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND WILL SHOW IN.

OH, APPROVE.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW LET'S MOVE TO

[ DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL]

I HAVE QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PEN PENN.

NO QUESTIONS, BUT I DO HAVE RECUSALS ON ITEM THREE AND THEN ITEMS SEVEN AND EIGHT AND 12 AND 13.

AND, UH, OUR FIRM IS A SUB-CONSULTANT ON THE DESIGN TEAM FOR THOSE ITEMS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, I HAVE QUESTIONS ON TWO AND THREE.

I HAVE A RECUSAL ONE.

ITEM FIVE.

UH, MY FIRM SUBMITTED A STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS ON THAT CONTRACT.

ALSO HAVE RECUSALS ON 14 AND 15.

MY FIRM IS PERFORMING WORK FOR THE DEVELOPER.

OKAY.

AND I HAVE RECUSAL AND ITEM NUMBER NINE, SINCE OUR FORM IS A SUB-CONSULTANT ON THE OTHER PROJECT FOR THE PRIME CONSULTANT ON THIS PROJECT, VICE.

AND I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

UH, VICE CHAIR BURY, NO QUESTION, NO QUESTIONS.

NO RECUSALS.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSION OFFICIAL.

NO QUESTIONS.

NO REC COMMISSIONER TTA? NO QUESTIONS.

NO RECUSALS.

OKAY.

SO THE CONSENT ITEMS ARE ITEM NUMBER 4, 6 10 11, 16, 17, AND 18.

LET ME REPEAT IT AGAIN.

THE CONSENT ITEMS ARE NUMBER 4, 6 10 11 16, 17, AND 18.

AM I CORRECT? OKAY.

IS THERE ANY MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ITEMS? I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR CASTLEBERRY, A SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TO OH, IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING APPROVAL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

THE STAFF REQUEST BECAUSE OF THE SCHEDULING CONFLICT.

SO WE WILL MOVE AROUND THE AGENDA ITEMS.

[20. Staff briefing on Austin Water Construction Contracting Update]

STAFF BRIEFING ON AUSTIN WATER CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING.

UPDATE PLEASE.

[00:05:01]

I'M SHAY OLSON WITH AUSTIN WATER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR ENGINEERING, AND TONIGHT I'LL BE WALKING THROUGH AN UPDATE ON RECENT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

UM, SO MAYBE, ARE YOU ADVANCING? I'M ADVANCING.

OKAY.

I'LL JUST SAY NEXT SLIDE.

OKAY, .

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE WILL WALK THROUGH, UH, SOME RECENT BIDDING RESULTS.

WE'VE ASSEMBLED, UM, UH, QUITE A BIT OF DATA OVER THE LAST ABOUT 16 MONTHS, AND WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

I KNOW, UM, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE VOLATILITY THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE MARKET.

SO, UM, WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT THAT HAS BEEN LIKE FOR AUSTIN WATER.

UM, ON YOUR AGENDA, UH, IS THE WILD HORSE WASTEWATER PLANT EXPANSION, THOSE BIDS CAME IN QUITE HIGH.

SO I'M GONNA EXPLAIN TO YOU THE BID ANALYSIS THAT WE DID ON, ON THAT PROJECT BEFORE BRINGING IT TO YOU.

UM, THEN I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF OUR UPCOMING BIDS AND OUR USE OF OTHER TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX BESIDES LOW BID CONTRACTING, WHICH INCLUDES OUR LARGE FACILITY, I D I Q, AND SOME ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY METHODS.

WE HAVE OTHER TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX AS WELL, BUT I THINK THAT'LL BE ENOUGH CONTENT FOR US TODAY.

NEXT SLIDE.

SO BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE ACTUAL DATA, I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CITY'S BIDDING PROCESS AND THEN HOW OUR ENGINEERS PUT TOGETHER THEIR OPINIONS OF COSTS.

SO, UM, CAPITAL CONTRACTING IS THE, UH, TEAM WITHIN THE, THE CITY THAT MANAGES ALL OF THE CITY'S LOW OR, UM, CONTRACTING, INCLUDING OUR LOW BID PROJECTS.

THEY DO A NUMBER OF OUTREACH EVENTS THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN TO COMMUNICATE UPCOMING PROJECTS.

UH, WE TYPICALLY HAVE, UH, A MINIMUM OF FOUR WEEKS, BUT MORE OF AN AVERAGE OF SIX WEEKS THAT WE HAVE BIDS ON THE STREET FROM THE TIME WE ADVERTISE UNTIL WE OPEN BIDS TO TRY TO GIVE CONTRACTORS PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THEIR BIDS PUT TOGETHER.

WE WILL ALSO ADJUST OUR BID DATES TO AVOID COMPETING WITH OURSELVES.

IF, IF WE SEE PROJECTS LINING UP TO BID AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, WE BROUGHT SOUTH AUSTIN REGIONAL TRAINS A AND B LAST MONTH WE DELAYED, UM, OR WE HAD KIND OF A LONGER BID TIMEFRAME FOR WILD HORSE SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TWO MAJOR WASTEWATER PLANTS BIDDING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

UM, WE'VE ALSO, UM, I HAVE A QUARTERLY COORDINATION MEETING WITH SAWS AND HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS, AND WE COMPARE NOTES ON BIG PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE BIDDING AS WELL.

UH, THAT'S TYPICALLY MORE IN THE PIPELINES AREA, BUT, UM, BUT IT IS GOOD TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE COMING UP.

AND THEN WE DO NON-MANDATORY PRE BIDS.

SO WE DO LIKE TO HAVE OUR CONTRACTORS COME ON SITE AND KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO.

BUT, UH, WHEN WE MAKE THE PRE BIDS MANDATORY, IF A CONTRACTOR'S MORE THAN 15 MINUTES LATE, THEN THEY'RE PRECLUDED FROM BIDDING.

SO, UM, WE'VE REALLY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, GOTTEN AWAY FROM MANDATORY PRE BIDS.

AND THEN WHEN WE HAVE LOW PRE-BID ATTENDANCE, UH, CAPITAL CONTRACTING WILL REACH OUT TO OTHER BIDDERS AND ALSO CONSIDER EXTENDING THE SOLICITATION, UH, TO TRY TO GET SOME MORE INTEREST IN THE PROJECT.

WE HAVE HAD A FEW SINGLE BID CONTRACTS, AND I'M GONNA SHOW THOSE TO YOU IN OUR DATA.

UM, TYPICALLY IF THE CONTRACTOR MEETS THE QUALIFICATIONS AND THE PROJECT CAN'T BE RE SCOPED TO RE TO TO BE BIDDING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THEN LAW HAS GENERALLY ADVISED US THAT, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S KIND OF NO GOOD TO GO BACK OUT JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE THE PRICE.

SO IF WE CAN'T MAKE SOME KIND OF CHANGES OR IF THE CONTRACTOR DOESN'T MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS, THEN WE WILL, WE WILL TYPICALLY LOOK TO MOVE FORWARD AS LONG AS WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS IN THE BID, UM, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S A GOOD VALUE BID.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO MANY OF YOU ARE, ARE ENGINEERS WORKING IN OUR MARKET, SO YOU KNOW HOW OPINIONS OF COSTS ARE PUT TOGETHER, BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, UM, OUR ENGINEERS, CONSULTING ENGINEERS DEVELOP THEIR OPINIONS

[00:10:01]

UM, THEY DON'T, UH, TYPICALLY ESTIMATE, UH, CREW HOURS OR NUMBERS OF CREWS OR EQUIPMENT THE WAY THAT CONTRACTORS DO.

SO THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT AN OPINION OF COST RATHER THAN A CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATE.

THESE OPINIONS OF COSTS ARE PREPARED AT, UH, AT EVERY DESIGN MILESTONE AND THEN UPDATED AT A HUNDRED PERCENT.

UM, AND THEN WE HAVE RECENTLY IN THE LAST SIX TO 12 MONTHS BEEN ASKING OUR ENGINEERS TO UPDATE THEM AGAIN WHEN WE ADVERTISE FOR BIDS BECAUSE OF THE VOLATILITY WE'RE SEEING IN THE MARKET.

UM, ALONG THE WAY, THESE OPINIONS OF COST INCLUDE CONTINGENCIES AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S, THAT CONTINGENCY IS NOT, UM, ABOUT VOLATILITY SO MUCH AS IT IS ABOUT WORK NOT INCLUDED ELSEWHERE.

SO AT 30% YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT YOU STILL DON'T KNOW.

AND SO YOUR CONTINGENCY IS GONNA BE HIGHER AT THAT POINT AND THEN REDUCE AS THE DE DESIGN DETAIL INCREASES OVER THE COURSE OF THE DESIGN.

OF COURSE, IT NEVER DOES GO AWAY BECAUSE, UM, THERE IS THAT VOLATILITY IN THE MARKET.

UM, I, YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU CAN SEE ENGINEERS OPINION OF COSTS ARE PRIMARILY BACKWARD LOOKING, LOOKING BACK AT RECENT BIDS TO HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH THE PROJECT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

AND THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO ADJUST TO RAPIDLY CHANGING BID CLIMATES.

UM, BUT WE ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, UPDATING OUR OCCS AT ADVERTISEMENT IS ONE WAY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO, TRYING TO ADJUST AND, AND BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROACTIVE TO, TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE MARKET.

AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, HIGH BIDS THAT COME IN, SINGLE BIDS THAT COME IN, UM, OUR ENGINEERS, UM, ENGAGE IN REVIEWING THE DETAILS OF THOSE BIDS AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO US ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY RECOMMEND THAT WE PROCEED.

NEXT SLIDE.

SO TO GET INTO THE DATA, OVER THE LAST 16 MONTHS, UM, WE'VE HAD 34 BID OPENINGS.

UH, THREE OF THOSE WERE REBIDS WHERE WE HAD NOT GOTTEN BIDS PREVIOUSLY, 25 OF THOSE PROJECTS.

SO ABOUT THREE QUARTERS HAD TWO OR MORE BIDS.

YOU CAN SEE ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, NONE OF THOSE ARE UNCOMMON TO GET FIVE PROJECTS HAD ONLY ONE BID.

WE REJECTED THREE OF THOSE.

I'M GONNA TALK MORE ABOUT THAT ON A LATER SLIDE.

AND THEN FOUR PROJECTS, WE HAD NO BIDS AND WE'VE REBID THREE OF THOSE, SO I'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE AS WELL.

NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

AND THIS HAS A LOT OF CLICKING.

OKAY, SO, UH, WE'RE GONNA BUILD A REALLY COMPLICATED SLIDE HERE.

SO BEAR WITH ME.

UM, WE, UH, OF THE 30, UM, SO 30 PROJECT BIDS THAT WE RECEIVED, I MENTIONED THERE WERE 34 AND FOUR WERE NO BIDS.

UM, THOSE ARE REPRESENTED HERE BY THE BLACK DOTS.

UH, THE BLACK DOTS ARE THE ENGINEERS OPINION OF COST.

SO WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE VALUE OF THE PROJECT WHEN WE WENT INTO BIDDING.

UM, THESE ARE ALL THE PROJECTS.

UH, THEY'RE 28 ON THIS CHART THAT ARE UNDER $16 MILLION AND THEN CLICK, THEN THE TWO LARGE PROJECTS, SAR AND WILD HORSE ARE SHOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND ACCESS BECAUSE THEY'RE QUITE LARGE.

WILD HORSE OP P C C WAS 50 MILLION AND SAR WAS 145 MILLION.

SO THOSE ARE ON A DIFFERENT AXIS CLICK.

SO OF THOSE 12 OF THEM CAME IN BELOW THE ENGINEERS, THE LOW BID WAS BELOW THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF COST.

THOSE ARE THE GREEN DOTS NEXT.

AND THEN 18 OF THEM CAME IN ABOVE THE ENGINEER'S OPINION OF COST.

UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S, UH, PARTICULARLY FOR THE HIGH BIDS, THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF VOLATILITY.

UM, I SORTED, WE SORTED THIS SLIDE FROM LOW TO HIGH BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S SUPER CHAOTIC TO LOOK AT.

UM, BUT WE DID LOOK AT IT BY DATE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY SORT OF MORE RECENT TRENDS.

AND THERE WE, WE COULD NOT SEE THEM.

I THINK OUR SAMPLE SIZE WAS TOO SMALL TO TO SEE TRENDS OVER THIS PERIOD OF TIME.

UM, SO FIVE OF THESE WERE SINGLE BIDS.

UM, AND THEN NEXT OF THOSE SINGLE BIDS WE ACCEPTED TWO OF THEM.

SO THE ONE ON THE KIND OF LOWER LEFT WAS IN THE 2 MILLION RANGE.

THE BID WAS PRETTY CLOSE.

UM, WE WANTED TO, THAT MADE SENSE JUST TO GO FORWARD WITH THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IN BLUE WAS THE HORN SPEED BEND CENTRIFUGE PROJECT.

UM, WE BROUGHT THAT TO YOU ALL LAST JANUARY AND DISCUSSED, UH, WENT INTO QUITE A BIT OF DETAIL.

CAPITAL CONTRACTING WAS HERE WITH US AND DISCUSSED WHY WE RECOMMENDED MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND YOU ALL DID SUPPORT THAT AND IT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL.

AND THEN THOSE THREE IN THE MIDDLE, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THOSE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT THOSE WERE SINGLE BIDS THAT CAME IN MORE THAN TWO TIMES THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE AND WE ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD WITH THOSE NEXT.

SO YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING, WELL, WHAT DOES ALL

[00:15:01]

SO WHAT DID WE THINK WE WERE GONNA SPEND GOING INTO BIDDING? AND THAT WAS 319 MILLION ON THIS VOLUME OF PROJECTS.

AND THEN WHEN YOU ADD UP ALL THE ACCEPTED BIDS, SO THAT'S NOT INCLUDING THE THREE, WE DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD WITH IT'S 319 MILLION.

SO, UM, I RAN THOSE NUMBERS THREE OR FOUR TIMES CUZ IT WAS AWFULLY CONVENIENT THAT IT WAS PRETTY MUCH EX WITHIN A MILLION DOLLARS .

I THINK IT WAS THREE 19.4 AND THREE 18.6.

BUT, UH, THOSE ROUND TO THREE 19.

SO, UH, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK AT THIS POINT WE FEEL LIKE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SEEING SOME PROJECTS KIND OF COME IN LOW OR HIGH, WE FEEL, UH, REALLY GOOD ABOUT, ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BID OVER THE LAST 16 MONTHS.

UM, LET ME JUST PAUSE ON THIS SLIDE FOR A SECOND AND I'M HAPPY TO GO BACK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS LATER, BUT DOES, I KNOW THIS IS A LOT? SO ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, UM, DATA THAT'S SHOWN HERE? OKAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO ON THOSE SINGLE BIDS THAT WE REJECTED, UH, THE DAVIS WATER TREATMENT PLANT, UH, RAW WATER HYDRAULIC AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS, I DID NOT NAME THIS PROJECT.

UH, IT CAME IN QUITE HIGH.

UM, AND IN THIS CASE, THERE IS OTHER WORK GOING ON IN THAT AREA OF THE PLANT.

AND SO WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN REPACKAGE THIS WITH OTHER UPCOMING WORK AND WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND SO, UM, THAT BID CAME IN AT 2.4 TIMES THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, WE DID NOT FEEL LIKE THAT WAS A GOOD VALUE.

AND SO WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA RUN AT THAT ANOTHER WAY.

SIMILARLY WITH SAR, UH, THE ELEVATED TANK CAME IN, UH, OVER TWO TIMES.

OUR ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, UM, THAT HAD ABOUT HALF OF IT WAS SITE WORK AND ABOUT HALF OF IT WAS TANK RECODING.

AND, UM, AND SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE CONTRACTOR WAS A WAS THE PAINTING, UH, THE GUY THAT WAS GONNA RECOAT THE TANK.

AND SO THE SITE WORK WAS REALLY NOT ON HIS BAILEY WICK.

AND SO WE JUST DECIDED IT MADE MORE SENSE.

WE CAN SPLIT THAT INTO TWO PROJECTS AND KIND OF HANDLE, HANDLE THOSE SEPARATELY.

UH, WE THINK WE'LL GET A BETTER VALUE THAT WAY.

EITHER WAY IT WAS NOT A GOOD VALUE, THE ENGINEER AGREED, AND SO WE DON'T WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

THE LAST ONE IS, IS REALLY AN OUTLIER.

THAT'S A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT WAS NOT RUN, IT'S RUN THROUGH THE CITY'S BIDDING PROCESS AND IT'S AUSTIN WATER MONEY, BUT IT'S NOT AUSTIN WATER ENGINEERING, UM, TEAM THAT'S, THAT'S MANAGING THAT.

UM, IT ALSO WAS A NON-COMPLIANT BID, UH, AND THERE WERE OTHER ISSUES WITH THAT BID.

SO THAT ONE, THAT ONE GOES BACK TO THE, TO THE DEVELOPER'S ENGINEER TO, TO, UH, REBID THAT NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO OF OUR FOUR PROJECTS WHERE WE DIDN'T GET ANY BIDS, UH, WE HAVE REBID THREE OF THOSE, UM, ZILKER WATER AND WASTEWATER PIPELINE RENEWAL, THAT'S A RENEW AUSTIN PROJECT.

FIRST TIME WE WENT OUT, WE GOT NO BIDS.

UM, APPARENTLY WE JUST HIT THE MARKET WRONG BECAUSE THE SECOND TIME WE WENT OUT, WE GOT A LOT OF INTEREST IN IT AND IT CAME IN BASICALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, WITHIN, UH, WITHIN 10% OF THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATES.

SO FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT.

THAT WAS LIKELY JUST A TIMING ISSUE.

THE HANCOCKS H V A C IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PROCESS BUILDING.

UM, SECOND TIME WE BID THAT WE GOT TWO BIDS, THEY WERE HIGH, BUT, YOU KNOW, AT $150,000 OVER THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE, THAT'S, WE'RE GONNA CALL THAT A WIN AND MOVE FORWARD, UH, GO VALLEY.

UM, DOMESTIC WASTEWATER SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, SECOND TIME WE BID, OR THIRD TIME I THINK WE BID THAT WE GOT THREE BIDS.

AGAIN, MORE THAN DOUBLE THE ESTIMATE OF COST, BUT A SMALL PROJECT, NOT ONE WE CAN PACKAGE UP WITH OTHER STUFF.

THERE'S NOT OTHER WORK GOING ON IN THAT AREA.

UM, AND AT THE PRICE, UM, ULTIMATELY IT'S WORK THAT REALLY DOES NEED TO BE DONE.

AND SO WE, UH, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND THEN THE FOURTH ONE IS THE GLEN LAKE, UM, PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS.

UM, WE HAVE, WE FEEL LIKE THIS ONE WE CAN PACKAGE UP WITH SOME OTHER PUMP STATION PROJECTS AND BID THOSE ALL TOGETHER AND MAKE IT A BIGGER, MORE ATTRACTIVE PROJECT.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THESE SMALLER PROJECTS JUST AREN'T THAT ATTRACTIVE RIGHT NOW.

CONTRACTORS ARE BUSY.

A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE HEAR WHEN WE ASK THEM WHY THEY DIDN'T BID, IT'S THAT THEY HAD PLENTY OF OTHER WORK TO DO.

UM, AND PACKAGE THIS UP, MAKE A BIGGER, MORE, UM, MORE ATTRACTIVE PROJECT WITH SOME OTHER WORK AT OTHER PUMP STATIONS.

OKAY, SO, UM, I MENTIONED THE WILD HORSE BIDS COMING IN, UH, QUITE HIGH, SO I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL SOME DETAIL ON THAT.

SO, UH, WE OPENED BIDS IN SEPTEMBER.

WE HAD TWO QUALITY CONTRACTORS.

UH, THEIR BIDS WERE WITHIN 7%

[00:20:01]

UH, SO THAT'S OUR, OUR FIRST INDICATION THAT, THAT THE, THE, UM, THAT THIS IS WHAT THE WORK COSTS RIGHT NOW.

UH, SO WE DID A, THE ENGINEER AND OUR, UM, ENGINEERING STAFF AT AUSTIN WATER DID AN ANALYSIS OF THE BID ITEMS, UM, AND DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL AND IN CAME IN ABOUT DOUBLE THE OPINION OF COST.

AND THE PROCESS EQUIPMENT CAME IN ABOUT DOUBLE AND THEN THE SHEET PILING THAT'S REQUIRED FOR, UM, UH, DOING ALL OF THE SITE WORK CAME IN ABOUT TRIPLE.

SO THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE COST IS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ENGINEER WAS THE, THE COST THEY WERE FOR THEIR PROCESS EQUIPMENT WAS BASED ON VENDOR QUOTES.

UH, AND SO THAT REALLY REPRESENTS THE, THE CHANGE IN WHAT IT COSTS THE VENDOR TO SUPPLY THAT EQUIPMENT FROM THE TIME THEY GAVE THE ENGINEER THEIR QUOTE UNTIL THE TIME THEY GAVE THE CONTRACTOR THEIR QUOTE.

UM, AND THEN, UH, ELECTRICAL.

AND IN C YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING SIMILAR VOLATILITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS, UM, WE WOULD PREFER NOT TO SPEND THIS EXTRA MONEY, BUT THIS PROJECT, TIMING-WISE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

UM, WE DO NOT, WE CANNOT DELAY IT FROM A CAPACITY PERSPECTIVE.

WE NEED TO GET THIS CAPACITY ON THE GROUND, UH, AND, UM, WE DO NOT FEEL THAT WE WILL, YOU KNOW, IF WE PUT IT BACK OUT, UH, THERE'S NOTHING OPTIONAL IN THE SCOPE.

SO THERE'S REALLY NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESCOPE THIS PROJECT IN A WAY THAT WE COULD GET A BETTER PRICE AND STILL GET WHAT WE NEED.

SO WE, IT IS OUR, UH, OUR RECOMMENDATION, UM, TO MOVE FORWARD TO TAKE THIS TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL AND, AND WE ASK YOU ALL TO SUPPORT THAT.

OKAY, SO IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER, UM, UH, I ADDED THIS UP BEFORE AND NOW I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW MUCH IT IS.

70 MILLION, NO, THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT.

30, 45, 52.

YEAH, MAYBE 70 MILLION, CLOSE TO 70 MILLION, UH, DOLLARS WORTH OF WORK COMING IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

UM, AND IT IS KIND OF A, A, AN ASSORTMENT OF BREAD AND BUTTER PROJECTS FOR US, MOSTLY IN THE COLLECTION SYSTEM AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.

UM, SO, UH, TRYING TO APPLY SOME OF THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE, FROM THE DATA THAT I'VE SHOWN YOU ALREADY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, GIVING BIDDERS PLENTY OF TIME THAT WE'RE LETTING 'EM KNOW IT'S COMING, THAT WE'RE, UM, YOU KNOW, DOING LARGE ENOUGH PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE ATTRACTIVE AND JUST PUTTING HOPEFULLY ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THESE TO THE COMMISSION AS THEY BID.

SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, LOW BID CONTRACTING IS NOT THE ONLY TOOL WE HAVE IN OUR TOOLBOX.

WE HAVE, UM, GOTTEN A LOT OF VALUE OUT OF OUR I D I Q CONTRACTS, UM, BOTH IN FACILITIES AND IN PIPELINES AND IN SCADA.

UM, THE LARGE FACILITIES I D I Q REALLY HELPS US IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

ONE IS IT ALLOWS US TO QUICKLY GET TO RESILIENCY WORK THAT OPERATIONS SURFACES JUST GET OUT THERE AND TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS THAT NEED DOING.

UM, IT REALLY EFFECTIVELY, IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE AT ADDRESSING SMALLER PROJECTS THAT DON'T BID WELL.

UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THIS LIST ON THE RIGHT, THESE ARE THE, THE CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS.

UM, AND THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, A VARIETY WE USE.

WE TRY TO USE THIS CONTRACT, WANNA SPEND IT ALL ON JUST ONE OR TWO LARGE PROJECTS.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE PROBABLY JUST NEED TO GO BID THOSE.

UM, SO WE, WHEN WE GET THESE ASSIGNMENTS PUT OUT TO THE A D I Q CONTRACTOR, WE GET A DETAILED PROPOSAL FROM THEM THAT WE REVIEW WITH INTERNAL STAFF.

WE COMPARE IT TO OTHER WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING GOOD VALUE, UM, FOR WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE I D I Q CONTRACTOR TO DO.

UM, SO OUR INITIAL CONTRACT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL IN JULY.

IT'S 5 MILLION A YEAR FOR ONE YEAR WITH UP TO TWO ONE YEAR EXTENSIONS.

WE HAVE NOW, UM, FULLY SUBSCRIBED THE FIRST YEAR OF THIS CONTRACT.

UH, AND SO, AND WE HAVE NINE MORE ASSIGNMENTS IN THE QUEUE.

SO YOU ALL ASKED US IN JULY TO COME BACK AND LET YOU KNOW, UM, THAT CONFIRM THAT WE WERE GETTING GOOD VALUE OUT OF THIS CONTRACT BEFORE WE WENT TO THE SECOND OR THE FIRST EXTENSION.

AND SO THAT'S, UH, WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO TONIGHT.

WE ARE, WE REALLY, UM, THIS IS A, A VERY, UH, IMPORTANT TOOL FOR US TO DO IMPORTANT WORK IN, IN THE PLANTS.

AND SO WE, UH, INTEND TO EXTEND THAT CONTRACT IN THE SPRING.

[00:25:04]

SO, UM, WHICH THE INDUSTRY IS TRYING TO REBRAND ITSELF AS COLLABORATIVE DELIVERY IN CASE YOU HADN'T HEARD THAT.

UM, BUT IT IS COLLABORATIVE AND THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT IT.

UH, SO THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT WE DO THAT DON'T LEND THEMSELVES WELL TO LOW BID CONTRACTING.

UM, HIGHLY COMPLEX PROJECTS WHERE WE WANT TO HAVE THE CONTRACTOR INVOLVED, UM, DURING DESIGN TO HELP US WITH CONSTRUCTABILITY OR TO BE ABLE TO ORDER LONG LEAD TIME ITEMS OR MAYBE WE WANNA BE ABLE TO EVALUATE, ISSUE IT LIKE A LOW BID, UM, BUT EVALUATE THEIR QUALS IN ADDITION TO THEIR PRICE AT THE TIME WE OPEN BIDS AND STATE, UM, STATUTE ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.

BUT IT DOES REQUIRE US TO GET COUNCIL APPROVAL.

AND SO IF WE WANT TO USE THESE TOOLS, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK OR COMPETITIVELY SEALED PROPOSALS, THEN WE HAVE TO TAKE AN RCA TO CITY COUNCIL TO REQUEST APPROVAL TO DO THAT FOR A SPECIFIC PROJECT.

SO WE DID THAT, UH, THIS TIME LAST YEAR ON THE WALNUT CREEK PRIMARY CLARIFIERS AND FLOW EQUALIZATION BASE AND REHAB PROJECT.

UM, THAT WAS PRIMARILY A CONSTRUCTABILITY ISSUE.

WE, UM, THOSE, UH, CLARIFIERS ARE FULLY ENCLOSED AND SO IT'S GONNA BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO GET THE EQUIPMENT IN AND OUT.

SO WE WANTED TO HAVE THE, AND ALSO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ORDER THE EQUIPMENT EARLY.

UM, AND SO WE, UH, GOT COUNCIL APPROVAL TO, UM, TO DO CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE ISSUED AN RFQ, WE SELECTED A CMAR AND THAT CONTRACTING WILL BE COMPLETE, UM, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND THEY WILL BE ON BOARD, UM, DURING, UH, 30% DESIGN AND ONWARD IN ORDER TO, UH, COLLABORATE WITH THE DESIGN ENGINEER AND THEN DO SOME OF THAT EARLY LEAD TIME, UH, LONG LEAD TIME ITEM ORDERING THE WALNUT CREEK EXPANSION OF 100 MGD.

WE ARE INITIATING FINAL DESIGN NOW.

UH, WE HAD A, A A, I THINK THE LAST TIME WE CAME TO REPORT TO YOU ALL ON WALNUT CREEK.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE WERE EVALUATING, UM, PROJECT DELIVERY METHODS.

AND, UH, WE HAVE, UM, UH, SELECTED CONSTRUCTION.

THE PROJECT TEAM HAS SELECTED CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK.

THE STEERING COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED, UM, CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, AND WE HAVE KIND OF ONE MORE STEP TO GET OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM TO AGREE TO IT, WHICH I BELIEVE THEY WILL.

AND THEN, UM, WE WILL GO TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL TO USE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK FOR THAT PROJECT IN DECEMBER, THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER.

AND THEN WE WILL ADVERTISE FOR THAT CM A R AGAIN, THAT'S AN RFQ, UM, NEXT SPRING IN WITH THE INTENT TO BRING THEM ON, UM, BY THE TIME WE'RE APPROACHING 30% DESIGN OF THE EXPANSION.

AND THEN FINALLY THE WILLIAMSON CREEK INTERCEPTOR.

UM, THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED WASTEWATER TUNNEL PROJECT.

UM, WE, UH, THAT DESIGN IS COMPLETE AND WE'RE, OR ALMOST COMPLETE, AND WE WILL BE READY TO BID THAT NEXT SUMMER.

UM, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THE CONTRACTOR'S QUALIFICATIONS, UM, BECAUSE WE, NOT JUST, ANYBODY CAN DO THIS PROJECT, IT'S A, I THINK $90 MILLION.

AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE SURE THAT WE GET A GOOD, UH, HIGHLY QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR.

SO, UM, WE WILL BE GOING TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL TO USE, UM, COMPETITIVELY SEALED PROPOSALS IN FEBRUARY.

AND THEN THAT WILL BE ADVERTISED VERY SIMILARLY TO LOW BID WITH FULL, UH, CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS.

BUT THEN WHEN THE CONTRACTOR TURNS IN THEIR BID, THEY ALSO TURN IN THEIR QUALS AND THAT ALLOWS US TO, UM, WAIT THEIR, UH, COST AS NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE CHOICE.

SO, SO THOSE ARE THE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE, UM, GROWING THE TOOLS AND OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX AND, UM, AND BE TRYING TO BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE, UH, DELIVER THESE HIGHLY COMPLEX PROJECTS.

AND WITH THAT, I AM HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

COMMISSIONERS, GOT ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. OLSON? UH, COMMISSION OFFICIAL PRIEST? I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, SO FOR SINGLE BID CONTRACTS, THEY MOVE FORWARD IF THE CONTRACTOR MEETS QUALIFICATIONS AND IT CAN'T BE RE SCOPED, NOT ON MONEY.

RIGHT.

AND ON THE ONES THAT WERE REJECTED, ONE WAS SPLIT INTO TWO PROJECTS, IT WAS RE SCOPED AND ONE WAS REPACKAGED WITH ANOTHER PROJECT, AND THAT WAS RES SCOPED.

SO WHAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT THAT COULDN'T BE EITHER SPLIT APART OR COMBINED? LIKE WHAT'S ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WOULDN'T MEET THOSE TWO QUALIFICATIONS OR? SO A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THE CENTRIFUGE PROJECT IN HORNSBY BEND, WHICH WE DID MOVE FORWARD WITH A SINGLE BID.

UM, AND THAT WAS A PROJECT WHERE

[00:30:01]

IT WAS REALLY LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO TO, AND IT WAS PHASE TWO OF A PREVIOUS CENTRIFUGE PROJECT.

SO THIS WAS WORK THAT, UM, THAT COULDN'T REALLY BE, THE SCOPE COULDN'T REALLY BE CHANGED.

COOL.

THANKS.

YEP.

YES.

PRETTY UNIQUE.

THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO PUT IT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE STAFF? UH, COMMISSIONER, PLEASE.

UM, I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS WHY YOU CHOSE TONIGHT TO DO THIS PRESENTATION.

WELL, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON DEVELOPING THIS DATA FOR SOME TIME AND IT WAS, UH, UM, WE HAD GOTTEN THROUGH OUR ANALYSIS AND WE WERE, HAD GONE OVER IT WITHIN OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM AND WE WERE READY TO PRESENT IT TO YOU.

AND THEN ALSO, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE WILD HORSE, UH, BID ON THE AGENDA, AND SO WANTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK THROUGH THAT A LITTLE BIT.

UM, WE ARE READY TO RE-UP THE I D I Q AND YOU ASKED US TO COME BACK BEFORE WE DID THAT, SO THAT'S TIMELY.

SO IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THE TIMING, UH, CAME TOGETHER THAT TONIGHT WAS A GOOD NIGHT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

FAIR ENOUGH.

BUT I WOULD ALSO THINK ONE OF THE REASONS, AND I I I DON'T MEAN TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT THIS PROBLEM OF LIMITED BIDDING, BIDDING ACTIVITY IS GOING TO GET NOTHING BUT WORSE.

YOU'D AGREE WITH THAT, RIGHT? WELL, I CERTAINLY CAN'T DISAGREE WITH IT.

I, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY INDICATION THAT THE VOLATILITY WE'RE SEEING WILL GET ANY BETTER.

UH, AND SO THAT WAS ANOTHER REASON FOR US TO DO THIS ANALYSIS IS TO HAVE THIS SORT OF FRAMEWORK IN PLACE WHERE AS WE GET MORE BIDS, WE CAN BRING IT IN, BRING THOSE INTO THIS ANALYSIS AND START TO SEE SOME TRENDS, WHEREAS BEFORE WE SEA TRENDS.

SO MAYBE THERE'S AN EFFORT HERE TO BRACE US FOR WHAT MAY BE COMING THERE.

OH, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE BRACING WHERE ALL OF US ARE BRACING OURSELVES.

ABSOLUTELY.

FAIR ENOUGH.

BUT I WOULD COMMENT YOU VERY MUCH ON THE PRESENTATION AS I LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO EACH OF THE SLIDES THAT YOU PRESENTED.

I COULD NOT FLAW YOUR JUDGMENT AT ALL AS YOU NAVIGATED THROUGH ALL THESE VARIOUS BIDS, BUT I WOULD JUST MAKE A, A SHORT I'M, I KNOW THE TIME IS PRECIOUS THAT I WOULD NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH THAT CMAR BECAUSE I THINK THAT, THAT THE CITY OVERPAYS, I THINK WHAT WE DID WITH WATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR WAS A TERRIBLY OVERPRICED FACILITY.

AND, UH, THAT I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT PROCESS SOMETIMES WHEN, UH, YOU'RE LIMITED ON TIME AND THERE'S AN EMERGENCY AND THINGS, BUT I WOULDN'T START DOING THAT JUST TO DO IT FOR EVERY LITTLE PROJECT.

AND I DON'T THINK YOU ARE DOING THAT.

UM, I THINK THAT WAS, THERE WAS ONE POINT, BUT, UH, I, I, I REALLY, UH, COMMEND YOU FOR, FOR GOING THROUGH THIS.

AND I REALLY, I PERSONALLY COULD NOT QUESTION YOUR JUDGMENT, BUT I WOULD SAY, UH, LET'S NOT, LET'S NOT GET CRAZY WITH THIS ONE BITTER STUFF BECAUSE, UH, I I JUST THINK THAT'S BAD.

BUT THANK YOU.

THE PRESENTATION WAS QUITE GOOD.

THANK YOU.

WE ARE, WE REALLY ARE TRYING TO, UM, BE VERY THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL OF THESE PROJECTS AND, AND WE DON'T LIKE ONE BIDDERS EITHER.

UM, BUT UM, SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET IT DONE.

COMMISSIONER MO, YOU GOT MORE QUESTIONS? NO, I'M GOOD.

THANK ANYMORE ANY MORE QUESTION? I, I GOT ONE LITTLE COMMENT.

THIS IS ABOUT THE CONTRACTION CONTRACT PROCUREMENT, BUT I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE, THE IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES SOME OF THE CONTRACT, ESPECIALLY ON TREATMENT PRINT CONTRACTORS, THEY ARE, THEY GOT TOO MUCH CONTRACT ON HAND THAT THEY, THEY NOW, THEY WILL BE CHECK UP THE PRICE AND THEY WILL GOING TO BE EXTENDING THE CONTRACT DURATION ON IT, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF 365 DAYS THEY WANT TO 400, 400 DAYS.

AND THEN NOT ONLY THAT PIPELINE, NOT ONLY THE TREATMENT PRINT, UH, CONTRACTORS, THE PIPELINE CONTRACTORS THE SAME THING.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE EXPERIENCE THE CITY SIGNED THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACT, LET THEM MOVE ANY ANY THIRD FOR FOUR MONTHS

[00:35:01]

AND THEN WORK ON IT AND THEN 95% COMPLETE THE CERTAIN DAY FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.

I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, PROCUREMENT IS GOOD, BUT HOW TO DO THE IMPLEMENTATION, YOU KNOW, OR MAYBE INCORPORATE THAT IT INTO THE, INTO THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS, JUST LIKE ARCHITECT USUALLY, ESPECIALLY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, LET'S SAY YOUR QUALIFICATION OR BASED ON, BECAUSE I GOT A SCHOOL TO OPEN AND I'M NOT GOING INTO LOOKING FOR THOSE THAT BE THE ONLY, I'M LOOKING FOR A CONTRACT THAT CAN DELIVER SO I CAN OPEN THE SCHOOL ON TIME.

I THINK WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT APPROACH TOO, FOR CONSIDERATION.

YEAH.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY IS CONTRACTORS WOULD LIKE BOTH MORE MONEY AND MORE TIME.

UM, AND, UH, ONCE THEY HAVE BID THE PROJECT, THEN WE GENERALLY DON'T, UH, WE, WE CANNOT, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, GIVE THEM MORE MONEY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE ALREADY BID UNLESS THE SCOPE CHANGES, BUT SOMETIMES WE CAN GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE TIME.

UH, AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH CONTRACTORS AND KEEP PROJECTS MOVING.

UM, WE DON'T LIKE IT WHEN PROJECTS SLOW DOWN EITHER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IN, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW, WE, UM, WE SPENT, UH, 223 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 23, WHICH WAS THE MOST C I P WE HAD EVER DONE IN A FISCAL YEAR, 20% MORE THAN WE DID THE YEAR BEFORE.

SO WE ARE STILL GETTING PROJECTS, UM, BUILT, UM, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF HARD WORK ON THE PART OF AUSTIN WATER AND PUBLIC WORKS STAFF, UM, TO KEEP EVERYTHING MOVING.

THANK YOU.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? UH, COMMISSIONER MICHELLE.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

UH, SHE THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION.

REALLY WELL DONE AND REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF'S DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON HERE IN THE MARKET.

UM, DURING THE PRESENTATION, I WAS JUST LOOKING UP THE AVERAGE BID PRICES.

UH, I NOTICED THE SPREADSHEET ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE SHOWS FY 20, SO NOT SURE THAT THAT AVAILABLE INFOR UH, THE PRICE INFORMATION IS REALLY UP TO DATE.

I DIDN'T CHECK ANY UNIT PRICES, BUT ASSUMING IT IS FROM FY 20, NOT, NOT HELPING US OUT MUCH AS, AS CONSULTANTS TO TRY TO TRY TO NAIL OUR ESTIMATES, UM, UH, I WILL SAY, I KNOW WE'VE GOT A CS P UH, PROJECT COMING UP FOR BID AND, UH, KINDA LEARNED THIS LESSON MYSELF RECENTLY ON A PROJECT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, UM, ESTIMATING A PROJECT, GENERALLY WE'RE TRYING TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE, THE SPREAD OF THE BIDS.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE KIND OF WANNA BE AVERAGE WHEN IT COMES TO ESTIMATING A PROJECT.

UH, AND TYPICALLY WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT ON A LOW BID PROCUREMENT SCENARIO.

AND KINDA LIGHT BULB WENT OFF FOR ME RECENTLY THINKING ABOUT A C S P UH, CONTRACT.

YOU KNOW, THE, THE WHOLE IDEA OF CS P IS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT EXPECTING THAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH THE LOW BIDDER, RIGHT? SO IF WE'RE TRYING TO BE AN AVERAGE OR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPREAD WITH OUR ESTIMATE, YOU KNOW, WITH A CSP SCENARIO, WE MIGHT NEED TO INCREASE OUR ESTIMATE A COUPLE OF A PERCENT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE LIKELY NOT, NOT GOING TO BE AT THE, THE LOW END OF THE RANGE OF BIDS, RIGHT? THAT'S ONE OF THE WHOLE POINTS OF, OF GOING CSP.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A QUALIFIED BIDDER THAT'S GOT THE EXPERIENCE, GOT THE SAFETY RECORD, HAS THE RIGHT APPROACH FOR THE PROJECT.

UM, AND SO, UH, I'LL JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE AS A COMMENT TO STAFF AND TO THE CONSULTANT TEAM.

UH, SINCE WE HAVE NOT BID THAT PROJECT, MIGHT WANNA RE-LOOK AT OUR ESTIMATE AND MAKE SURE WE'VE MADE THE PROPER ADJUSTMENT KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LIKELY NOT AWARDING THAT AT THE LOWEST COST.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY, LET'S MOVE

[14. Recommend approval of a resolution authorizing the issuance by Pilot Knob Municipal Utility District No. 2 of Unlimited Tax Bonds, Series 2022A, in a principal amount not to exceed $5,900,000.]

RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE INSURANCE BY PILOT NAV MUNICIPAL UTILITY STREET NUMBER TWO OF UNLIMITED TAX BONDS SERIES 2022 A IN A PRINCIPLE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $5,900,000.

AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER

[00:40:01]

AND COMMISSIONERS GOT ANY QUESTIONS? IF NO QUESTIONS, WE WILL ENTERTAIN FOR MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER PENN AND HOLD SECOND.

SECOND BY VICE CHAIR KE PERRY.

AND ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING ALL PRESENT, APPROVE IT.

AND COMMISSIONER MICHELLE RECUSE AND EAT.

SO DO WE HAVE A COLUMN? YES.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON

[15. Recommend approval of a resolution authorizing the issuance by Pilot Knob Municipal Utility District No. 3 of Unlimited Tax Bonds, Series 2022A, in the amount of $13,000,000.]

AND I BELIEVE THE COMMISSIONER MICHELLE GOING TOUSE IT AGAIN.

IS THERE ANY QUESTION? IS A MOTION I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER PEN AND SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TOTA.

OH, IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING ALL PRESENT.

APPROVE IT.

AND COMMISSIONER MICHELLE RECUSE AND EAT.

OKAY, NOW LET'S MOVE ON TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA.

[2. Recommend approval to award and execute a construction contract with Matous Construction Ltd., for Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Gas Scrubber Systems Renewal project in the amount of $6,375,000 plus a $637,500 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $7,012,500.]

YES.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

UH, DIRECTLY TIED TO THE PRESENTATION WE JUST HEARD, MY QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE, UH, THE ESTIMATE RELATIVE TO WHERE THE BIDS CAME IN AND THE LOW BID AMOUNT AND QUESTION FOR STAFF.

IF THERE WAS ANY SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT OR SCOPES OF WORK, UM, THAT CAME IN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAT WE WERE NOT EXPECTING OR ANY UNEXPECTED RISK OR ANYTHING.

WE, WE FOUND THROUGH OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON THE BIDS ON THIS ONE, UH, THAT STAFF COULD SPEAK TO CHARLES SOLO, AUSTIN WATER.

THIS ONE SHARES A LITTLE BIT OF THE SAME, UH, ISSUES THAT, UH, WILD HORSE DID.

UH, WE DID HAVE TWO BIDDERS BOTH CAME, THEIR BIDS WERE WITHIN 1% OF EACH OTHER, SO WE KIND OF KNEW WHAT THE MARKET VALUE OF THE PROJECT WAS IN DECIPHERING THE BIDS THAT COME IN.

UH, WE ARE LIMITED TO THE COMPLIANCE PLAN, MEANING, UH, WHAT THE CONTRACTOR SUBMITTED, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND WHAT SUBS ARE THEY GOING TO DO.

AND SOMETIMES, DEPENDING ON THE SUBS, WE KIND OF KNOW, OH YEAH, THEY'RE DOING THAT WORK AND WE CAN KIND OF COMPARE IT TO THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.

UM, THIS ONE DID HAVE, UH, SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL COST WERE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE, UH, THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE WAS AS WELL AS THE H V A C.

AND WE NOTED THAT IN HANCOCKS THAT WE, THE H V A C PRICES SEEMS TO BE HIGHER THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED.

UM, THIS PROJECT ALSO WAS DELAYED SLIGHTLY FOR SOME CONSTRUCTABILITY ISSUES, BUT WE WERE IN THE AREA, WE DIDN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH ANOTHER CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY.

SO I DO KNOW THE OPC WAS A LITTLE BIT OLD.

I KNOW WE'RE TRYING TO GET THOSE REFRESHED AS SOON AS WE BID, BUT I DO KNOW THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT OLDER.

SO BETWEEN THOSE THINGS, UM, THE, THE ELECTRICAL AND H V A C ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT, UH, 1.4 MILLION OF THE, ABOUT TWO POINT, WHAT IS IT, 5 MILLION THAT IT WAS OVER.

SO MORE THAN HALF OF THAT WOULD COUNT FOR THAT.

AND THEN, UM, SOME OF THE, UH, THE ACTUAL SCRUBBER EQUIPMENT WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED TOO.

SO, UM, NO REAL, WE'RE SEEING THAT ON SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECT WILD HORSES WE NOTED THE ELECTRICAL WAS HIGHER ON THAT TOO AS WELL.

SO SAME KIND OF SONG, I GUESS , IT'S THE SECOND VERSE.

YEP.

THANK YOU CHARLES.

THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTIONS.

UH, CHAIR.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS.

GOT ANY MORE

[00:45:01]

HAVE WE DONE ANYTHING TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO GET IT DONE? THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE THEIR DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY CAN BOND IT AND THEN, UM, THEY ARE ALSO, UM, COMMITTING TO THE SCHEDULE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SCHEDULE IN EVERY PROJECT.

UM, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE, THE LIMIT OF OUR ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PERFORM, BUT THEY HAVE ASSURED US THAT THEY DO.

OKAY.

I, YOUR COMMENTS? YES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, WE'LL ENTERTAIN FOR MOTION.

I MOVE TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER PAN MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONER PEN.

SECOND.

SECOND BY VICE CHAIR CASTLEBERRY.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

AND GOT, UH, LET ME SEE.

OKAY, IT'S APPROVED AND MSD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S

[3. Recommend approval to award and execute a construction contract with Matous Construction, Ltd., for the Wild Horse Ranch Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Expansion project in the amount of $69,530,500 plus a $6,953,050 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $76,483,550.]

RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACTION CONTRACT WITH MATOO CONTRACTION LIMITED FOR THE WIRE HORSE RANGE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT IN AMOUNT OF $69,530,500 PLUS A $6,953,050 CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $76,803,000, 300 $803,550 IN EACH IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE.

AND WE, UH, COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER PENN DRUSE AND COMMISSIONER MICHELLE, HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE.

YES.

THANK YOU CHAIR.

UH, MY QUESTIONS WERE AROUND THE CONSTRUCTION VALUE AND UH, THOSE QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED WITH STAFF PRESENTATION THIS EVENING, SO I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM.

OKAY.

ANY, ANY MORE QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER? UH, COMMISSIONER MA? I'M NOT SURE HOW SIGNIFICANT IT IS, BUT JUST A CORRECTION ON THE READING IN OKAY.

OF THE VALUE.

UM, THAT LAST VALUE WAS 76,483,550 AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM? ALL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

MOTION MADE BY VICE CHAIR BERRY BY SECOND.

SECOND BY COMMISSIONER TO AND ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

, AND RE AND COMMISSIONER PEN RECUSE AN

[5. Recommend approval to execute and negotiate a professional services agreement with CDM Smith Inc., (staff recommendation) or one of the other qualified respondents for Request for Qualifications Solicitation No. CLMP340 to provide engineering services for the Upper Tannehill Stormwater Improvements & Wastewater Interceptor Phase 1 project in an amount not to exceed $3,500,000.]

THAT'S STAFF RECOMMENDATION OR ONE OF THE OTHER QUALIFIED RESPONDENT FOR THE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS.

SOLICITATION NUMBER CRM P MP THREE 40 TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE UPPER 10 HILL STORM WATER IMPROVEMENT AND WASTEWATER INTERCEPTOR PHASE ONE PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 3.5 MILLION.

AND THIS IS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, IN THE DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR, AND I BELIEVE THAT COMMISSIONER MICHELLE GOING TO RECUSE ON THIS ITEM.

IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS? IF NOT, IS ANY MOTION I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE MOTION MADE BY COMMISSIONED A PEN.

I'LL SECOND THAT SECOND BY VICE CHAIR CASTLEBERRY.

OH, IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND SHOWING PEN FOR MO TO CASTLEBURY AND LEE APPROVE IT AND COMMISSIONER MICHELLE RECUSE ON IT.

LET'S,

[7. Recommend approval to award and execute a construction contract with Posillico Civil, Inc., for the William Cannon Drive, Running Water Drive to McKinney Falls Parkway project in the amount of $21,366,910 plus a $3,205,036 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $24,571,946.]

[00:50:01]

RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACTION COUNTRY WITH CIVIL INC.

FOR WE WILLIAM CANYON DRIVE RUNNING WATER DRIVE TO MCKINNEY FALLS PARKWAY PROJECT IN AMOUNT OF $21,366,910 PLUS A $3,205,036 CONTINGENCY FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $24,571,946.

AND THIS IS IN DISTRICT NUMBER TWO AND I BELIEVE COMMISSIONER PAY GOING TO RECUSE ON THIS ITEM.