Title
An Ordinance approving Change Order #2 to the contract with Second Sight Systems, L.L.C. for the SCADA System Improvements Project, an increase of $6,487.42 for a revised contract price of $420,405.66. (PWC 1/29/19)
Body
Issue/Request:
An Ordinance approving change order #2 to the contract with Second Sight Systems, L.L.C. for the SCADA System Improvements Project, an increase of $6,487.42 for a revised contract price of $420,405.66.
Key Issues:
• The antenna at the Rice Road Valve location was changed from a standard aerial to a panel antenna as it is less intrusive and less likely to be damaged by passersby.
• The mast configuration at the South Terminal was changed as the final loadings for the equipment was determined.
• Final sight and signal lines between Bowlin Pump Station and Woods Chapel Tower required testing and revision of the antenna mounting mast.
• The antenna configuration at Leinweber was revised for better long term operation.
• The antenna configuration was revised for better reception at Kensington BO.
• There was a change to a Cellular solution at Station 6 due to poor radio signal strength at this site.
• An upgrade of the grounding system was required at the Rice Road valve vault as it was determined the existing system would not protect the proposed radios.
Proposed City Council Motion:
FIRST MOTION: I move for a second reading of an Ordinance approving Change Order #2 to the contract with Second Sight Systems, L.L.C. for the SCADA System Improvements Project, an increase of $6,487.42 for a revised contract price of $420,405.66.
SECOND MOTION: I move for adoption of an Ordinance approving Change Order #2 to the contract with Second Sight Systems, L.L.C. for the SCADA System Improvements Project, an increase of $6,487.42 for a revised contract price of $420,405.66.
Background:
The SCADA System was originally constructed using AT&T leased POTs (Plain Old Telephone) lines for its communications backbone to all the remote water and waste water sites. These lines have worked well for many years but over time the utility's systems have become more complex and the data files are now larger and more numerous than ever before which is causing the lines to reach their limit at several of the larger remote sites.
To compound this issue AT&T is moving towards retiring these lines and encouraging the utility to seek other alternatives by increasing the lease rates while decreasing support. Water Utilities has been reviewing alternatives for several years to find the correct technology to replace the leased copper lines. The utility has worked with public safety to review microwave transmission, has reviewed the possibility of fiber connections, has piloted a cellular communication option and had a varieties of issues with consistency and potential costs with all of those options.
As this project is finishing up the City has retired the use of the leased copper lines and are up and running on the radio communications system. There have been some items found in the field during construction of this system which were different than the design assumptions and require modification by this change order to complete the installations. These changes have been minor and fall within our original budget for the project.
Presenter
Jeff Thorn, Assistant Director of Engineering Services
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance approving change order #2 to the contract with Second Sight Systems, L.L.C. for the SCADA System Improvements Project, an increase of $6,487.42 for a revised contract price of $420,405.66.
Committee Recommendation
The Public Works Committee voted unanimously 3-0 (Councilmember DeMoro "absent"), to recommend to City Council approval of an Ordinance approving change order #2 to the contract with Second Sight Systems, L.L.C. for the SCADA System Improvements Project, an increase of $6,487.42 for a revised contract price of $420,405.66.