Subject
title
Award and authorize the City Manager to execute contracts, in accordance with IFB #27-24 - Water Treatment Chemicals, with (i) Univar Solutions USA LLC, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania; (ii) Kuehne Chemical Co. Inc., of Kearny, New Jersey; (iii) Kemira Water Solutions, of Lawrence, Kansas; (iv) Polydyne Inc., of Riceboro, Georgia; (v) Shannon Chemical Corporation, of Malvern, Pennsylvania; and (vi) George S. Coyne Coyne Chemical Co., of Croydon, Pennsylvania, for the procurement of eight chemical commodities through June 30, 2025, with the option to extend for four (4) additional one-year periods, for an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,060,500. A form of the contracts is attached to this report.
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Department
PW - Management & Support
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council award and authorize the City Manager to execute contracts with (i) Univar Solutions USA LLC, of Morrisville, Pennsylvania; (ii) Kuehne Chemical Co. Inc., of Kearny, New Jersey; (iii) Kemira Water Solutions, of Lawrence, Kansas; (iv) Polydyne Inc., of Riceboro, Georgia; (v) Shannon Chemical Corporation, of Malvern, Pennsylvania; and (vi) George S. Coyne Coyne Chemical Co., of Croydon, Pennsylvania, for the procurement of eight chemical commodities through June 30, 2025, with the option to extend for four (4) additional one-year periods, for an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,060,500, with each contract subject to approval as to legal form by the City Attorney.
Discussion
The City of Rockville Water Treatment Plant (WTP) uses specific chemical treatments in conjunction with physical separation methods to produce safe drinking water that meets or exceeds all State and federal water quality standards. Water treatment chemicals help remove organic and inorganic contaminants from the water, to condition the water so that it doesn’t generate foul tastes or odors or corrode the water piping, and to disinfect the water for public health and safety by destroying bacteria and organisms that may cause human illness or disease. The amount of chemicals used is unpredictable and entirely dependent on the raw water quality from the Potomac River and the City’s water demand.
The eight chemicals included in this award are:
• Caustic Soda - added to provide pH adjustment to enable and optimize the desired chemical reactions in the water treatment process.
• Chlorine - added as the primary disinfectant used to kill or inactivate bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful organisms in the drinking water.
• Ferric Chloride - added as the primary coagulant used to neutralize the electrical charge of the particles in the raw water to allow settling of solids for subsequent removal from the WTP.
• Hydrofluosilicic Acid - added to the drinking water to help prevent tooth decay.
• Non-Ionic Polymer - added to enhance settling of the solids in the clarification process and increases solids thickening prior to the dewatering process.
• Potassium Permanganate - added as an oxidizer to eliminate naturally occurring taste and
odors in the raw water supply.
• Polyphosphate - added to control corrosion in the distribution piping system and offers protection from lead and copper contamination.
• Sodium Hypochlorite - added at the water storage tanks to maintain the chlorine residual in the water distribution system for continued public health protection from bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful organisms.
Mayor and Council History
This is the first time this item has been brought before the Mayor and Council.
Procurement
On March 12, 2024, IFB #27-24 was posted on the City’s website and electronically provided to 382 prospective bidders via the e-Maryland Marketplace. Of the prospective bidders, 64 were Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), 67 were Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), and 41 were Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises (VSBE). In addition, a notice was sent directly to departmentally suggested sources.
Eleven sealed bids were received and opened on April 9, 2024. Each of the successful bidders were determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the chemicals that were bid. The successful vendor for each chemical is provided in the chart below. The not to exceed award amount for each chemical is determined as the bid amount plus 10 percent contingency to allow for the unpredictable quality of the Potomac River water, which can require greater chemical use.
|
Chemical |
Bidder |
MFD-V Status |
Bid Amount |
Award Amount |
|
Caustic Soda |
Univar Solutions USA LLC, Morrisville, Pennsylvania |
Non-MFD-V |
$278,100.00 |
$306,000.00 |
|
Chlorine |
Kuehne Chemical Co. Inc., Kearny, New Jersey |
Non-MFD-V |
$84,570.00 |
$93,100.00 |
|
Ferric Chloride |
Kemira Water Solutions, Lawrence, Kansas |
Non-MFD-V |
$412,035.70 |
$453,300.00 |
|
Hydrofluosilicic Acid |
Univar Solutions USA LLC, Morrisville, Pennsylvania |
Non-MFD-V |
$82,080.00 |
$90,300.00 |
|
Potassium Permanganate |
George S. Coyne Coyne Chemical Co. Croydon, Pennsylvania |
Non-MFD-V |
$10,387.38 |
$11,500.00 |
|
Non-Ionic Polymer |
Polydyne Inc., Riceboro, Georgia |
Non-MFD-V |
$21,060.00 |
$23,200.00 |
|
Polyphosphate |
Shannon Chemical Corporation, Malvern, Pennsylvania |
Non-MFD-V |
$64,222.65 |
$70,700.00 |
|
Sodium Hypochlorite |
George S. Coyne Coyne Chemical Co. Croydon, Pennsylvania |
Non-MFD-V |
$11,192.31 |
12,400.00 |
In accordance with Section 17-39 of the Rockville City Code, Awarding Authority, (a) All contracts involving more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) shall be awarded by the Mayor and Council.
The draft contract for IFB 27-24 Water Treatment Chemicals, in a form substantially as attached, as approved by the City Attorney, is provided as Attachment A.
To view individual IFB 27-24 Water Treatment Chemicals draft contracts, please click the link provided below.
<https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/34aa849a-cfb3-4fe0-b26e-521b40772c33>
To view all bid documents, please click the link below.
<https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/c23112e3-eb8d-46bd-b4dc-6222b68570da>
Fiscal Impact
There is sufficient funding in the FY 2025 operating budget in the Water Fund for Water Treatment Plant chemicals. This is budgeted at $1,252,140 for chemicals that are purchased as needed throughout the year. Funding in future years is subject to Mayor and Council appropriations.
Next Steps
Upon Mayor and Council approval, the Procurement Division will obtain insurance certificates, and issue contracts to the vendors for each of the eight water treatment chemicals.