HomeMy WebLinkAboutE-3.1. Award Bid Contract to UAM, Inc. for the Inspections of All Power Poles Within Its GridCONSENT CALENDAR
TO: HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE AZUSA UTILITY
BOARD
FROM: MANNY ROBLEDO, DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES
DATE: NOVEMBER 23, 2020
SUBJECT: AWARD MAINTENANCE SERVICES CONTRACT TO UTILITY ASSET
MANAGEMENT INC FOR THE INSPECTION OF UTILITIES
DEPARTMENT POWER POLES
BACKGROUND:
To ensure public safety, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has established
inspection standards for electric utilities to inspect their overhead and underground electric
distribution equipment periodically and correct any deficiencies found during the inspection.
Azusa Light and Water’s (ALW) 3,300 power poles were last inspected in 2004, and they are
now due for inspection pursuant to CPUC’s General Order 165. Staff solicited bids for pole
inspections services from two different vendors, Osmose Utilities Services, Inc., and Utility
Asset Management, Inc. (UAM), and Staff has evaluated both bids and determined that the bid
submitted by UAM is the lowest responsible bid. Staff is seeking approval of Utility Board
for awarding the bid contract for pole inspection to Utility Asset Management Inc.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Utility Board take the following action:
1) Approve the award of a maintenance services agreement to Utility Asset Management
Inc. for the inspection of 3,300 utility power poles in an amount not-to-exceed
$46,200; and
2)Authorize the City Mayor to execute the Contract, in a form acceptable to the City
Attorney.
ANALYSIS:
General Order (GO) 165 establishes the inspection requirements for electric distribution and
transmission facilities such as transformers, switches, conductors, and power poles. ALW
E-3Approved
Utility Board
11/23/20
Award Utility Asset Management, Inc. Pole Inspection Contract
November 23, 2020
Page 2
periodically inspects its distribution facilities based on GO 165’s specified cycle. For wood
poles, they are inspected every 15 years. The last time ALW inspected its wood poles was in the
year 2004. Thus, ALW’s poles are due for GO 165 inspection.
Staff has received bids for pole inspection from Utility Asset Management (UAM) Inc. and
Osmose Utilities Services Inc. Each vendor proposed a different method of inspection in
compliance with GO 165. Osmose applies am intrusive sound and bore method, which relies on
trained human ear and drilling hole in the pole for inspection, and UAM proposes a proprietary
ultrasound method to inspect the density of the poles. UAM was the lowest responsible bidder to
inspect and provide Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates for 3,300 power poles for an
amount not to exceed to exceed $46,200, as shown in the following table:
Table 1 – Bid Results
Bidders Inspection per pole GPS per Pole
Utility Asset Management Inc. $13.00 $1
Osmose Utilities Services $16.16 N/A
The Scope of work and inspecting specifications are included in the attached UAM’s proposal,
attached.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for this project is budgeted for under the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget
Acct #33-80-000-730-7145/73017A-7145.
Prepared by: Reviewed and Approved:
Hien K. Vuong, P.E. Manny Robledo
Assistant Director of Utilities Director of Utilities
Electric Operations
Reviewed and Approved:
Sergio Gonzalez
City Manager
Attachments:
1)Utility Asset Management Proposal
2)Maintenance Services Agreement