Commissioners Court Meeting

Issue viewing agenda items? Click here to switch to the old format.

Return to the Minutes Page

Meeting Date:	02/14/2022
Water Treatment Plant Transfer Switch Upgrade
Submitted for:	Tom Sanchez	Submitted By:	Tom Sanchez
Department:	Water Utilities

Subject:

Discussion and possible action to award a contract in the amount of $68,080.00 to American Generator Services LLC, to modify and upgrade our current backup Transfer Switch Sequence/Operation Programming for the power outage generators located at the Rio Bravo Water Treatment Plant and to further grant by order of the Commissioners Court an exemption in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code; Section 262.024 (Discretionary Exemptions)(a.)(2.) an item to preserve or protect the public health or safety of the residents of the County; and any other matters incident thereto. [Account #7220-7280-001-443000-035, Repairs & Maintenance Equipment (2016 Water Utility Improvement Series)]

Issue: When the Rio Bravo Water Treatment Plant as built and put online in 2006 the generators were installed and programmed with natural gas as the primary source for power and the electrical utility generators to be used as a secondary backup power source. We currently have system running with electrical utility due to the cheaper cost compared to natural gas powered generators, which are more expensive to run due to the high cost of natural gas. The dual source power programming is will give the Utilities Dept. to automatically switch from one source of power i.e.; gas to electric or electric to gas as the main power source for the generators in the event of a power outage.

Solution: Approve and authorize the Backup Generator upgrades to our Transfer Switch Station. Annual contract vendor was not able to provide contracted pricing since it will require additional programming in addition to the electrical upgrades being requested. A discretionary exemption is being recommended in order to process this scope of work in a more timely fashion to avoid any issues with the backup generators to the Water plant.

Result: Department will have the ability to automatically transfer from electrical to natural gas power for the Backup Generators in the event of a Power Outage and ensure continuance of utility services to both Rio Bravo and El Cenizo.

Background:

N/A

Previous Court Action:

Previous Court Action:
November 13, 2017
Agenda Item No. 29

Fiscal Impact

Budget Account Number:	7220-7280-001-443000
Funding Source:	2016 Impro. Series
Balance:	73,908.97
Financial Impact:
N/A

Attachments
American Generator Services
Montez Electrical Service Proposal No. II