Title
Possible Action on Bid No. IFB 25-08 for the Purpose of the Jemez Mountain Fire Protection Phase I Project to DUB-L-EE, LLC
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the award of bid no. IFB 25-08 for the purpose of the Jemez Mountain Fire Protection Phase I Project with DUB-L-EE, LLC in the amount of $4,316,384.03 and a contingency in the amount of $647,000.00, for a total of $4,963,384.03, plus applicable gross receipts tax.
Utilities Manager's Recommendation
The Utilities Manager recommends that IFB 25-08 be awarded.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Board of Public Utilities recommended IFB 25-08 at their regular session on September 18, 2024 and recommends that Council award as presented.
Body
The full project will construct a new 500,000-gallon water tank, four water booster stations and 23,000 feet of 10" waterline that will be constructed along Camp May Road. The project will convey water from the existing potable water system in Los Alamos to Pajarito Mountain to provide domestic water to the Pajarito Mountain ski facilities, Pajarito Mountain-top10-million-gallon reservoir, Camp May campground. This new reliable water supply will replace the domestic well to the ski hill facilities which often dries up and allow the hilltop reservoir to remain filled year-round providing a reliable water supply for regional fire protection and snow making. The new water system will also be extended to the Camp May Campground. The existing overhead power line will be reconstructed underground as part of the project to eliminate the risk of wildfires and to add additional capacity for expansion of facilities on Pajarito Mountain.
This award will be the first of four as the project has been phased to expedite the overall project completion and to align with grant fund schedules and pending grant applications. Phase I of the project will construct 11,000 feet of the waterline, fiber optic conduits and electric conduits. This represents approximately 45% of the distance required to complete the project. When the project reaches Camp May Road, the road will have a temporary closure from Monday through Thursday due to safety. Camp May road is too narrow to keep open while trenching and pipeline work occurs. Two bids were received for phase I of the project and DUB-L-EE was approximately $450,000 lower than the second bid.
The current project schedule is as follows:
Phase II will be issued in November to construct the new 500,000 gallon tank. Phase III and IV designs are nearing completion and the bid dates are dependent on the results of our application for a FEMA grant. The various phases of the project will be constructed through 2025 and 2026, with an anticipated completion of September 2026.
Alternatives
If the project is not awarded, staff will reassess the project schedule, funding and path forward.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The total project is estimated to be $18 million. Phase I of the project will be funded from a combination of funds from a Legislative Special Appropriations Grant in the amount of $7 million for the water system and contributions from Pajarito Recreation, LP.
Per the attached Project Development Agreement, the project will be funded as follows:
1st $3.5 million from state grant
2nd $1 million from Pajarito Recreation LP
3rd $3.5 million from state grant
4th $1 million from Pajarito Recreation LP
5th $2 million from County
6th $900,000 from state grant
The County has applied for a FEMA mitigation grant in the amount of $6.6 million to fund the electric under-grounding portion of the project. If no additional funds are awarded, up to $6.6 million remaining to be split equally between the County and Pajarito Recreation LP.
Attachments
A - Project Drawings
B - Project Development Grant