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File #: 21410-26a    Version: 1
Type: Construction Contract Status: Consent
File created: 3/4/2026 In control: Board of Public Utilities
On agenda: 4/1/2026 Final action:
Title: Award of Task Order No. 15 under AGR22-18e with R&M Construction for the Purpose of Drilling Five Piers in the White Rock Substation for the Transformer Replacement Project in the Amount of $463,657.50, add a 10% project contingency of $46,366 plus Applicable Gross Receipts Tax for the Term of 90 Days.
Presenters: Dennis Astley
Indexes (Council Goals): Quality Excellence - Effective, Efficient, and Reliable Services, DPU FY26 - 1.0 Provide Safe and Reliable Utility Services
Attachments: 1. A - Task Order No. 15, 2. B - R&M Construction Estimate No. 523

Title

Award of Task Order No. 15 under AGR22-18e with R&M Construction for the Purpose of Drilling Five Piers in the White Rock Substation for the Transformer Replacement Project in the Amount of $463,657.50, add a 10% project contingency of $46,366 plus Applicable Gross Receipts Tax for the Term of 90 Days.

Recommended Action

I move that the Board of Public Utilities recommend Award Task Order No. 15 under AGR22-18e with R&M Construction for the Purpose of Drilling Five Piers in the White Rock Substation for the Transformer Replacement Project in the Amount of $463,657.50, add a 10% project contingency of $46,366.00, plus Applicable Gross Receipts Tax for the Term of 90 Days and forward to Council for approval.

Utilities Manager's Recommendation

The Utilities Manager recommends that the Board approve the motion as presented. 

Body

The community of White Rock is served solely by transformer T2. The foundation with drilled piers is necessary because of the soil conditions where transformer T1 needs to be installed. Los Alamos County initially requested bids from General Contractors and received no bids.  After receiving no bids, a second request for bids was issued and one bid was received from a contractor without the proper licensing.  Another contractor assumed the task from whom we have an on-call agreement and submitted the bid, in the amount of $463,657.50, to drill 4 piers, 48-inches in diameter and 21 feet below the surface of the substation for the substation transformer along with a 36-inch pier to a depth of 10 feet for a bus support. The bus support is required due to the distance from the switch to the transformer. The bid will include the labor, rebar cages and concrete for the foundations and transformer pad.

Alternatives

Failure to approve this proposal would prevent the foundation for the new transformer from being completed and prevent installation of the transformer.  The only option would be to reopen the bidding process again and attempt to attract additional bidders to the job.

Fiscal and Staff Impact

The fiscal impact will be covered by the electric distribution fund; the expenditure authority will be redirected from the LA URD Replacement CIP budget for Los Pueblos, which has been delayed for several years. No staff impacts are planned.

Attachments

A - Task Order No. 15

B - R&M Construction Estimate No. 523