Title
Approval of Change Order No. 6 to IFB 2026-18 with TLC Utility and Plumbing for the Purpose of the Denver Steels Phase II Project in the Amount of $525,000.00, Plus Applicable Gross Receipts Tax
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve Change Order No. 6 to IFB 2026-18 with TLC Utility and Plumbing for the Purpose of the Denver Steels Phase II Project in the amount of $525,000, for a total contract of $6,334,152.92, plus Applicable GRT.
Utilities Manager's Recommendation
The Utilities Managers recommends that the Council approve the motion as presented.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Board of Public Utilities reviewed this request at their work session on September 2, 2026 and recommends that the Council approve the motion as presented.
Body
During the active construction of the Denver Steels Phase II Project, crews discovered several heavily corroded and actively leaking galvanized water service lines. Because these repairs were outside the original project scope and ineligible for the initial Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Loan No. 6651, Los Alamos County coordinated with the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) to secure alternative funding. NMFA successfully assisted the County in obtaining $525,000.00 in federal infrastructure funds dedicated to Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR). Approval of Change Order No. 6 will formally integrate this scope into the contract to compensate the contractor for work that has achieved substantial completion. Extension of the contract period by 91 days for administrative closeout and adopts the matching budget adjustment.
Alternatives
If Council denies Change Order No. 6, the contractor will not be legally compensated for emergency scope modifications already performed and completed in good faith. This could trigger contractual disputes, legal liabilities, delays in project closeout, and potential forfeiture of the newly secured NMFA federal loan amendment funds.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The IFB 2026-18 contract for the Purpose of Denver Steels Phase II Improvements was awarded on August 26, 2025. Denver Steels Phase II & Phase III received for the project, DWSRF Loan 6651 in the amount of $2,727,000.00 and Amendment to the DWSRF Loan 6651 utilizing the Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Funding in the amount of $525,000.00. For a total loan amount of $3,252,000.000
The total contract cost to date between Public Works and DPU work, including all change orders, is $6,334,152.92, plus Applicable GRT. Budget Revision 2027-13, in the amount of $525,000.00, was introduced to County Council as Ordinance 759 on August 25, 2026, increase the available budget to pay for services on Change Order No.6 and associated NMGRT. The Ordinance, restated Loan Grant Agreement, and budget revision will be approved after the public hearing held on September 8th, 2026.
Attachments
A - Change Order No. 6 to IFB 2026-18_TLC
B - Change Order History IFB 2026-18
C - Budget Revision 2027-13