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File #: 20044-25a    Version: 1
Type: Briefing/Report (Dept,BCC) - Action Requested Status: Consent
File created: 4/3/2025 In control: Board of Public Utilities
On agenda: 5/21/2025 Final action: 5/21/2025
Title: Approval of Task Order No.5, AGR 22-18c for the Abiquiu Hydroelectric Plant Firewall and Office Project with GME General Building, LLC in the Amount of $409,207.95 plus Applicable Gross Receipts Tax
Presenters: James Alarid
Indexes (Council Goals): Quality Excellence - Infrastructure Asset Management, DPU FY26 - 1.0 Provide Safe and Reliable Utility Services
Attachments: 1. A - Task Order No. 5_GME General Building, 2. B - Abiquiu Firewall and Office Project Construction Plans, 3. C - Starr Technical Risks Plan Review
Related files: 20044-25

Title

Approval of Task Order No.5, AGR 22-18c for the Abiquiu Hydroelectric Plant Firewall and Office Project with GME General Building, LLC in the Amount of $409,207.95 plus Applicable Gross Receipts Tax

Recommended Action

I move that the Board of Public Utilities recommend the Award of Task Order No. AGR 22-18c, for the Abiquiu Hydroelectric Plant Firewall and Office Project to GME General Building, LLC with the base amount of $355,833.00 and a contingency in the amount of $53,375.95 for a total project amount of $409,207.95 plus applicable gross receipts tax, and forward to County Council for approval.

Utilities Manager's Recommendation

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

Body

The Abiquiu Hydroelectric Plant, located on Abiquiu Lake, produces energy for the area. A County contracted loss prevention agency, Starr Tech, has issued a fire risk mitigation recommendation for the facility. This protection measure will be addressed as part of this project, as well as several outstanding issues regarding limited office space, staff comfort, and heavy equipment storage. Upgrading the plant’s powerhouse will prepare the facility and its staff for many years of reliable operation.    

The project is budgeted through Electric Production for FY 2025 in the amount of $350,000. An additional $59,207.95 will be needed to cover the total project cost of $409,207.95. This amount will be sourced from the El Vado Penstock Bypass Valve project, which is also budgeted in Electric Production for FY 2025 at $95,000. It is possible to postpone the El Vado Penstock Bypass Valve project to FY27. Given that we can currently operate the El Vado Hydro Plant, it is not advisable to schedule a planned outage this fiscal year to complete the penstock work at this time.

Alternatives

If the Board does not award the project, the Abiquiu Hydroelectric Plant will continue to have an outstanding insurance liability, limited office space, and reduced staff comfort. Loss prevention will likely flag the facility for lack of protection measures.

 

Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item

The project has been budgeted through Electric Production in FY 2025 in the amount of $350,000.

An additional $59,207.95 will be needed to cover the total project cost of $409,207.95 plus applicable GRT. This amount will be sourced from the El Vado Penstock Bypass Valve project, which is also budgeted in Electric Production for FY 2025 at $95,000.

Given that we are currently operating the El Vado Hydro Plant, it is not advisable to schedule a planned outage to complete the penstock work at this time. It would be in the best interest to postpone the El Vado Penstock Bypass Valve project to FY27.

Attachments

A - Task Order No. 5_GME General Building

B - Abiquiu Firewall and Office Project Construction Plans

C - Starr Technical Risks Plan Review