Explanation
BACKGROUND: This Ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to modify and increase the construction contract with U.S. Utility Contractor Co. for the Underground Street Lighting System Rehabilitation and Betterments Project (Southeast and Southwest Quadrants), for the Division of Power and Water (Power). Due to variables such as soil content, moisture and atmospheric temperatures the quantity of ground rods required for grounding and bonding was unknown. A pilot project was used to identify the estimated number of ground rods required for grounding and bonding. This one and only modification authorizes payment for quantity overruns for ground rod installation, so that street lights are in conformance with National Electric Safety Code NESC - Article 250. It is necessary to modify and increase the original contract to account for these additional expenditures.
1. Amount of additional funds to be expended: $41,753.69
Original Contract Amount: $681,119.59
Amount of original contract and this modification: $722,873.28
2. Reasons additional goods/services could not be foreseen:
In order for the Division to meet current specifications and standards for grounding and bonding street light poles, additional ground rods are required to conform to 25 Ohms or less per National Electric Safety Code NESC - Article 250. A pilot project failed to accurately predict the number of ground rods required for grounding and bonding. Atmospheric conditions and soil content are variables which affect the need for grounding and bonding.
3. Reason other procurement processes are not used:
Due to this contract playing a vital role in the Division's effort to provide a safe street lighting system to the public it is felt, to expedite construction, that the existing contract be modified. It would not be in the best interest of the City to contract with another vendor for the same service U.S. Utility Contractor Co. is currently prov...
Click here for full text