Title
Resolution to rescind the contract authorization for Heimburger and Company and approve a new contract with Univar Solutions USA, LLC, to supply bulk sodium bisulfite (SBS), for Fiscal Year 2026-27, authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the agreement.
body
WHEREAS, the South San Francisco-San Bruno Water Quality Control Plant (WQCP) routinely uses bulk sodium bisulfite (SBS) as a neutralizing agent to remove residual chlorine from treated wastewater prior to discharge; and
WHEREAS, the City utilizes the Bay Area Chemical Consortium (BACC) cooperative bidding process to aggregate volume and secure competitive, fixed-rate pricing for bulk treatment chemicals in compliance with South San Francisco Municipal Code (SSFMC) Section 4.04.040; and
WHEREAS, the City Council previously approved a Fiscal Year 2026-27 draft purchase agreement for bulk SBS with Heimburger and Company as the lowest responsive bidder for an estimated annual volume of 155,000 gallons at a rate of $1.5300 per gallon, for a total Not-to-Exceed (NTE) amount of $237,150.00; and
WHEREAS, the BACC formally advised City staff that Heimburger and Company failed to respond to regional contract coordination and compliance requirements across participating agencies, and city staff subsequently verified that the vendor remained entirely non-responsive to contract execution outreach; and
WHEREAS, to protect plant operations and ensure uninterrupted regulatory compliance with the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, it is necessary to disqualify Heimburger and Company and rescind the prior contract approval; and
WHEREAS, Univar Solutions USA, LLC. was identified through the BACC competitive process as the next lowest responsive and responsible bidder, offering a fixed contract rate of $1.6350 per gallon for a total annual Not-to-Exceed amount of $253,425.00; and
WHEREAS, adequate funding to cover the resulting $16,275.00 budget variance is available within the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 WQCP operating budget; and
WHEREAS, the City Council previously approved a Fiscal Year 2026-27 purchase agreement for bulk Sodium Hypochlorite Solution with Univar Solutions USA, LLC. (Resolution 71-2026) as the lowest responsive bidder for an estimated annual volume of 195,000 gallons at a rate of $3.52 per gallon, for a total Not-to-Exceed (NTE) amount of $686,400.00; and
WHEREAS, this additional purchase of SBS will result in a purchase agreement with Univar Solutions USA, LLC. with a total combined Not-to-Exceed (NTE) amount of $939,825.00 for both chemicals.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the prior City Council authorization approving a Fiscal Year 2026-27 bulk chemical purchase agreement with Heimburger and Company for the supply of sodium bisulfite is hereby rescinded due to vendor non-responsiveness.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco hereby approves and awards a purchase agreement with Univar Solutions USA, LLC, for the routine furnishing of bulk sodium bisulfite at the Water Quality Control Plant for Fiscal Year 2026-27, in an amount not to exceed $253,425.00, with the understanding that the City Council has previously approved a purchase agreement with Univar Solutions USA, LLC for the routine furnishing of bulk sodium hypochlorite at the Water Quality Control Plant for Fiscal Year 2026-27, in an amount not to exceed $686,400.00, resulting in a combined purchase agreement with a total Not-to-Exceed amount of $939,825.00.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager, or authorized designee, is hereby authorized to execute the necessary purchase agreement in substantially the same form as Exhibit A.
* * * * *