Regional Water System
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Wylie Water Treatment Plant SCADA System Upgrades; Project No. 101-0630-23; Tabulation of Bids, Award of Contract, Engineering Services Agreement, and Inspection Services
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SUBJECT
recommendation
Authorize award of a construction contract to Prime Controls, LP in the amount of $7,416,899; authorize internal inspection services in the amount of $577,200, and authorize an Engineering Services Agreement with Gupta and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $287,778 for construction phase engineering services for the Wylie Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System Upgrades project.
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PURPOSE
The programmable logic controller (PLC) equipment used to monitor and control the Wylie WTP ozone process has been deemed obsolete by NTMWD staff and the equipment manufacturer. The District has been moving towards high-performance graphics for improved human-machine interface (HMI) monitoring and control of the SCADA system. This project replaces the obsolete equipment and upgrades the interface programming, as documented in the 2021 Water System SCADA Roadmap Report.
RECOMMENDATION
The Executive Director and NTMWD staff recommend the Board of Directors authorize the award of a contract as follows:
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Contractor: |
Prime Controls, LP |
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Consultant: |
Gupta and Associates, Inc. |
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Scope: |
Construction Contract, Internal Inspection Services, and Engineering Services During Construction |
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Project: |
No. 101-0630-23; Wylie Water Treatment Plant SCADA System Upgrades |
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Amount: |
Construction Contract: $7,416,899 Internal Inspection Services: $577,200 Engineering Services during Construction: $287,778 |
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Committee: |
This will be an item on the June 25, 2025, Water Committee meeting agenda |
DRIVER(S) FOR THIS PROJECT
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Strategic Objective: |
1.4 Reliable and Resilient Systems |
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☐ Regulatory Compliance |
☒ Asset Condition |
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☐ Capacity |
☒ Redundancy/Resiliency |
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☐ Relocation or External Requests |
☐ Operational Efficiency |
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☐ Safety |
☐ Administrative |
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☐ Policy |
☐ Other _____________ |
BACKGROUND
• Wylie WTP’s I-IV uses ozone to disinfect water as well as improve taste and odor in the water treatment process. Two ozone production facilities are located at the Wylie WTP Complex, the North Ozone Operations Building (NOPS) and the South Ozone Operations Building (SOPS). Generated ozone flows from NOPS to contactors located at Water Treatment Plants III and IV, and from SOPS to contactors located at Water Treatment Plants I and II.
• A Human Machine Interface (HMI) system is used to operate the Ozone SCADA System. Client Workstations are primarily used at NOPS and SOPS for production, and Client Workstations are located at each plant.
• A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) system is used to control the Ozone process. The Ozone PLC system is a vendor package from the ozone equipment manufacturer. The District has additional PLCs for monitoring and process control.
PROJECT PURPOSE
• Per the 2021 Water System SCADA Roadmap Report, it is recommended to upgrade the aging and obsolete PLC and Network Switch infrastructure of the Wylie WTP Ozone System.
• The 2021 Water System SCADA Roadmap Report recommends the human machine interface (HMI) graphics that are used by Operations to monitor and control the Ozone System be upgraded to the high-performance graphics detailed by the NTMWD HMI Configuration Standards and utilized on Wylie campus for other systems already.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
• High-performance HMI graphics for Wylie WTP Ozone System.
• Upgraded PLC and Network Switch Hardware for Wylie WTP Ozone System.
TABULATION OF BIDS
Sealed bids for construction were received at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29th, 2025, as tabulated below:
Bidder Total Bid Recommendation
Prime Controls, LP $ 7,416,899.00 Lowest responsible bid
Recommended for Award
RLC Controls, Inc. $ 10,093,101.25
ENGINEER’S OPINION OF
PROBABLE COST $7,010,000.00
Due to the technical nature and security sensitivity of facilities that are directly integrated with the NTMWD Global SCADA System, specific knowledge of the system is required in order to develop a competitive bid for this type of work. Apart from Prime Controls, LP and RLC Controls, Inc., most prospective bidders have opted not to pursue these projects for NTMWD. For this reason, it is not unusual to see only two bidders for this type of work.
LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER HISTORY
Prime Controls, LP has successfully completed or is currently in construction on several similar projects for the NTMWD:
• Project No. 101-0556-20, North Water Transmission System SCADA Network Split, currently in construction
• Project No. 101-0515-18, Wylie WTP’s Human-Machine-Interface (HMI) and Data Server Upgrades, currently under construction
• Project No. 101-0534-19, Wylie WTP’s III and IV Filter Performance Improvements, completed February 2021
• Project No. 101-0329-13, Water Transmission System SCADA Upgrade, completed October 2019
Based on their standing as the lowest responsible bidder, the information provided, and reports by the supplied references, the NTMWD staff and Gupta & Associates, Inc. recommend award of the contract to Prime Controls, LP.
ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT
Engineering services during construction for the Wylie Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System Upgrades project are based on a planned 33-month construction duration in the amount of $287,778.00. These services include:
• Monthly project management and coordination
• Review of shop drawing submittals, request for information, proposed change orders, and operation and maintenance (O&M) manuals
• Review the contractor’s monthly progress payment requests
• Site visits and construction meetings
• Workshop meetings
• Startup assistance and substantial and final completion inspection
• Development of record drawings and updated equipment list
• Participate in factory witness testing
• Participate in functional demonstration witness testing
INTERNAL INSPECTION SERVICES
NTMWD will utilize its own inspection staff to cover all inspection tasks. The costs to the NTMWD related to this internal inspection coverage are approximately $577,200.
FUNDING
Funding in the amount of $7,416,899 to Prime Controls, LP, $287,778 to Gupta and Associates, Inc., and $577,200 to NTMWD Internal Inspection Services is to be made available utilizing the Regional Water System Extendable Commercial Paper (ECP) Program as the appropriation source; issuance of ECP notes will occur as cash needs arise.