January 7, 1999 H-2

The Honorable Board of Supervisors
County of Los Angeles
383 Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration
500 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Dear Supervisors:

WEST COAST BASIN BARRIER AUTOMATED TELEMETRY SYSTEM
SUPERVISORIAL DISTRICT 4
3 VOTES

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOUR BOARD:

PURPOSE OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

The Barrier Telemetry Study will review seawater barrier field data collection methods, identify comprehensive telemetry and data management strategies, and provide field verification of the recommended methods. The telemetry study will improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of the Department's barrier operations. These improvements will enhance the ability of the West Coast Basin Barrier Project to protect our coastal groundwater supplies from seawater intrusion.

JUSTIFICATION

The Department annually dedicates more than four man-years to collect, manually enter, and analyze the barrier operational data. Although the Department's current methods are generally workable, a modern telemetry system can significantly improve labor use to provide data on a much more timely basis and improve the overall efficiency of our barrier operations. The Barrier Telemetry Study will include a field test to demonstrate the effectiveness of the recommended telemetry system on a selected group of injection, extraction, and observation wells.

FISCAL IMPACT

This project will be funded by the District at a cost of $526,000.

In accordance with Amended Agreement 68552 dated August 18, 1998, the District is to provide funding for projects such as the West Coast Basin Barrier Telemetry System as compensation to the Department for lost revenue resulting from decommissioning the Barrier Hydroelectric Plant.

FINANCING

Not applicable.

CONTRACTING PROCESS

The Department distributed the Request for Proposal to 18 firms. These firms were selected from a list of consultants with experience in the design, construction, and maintenance of automated instrumentation systems for water distribution systems and other structures.

On September 29, 1998, three firms submitted written proposals for the design and development of the Seawater Barrier Telemetry System. After careful study and evaluation of these proposals, a selection committee made up of District and Department personnel selected Woodward-Clyde Consultants to undertake this project.

URS Greiner Woodward-Clyde Consultants demonstrated satisfactory compliance with the County's Child Support Compliance Program.

This contracting opportunity was advertised on the Office of Small Business website in accordance with your Board's advertising requirement of February 3, 1998.

Enclosed is a Community Business Enterprise Program form providing details on the minority composition of Woodward-Clyde Consultants.

FACTS AND PROVISIONS/LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The Agreements have been reviewed and approved as to form by County Counsel.

IMPACT ON CURRENT SERVICES

Projects undertaken by this Amendment will enable the barrier project to better protect coastal groundwater supplies from seawater intrusion at a significantly reduced cost to the Department.

CONCLUSION

We are enclosing the original and three copies of each Agreement. It is requested that the fully executed copies of each Agreement be returned to this office for forwarding to Woodward-Clyde Consultants and West Basin Municipal Water District together with copies for Department files. The fully executed originals should be retained for your files.

Please return one approved copy of this letter to the Department of Public Works.

Respectfully submitted,

HARRY W. STONE
Director of Public Works

WJ:mc
WCBTSBL.WPD

Enc.

cc: Chief Administrative Officer

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