06-21-2013 BPU RPT 10 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

W A T E R E N E R G Y , 7 RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: June 21, 2013 ITEM NO: 10 SUBJECT: REPLACEMENT OF THE DATA ACQUISITION AND HANDLING SYSTEM AT THE RIVERSIDE ENERGY RESOURCE CENTER, CLEARWATER COGENERATION AND SPRINGS GENERATING POWER PLANTS ISSUE: The item for Board of Public Utilities consideration is approval of a Professional Services Agreement and a three-year service contract with Babcock &Wilcox Power Generation Group (B&W) to replace the Data Acquisition and Handling System (DAHS) equipment at the Riverside Energy Resource Center (RERC), Springs and Clearwater Power Plants ("RPU's generation plants"). RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities approve the Agreement with B&W, of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, in an amount not-to-exceed $232,686 for engineering, configuration and installation of the DAHS equipment at RPU's generation plants, including a three-year service contract with B&W in an amount not-to-exceed $37,200 for DAHS software maintenance and support. BACKGROUND: The DAHS is an integral component of a power plant air pollution monitoring system. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) require this type of equipment as part of Riverside Public Utilities' (RPU) operating permit. The DAHS records and validates real time plant emissions data and transmits the information daily to the SCAQMD, and is subject to an annual onsite audit. The DAHS also maintains historical emissions data, instrument calibrations and other critical information required to demonstrate compliance with federal, state and local air emissions regulations. In September 2012, Environmental Systems Corporation notified RPU staff that they would no longer manufacture or support their DAHS equipment at the Clearwater Power Plant. Shortly thereafter, Honeywell notified staff that they also would no longer manufacture or support their DAHS equipment at the RERC and Springs facilities. Operating RPU's generation plants long-term with obsolete and unsupported air pollution monitoring equipment is not feasible or recommended. Staff recommends consolidating all RPU's generating plants to a more reliable and consistent DAHS equipment provider to enhance our monitoring and reporting capabilities within a very strict regulatory framework. In January 2013, a Request for Proposal was issued for the replacement of the existing DAHS equipment and software at all RPU's generating plants. Five proposals were received, and staff interviewed the top three respondents. After extensive analysis, staff recommends B&W's proposal as the most responsive and best operational solution, due to their proven experience with SCAQMD compliance and a strong ongoing commitment to its large customer base in Southern California.