Water Plant Maintenance and Testing in Merced County.

The State of California, through the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is seeking bids for a contract to provide water plant maintenance and testing services in Merced County. The selected contractor will be responsible for performing mandated and scheduled inspections, service, and repair of a potable water filtration plant at the John Erreca Safety Roadside Rest Area. The contractor must have the capability to provide all labor, materials, tools, equipment, travel, and incidentals necessary to repair, monitor, service, maintain, and supervise the efficient operation of the water treatment plant, as well as perform scheduled mandated potable water sample collection and testing. The contract term is estimated to commence on November 1, 2024, and expire on October 31, 2027. Bidders must meet minimum qualifications, and the bid proposal contains 21 line items for routine and non-routine services, backflow certifications, turbidity monitor calibrations, and various water sample testing and analysis. Pricing shall include all costs for labor, equipment, vehicles, tools, permits, travel, certifications, and incidentals.

Small business and disabled veteran business enterprise preferences and incentives are applicable for this procurement. The current contractor is Water Conditioning of Merced County, Inc., and the current contract value is $188,688.50. The budgeted amount for this project is $200,000, and prevailing wage requirements will apply if the total bid amount exceeds $15,000. Bidders are not required to hold the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) certification, but the chemical lab performing the testing must have this certification.