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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,879,707.00 FOR A TOTAL MODIFIED CUMULATIVE POOL AMOUNT OF $18,896,707.00 FOR PREQUALIFICATION POOL NO. EVN0000187, DEWATERING AND TANK CLEANING SERVICES, FOR THE WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT; PROVIDED THAT ANY CONTRACT AWARD UNDER THE POOL EXCEEDING $5,000,000.00 IS RATIFIED BY THE BOARD

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WHEREAS, this Board desires to accomplish the purposes outlined in the accompanying memorandum, a copy of which is incorporated herein by reference,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board authorizes additional expenditure authority in the amount of $12,879,707.00 for a total modified cumulative pool amount of $18,896,707.00 for Prequalification Pool No. EVN0000187, Dewatering and Tank Cleaning Services, for the Water and Sewer Department; provided that any contract award under the pool exceeding $5,000,000.00 is ratified by the Board. A copy of the pool documents is on file with and available upon request from the Strategic Procurement Department.

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Date:
To: Honorable Chairman Anthony Rodriguez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners

From: Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor

Subject: Request for Additional Expenditure Authority to Prequalification Pool for Dewatering and Tank Cleaning Services

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Executive Summary
This item requests additional expenditure authority under the prequalification pool for dewatering and tank cleaning services to allow the Water and Sewer Department (WASD) to continue purchasing a wide range of essential services necessary to maintain water and wastewater treatment plant structures, tanks, clarifiers, containment units, pipelines, and other treatment and processing facilities. While the pool is utilized by multiple County departments, this request for additional expenditure authority is specifically for WASD, the largest user. These services are critical in maintaining operational reliability, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and the efficient operation of the County’s water and wastewater treatment systems. The pool also provides access to specialized services, including tank cleaning, sludge removal, dewatering, vacuum truck services, hydro-excavation, and related maintenance activities necessary to support ongoing plant operations and infrastructure maintenance.

The requested additional expenditure authority is necessary to address WASD’s current and anticipated operational needs, including planned maintenance activities, emergency repairs for aging infrastructure, increased system demand, and regulatory compliance requirements. WASD’s current allocation has been substantially depleted because the department has utilized the pool at a higher rate than originally anticipated to support enhanced preventative maintenance efforts and respond to operational emergencies. For example, the Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant (CDWWTP) at Virginia Key experienced reduced treatment capacity due to failures affecting its oxygen production systems. To maintain operations and reduce loading at CDWWTP, WASD installed a temporary dewatering system at the North District Wastewater Treatment Plant (NDWWTP) to process solids that would otherwise have been transferred to CDWWTP. The rental and operation of this temporary dewatering system resulted in expenditures exceeding $2 million. Approval of this item will allow WASD to continue competitively procuring these essential services without interruption while maintaining compliance with applicable permits and regulations issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Without this additional expenditure authority, WASD could face interruptions to critical water and wastewater treatment operations, increased risks of regulatory noncompliance, and potential impacts to public health and environmental protection.

Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of County Commissioners (Board) authorize additional expenditure authority in the amount of $12,879,707 for Prequalification Pool No. EVN0000187, Dewatering and Tank Cleaning Services, for WASD.

Background
This pool was established by the Board on October 3, 2023, through Resolution No. R-871-23 and modified through Resolution No. R-556-25, for a five-year term and is currently valued at $6,017,000.

This request for additional expenditure authority for WASD will address the department’s growing operational needs. The increased utilization of the pool reflects WASD’s continued emphasis on proactive preventative maintenance practices designed to improve system reliability, extend asset life, reduce emergency repairs, and maintain regulatory compliance. Funding requirements have increased because treatment facilities can no longer reduce production levels during cleaning and maintenance activities as was historically done. Due to significantly increased system demand and operational requirements, production must continue while maintenance activities are performed, requiring specialized cleaning, dewatering, and bypass services that allow facilities to remain fully operational. Without the routine removal of accumulated grit, sludge, scum, and other residual materials, treatment facilities are at risk of reduced treatment capacity, equipment failures, environmental contamination, permit violations, and costly emergency repairs.

Additional expenditure authority is also required to continue purchasing specialized tank cleaning services necessary to maintain maximum flow and storage capacity, as well as sludge dewatering services that provide temporary solids handling capacity during maintenance activities, emergency events, and operational disruptions. WASD has expanded its tank cleaning maintenance program to ensure water treatment facilities maintain maximum flow capacity and optimized treatment performance. The requested funding will also support the cleaning of 10 contact basins at the Alexander Orr, Hialeah, and Preston Water Treatment Plants. Pursuant to Rule 62-555.350 of the Florida Administrative Code, potable water treatment facilities must be maintained in sanitary condition and periodically inspected and cleaned to ensure proper operation and water quality. To meet these requirements, accumulated calcium carbonate deposits must be removed periodically, generally every five years. Approval of this item will allow WASD to continue competitively procuring these essential services without interruption while maintaining operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and the reliable delivery of water and wastewater services to County residents.

Scope
The impact of this item is countywide in nature.

Delegated Authority
There is no additional delegation of authority sought in this item as the authority to solicit pricing and award contracts up to an aggregate amount of the allocation authorized by the Board, exercise all provisions of the solicitation documents and any resulting contracts pursuant to Section 2-8.1 of the County Code and Implementing Order 3-38, and add vendors to the pool at any time, subject to ratification by the Board on a bi-annual basis, was granted when the pool was established. Any contract award under the prequalification pool exceeding $5,000,000, is subject to ratification by the Board.

Fiscal Impact/Funding Source
The pool expires on November 30, 2028, and has a current cumulative allocation of $6,017,000. If this request is approved, the pool will have a modified cumulative allocation of $18,896,707. The additional expenditure authority is necessary to support WASD’s current and anticipated operational needs, including preventative maintenance activities, emergency repairs, regulatory compliance requirements, and the continued operation of critical water and wastewater treatment facilities.

Department Existing Cumulative
Allocation Additional Allocation Requested Modified Cumulative Allocation Funding Source Budgeted
WASD $4,517,000 $12,879,707 $17,396,707 Proprietary Funds FY 25-26 Adopted Budget, Volume 3, Page 100, Contractual Services
Multiple $1,500,000 $0 $1,500,000 Multiple Multiple
Total $6,017,000 $12,879,707 $18,896,707

Track Record/Monitor
Manuel Jimenez of the Strategic Procurement Department (SPD) is the Procurement Contracting Manager.

Prequalified Vendors
Vendor Principal Address Local Address Principal
Envirowaste Services Group, Inc. 18001 Old Cutler Road Suite 643 Palmetto Bay, FL Same Russ Wilson
Flotech Environmental, LLC (SBE) 657 South Drive Suite 401 Miami, FL Same Jose Ferre
Merrell Bros., Inc. 8811 W 500 N Kokomo, IN None Nieta K. Merrell
Synagro South, LLC 435 Williams Court Suite 100 Baltimore, MD 2999 NE 191 Street Suite 900 Aventura, FL Michael Schwartz
U.S. Submergent Technologies, LLC 2201 Cantu Court Suite 220 Sarasota, FL None Denver J. Stutler, Jr.

Due Diligence
Pursuant to Resolution No. R-187-12, due diligence was conducted in accordance with SPD’s Procurement Guidelines to determine vendor responsibility, including verifying corporate status and that there are no performance and compliance issues through various vendor responsibility lists and a keyword internet search. The lists that were referenced included convicted vendors, debarred vendors, delinquent contractors, suspended vendors, and federal excluded parties. With the exception of the litigation that was resolved through a settlement agreement between the County and Synagro South, LLC (Synagro) via Resolution No. R-769-23, there were no adverse findings relating to vendor responsibility. The settlement stipulated that the dispute would not impact Synagro’s ability to conduct business with the County or result in it being a non-responsible bidder for any current or future contracts with the County.

Applicability of Ordinances and Contract Measures
• The two percent User Access Program applies where permitted by funding source.
• Small Business Enterprise measures will be determined prior to advertising each spot market competition. Local Preference will be applied at the time of spot market competition where permitted by funding source.
• The Living Wage Ordinance does not apply.



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Roy Coley
Deputy Mayor