REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on an Agreement with SEL Engineering Services, Inc. to Provide Protection Engineering Support Services for Substation Upgrades
Report
BACKGROUND
The City’s Electric Utility, dba Silicon Valley Power (SVP), has been utilizing Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories’ (SEL) protective relays for approximately 15 years. SEL is a leading provider of relays, programmable logic controllers, and communications networking equipment. This technology provides proprietary and complex logical programming that can prevent blackouts and enables SVP to improve power system reliability, stability and safety. For the same time period, SVP has engaged separately with SEL Engineering Services, Inc. to provide SVP with a complete turnkey protection engineering solution. As the complexity of our distribution system has increased, staff has identified several substation relays and programmable automation controllers upgrades that will be addressed through the proposed attached agreement.
DISCUSSION
SEL Engineering Services, Inc. is a licensed professional engineering firm which has been retained by the City for the past 15 years to provide engineering consulting services on the implementation of a specialized protective relay logic programming system in SVP substations.
Based on SEL Engineering Services, Inc.’s experience and proprietary protection logical programming designed within SVP Substations’ relay equipment, staff recommends that the City retain SEL Engineering Services, Inc. to continue providing engineering consulting services for the following facilities: Parker Substation, Fairview Substation, Oak Junctions Substation, South Loop Expansion Project, Scott Receiving Station, Homestead Substation, Esperanca Substation and Northern Receiving Station. Sole sourcing the Agreement is in accordance with Santa Clara City Code Section 2.105.330 (e) (2) - General services - contracting procedures. This section provides for a sole source contract where the service or personnel is unique or the available contractors providing the service are few in number. The proposed term of the agreement will be for a period of approximately five years.
Staff recommends entering into an Agreement for Services with SEL Engineering Services, Inc. to provide Protection Engineering Support Services for Substation Upgrades.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(a) as it has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of the Agreement for Services with SEL Engineering Services, Inc. shall not exceed $387,074. Sufficient funds are available in Capital Improvement Projects Parker Substation; Serra Substation Re-Build; Transmission System Reinforcement; Homestead Substation Re-Build; Esperanca Substation; Replace NRS 115-60kV Transmission; and Distribution Capital Maintenance.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute an Agreement for Services with SEL Engineering Services, Inc. to provide protection engineering support services for substation upgrades an amount not to exceed $387,074
Staff
Reviewed by: Manuel Pineda, Interim Chief Electric Utility Officer
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement for Services with SEL Engineering Services, Inc.