SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve an annual blanket purchase order (contract) to Heath Consultants, Inc., in the annual amount of $400,000, with the option for two, one-year term extensions to provide natural gas line locating services (ITB 15-16), and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same. (consent)
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SUMMARY:
Florida law requires anyone who plans to dig and/or perform excavation activities in the right of way or on private property to call the FL Sunshine One-Call center and place a ticket 48 hours prior to performing the excavation. Once the locate ticket is received and has been identified as a potential conflict, a Line Spotter goes out to the site and marks the approximate location of our gas lines, generally with flag markers and spray paint. This will inform the contractor/excavator of the approximate location of our facilities once they commence excavation.
Heath was selected based on their response to Bid 15-16, Natural Gas Distribution Main and Service Line Locating Services. In 2015, Clearwater Gas System (CGS) received approximately 40,000 locate tickets from the FL Sunshine One-Call center. CGS projects the locate ticket count will increase in future years as construction activities continue to increase. CGS previously used Heath Consultants on a previous bid and has been very pleased with their past work.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
CGS has budgeted funds available in account codes 423-02066-530300 ($300,000) Pinellas Gas Maintenance and 423-02173-530300 ($100,000) Pasco Gas Maintenance.
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
N/A