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ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH USALCO, LLC FOR THE PURCHASE OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT POLYMER
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution to:
1. Accept the specifications and addenda for the Request for Sealed bids for the purchase of wastewater treatment polymer, PUR 26-019 (Exhibit 1 to the Resolution).
2. Authorize a five-year contract with USALCO, LLC. of Baltimore, Maryland, for the purchase of wastewater treatment polymer in an amount not-to-exceed $2,423,600 (Exhibit 2 to the Resolution).
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
The Municipal Utilities Department (MUD) operates and maintains the Regional Wastewater Control Facility (RWCF), an advanced tertiary sewer treatment facility with a 55 million-gallon per day (MGD) capacity located adjacent to the San Joaquin River.
The RWCF operates Dissolved Air Flotation Thickeners (DAFTs) within its tertiary treatment system. These units add polymer to the wastewater, causing suspended solids to clump together (flocculate). Air bubbles are introduced, which attach to the flocculated particles and lift them to the surface, where they are removed-effectively reducing suspended solids in the treated wastewater.
Staff recommend awarding a five-year contract to USALCO, LLC. of Baltimore, Maryland, for the purchase of wastewater treatment polymer in an amount not-to-exceed of $2,423,600.
DISCUSSION
Background
The RWCF uses various polymers as part of the wastewater treatment process. Polymers are coagulants that make it easier to separate suspended solids from wastewater during the treatment process.
The type, dosage, and application rate of polymer used in wastewater treatment depend on the specific characteristics of the wastewater. A product that performs well at one treatment plant may not be suitable for another, given the variability in wastewater composition and the need to meet distinct treatment requirements.
MUD has participated in the Bay Area Chemical Consortium (BACC) over the past thirteen years to improve the overall efficiency and economics of chemical purchases for both water and wastewater treatment. Polymers, however, are excluded from the BACC bidding process because of the performance-based nature of each polymer. This polymer will be specifically used at the RWCF Tertiary Plant.
On December 29, 2025, staff published PUR 26-019 in the Stockton Record inviting bids for the purchase of wastewater treatment polymer.
The City used a performance-based bid process that required each prospective bidder to conduct bench-scale testing and full-scale field performance testing to demonstrate product effectiveness and establish dosage standards. Three potential vendors including SNF Polydyne, Inc. of Riceboro, Georgia, CarboNet of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and USALCO, LLC. of Baltimore, Maryland, responded and were invited to perform bench and full-scale performance testing.
SNF Polydyne chose not to participate in the testing and withdrew from the bid. CarboNet and USALCO, LLC conducted bench-scale testing during the week of January 20, 2026. In addition, both vendors conducted full-scale performance testing during the week of February 2, 2026.
Present Situation
On February 26, 2026, the City received the following bids:
|
Company Name |
Dosage (ppm) |
Unit Price |
Annual Cost |
|
USALCO, LLC of Baltimore, Maryland |
8.2 |
$0.548/lb. |
$372,753.62 |
|
CarboNet of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
35 |
$0.55/lb. |
$1,596,820.71 |
The bid submitted by USALCO is regular in all aspects, meets the City’s specifications, and is recommended by staff.
The proposed contract is for the purchase and delivery of approximately 764,000 pounds of Delta-Floc 1176 Polymer per year at the proposed dosing. The contract amount is based on the flow entering the DAFT (approximately 30.6 MGD), rather than the average effluent shown in the bid specifications, to provide a more conservative basis for calculation. The recommended polymer achieves effective treatment at a significantly lower dose than the current product. As a result, the contract amount for the new polymer is lower than historical purchases. In addition, the City will pay only for the quantity of polymer delivered.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The bid permits a maximum annual increase of up to three percent in each subsequent year, contingent upon increases in raw material or production costs. The first-year contract amount will be $456,400, with funds to be made available in RWCF Wastewater Operation account number 6513-000-650005-610-000-00-65-000-000 upon City Council approval of the FY 2026-27 annual budget.
Funds for future annual purchases will be budgeted within the same account and will remain subject to City Council approval through the annual budget development process.
This action has no impact on the General Fund or any other unrestricted funds.