E.J. Meyer receives FPUD's DeLuz Road pipeline replacement contract

E.J. Meyer Company was awarded the contract to replace the Fallbrook Public Utility District’s DeLuz Road pipeline.

FPUD’s board voted 4-0, Feb. 25, with Jennifer DeMeo absent, to approve the contract award for the $888,888 amount submitted by the Highland company.

“It’s a line we had scheduled for replacement,” FPUD general manager Jack Bebee said.

FPUD’s pipeline and valve replacement program utilizes a priority list of replacement projects which are identified based on the age of the facilities and the rates of past failures. The DeLuz Road pipeline was identified as a priority due to its age, condition and leak history.

“It actually broke a few months ago and shut off access to DeLuz,” Bebee said.

The replacement work includes approximately 2,200 linear feet of eight-inch cement mortar lined and coated steel pipe with associated appurtenances and 74 feet of eight-inch polyvinyl chloride sewer pipe. FPUD staff prepared a design package and solicited bids from general contractors.

Eight companies submitted bids. Direct Project Inc. submitted the lowest bid at $841,330, but the Fontana company had an incorrect bid bond form which did not have the necessary notary acknowledgement, so the Direct Project bid was deemed to be non-responsive and E.J. Meyer Company was declared the lowest responsible bidder.

Although FPUD’s 2018-2019 budget allocated only $408,000 for the project the increase in the cost of steel has increased the cost to construct steel water lines. Due to the high priority of the DeLuz Road pipeline replacement project the timing of other capital improvement projects will be adjusted to ensure that FPUD does not exceed its overall water capital projects budgeted amount.

Work is expected to begin this spring.

“It will take three to six months,” Bebee said.

The work on the project will force the closure of one of the DeLuz Road lanes, creating a combined one lane for the road while work is in progress.

“We’ll be providing updates once we have a schedule,” Bebee said.