Harris & Associates given Rainbow MWD design contract for pipeline upgrades

Harris & Associates has been awarded the Rainbow Municipal Water District contract for the design portion of the district’s next pipeline upgrade project.

A 4-0 Rainbow board vote Jan. 28, with Helene Brazier absent, authorized Rainbow general manager Tom Kennedy to execute a contract with Harris & Associates and appropriated the $399,540 Harris & Associates will be paid.

“This is the second phase of our ongoing effort to take care of our highest-priority pipelines,” Kennedy said.

In January 2018, the district completed a Water Pipeline Condition Assessment which prioritized existing pipelines for rehabilitation and replacement.

The first phase, which covers the highest-priority pipelines, is currently in the design stage. The design is nearing completion and a construction contract will likely be advertised for bid early this year.

The next group of priority pipelines will be constructed after the Harris & Associates design work is complete and the construction contract process determines a contractor.

The Harris & Associates design work will prepare plans, specifications and an estimate suitable for bidding. The design covers seven pipeline replacements or rehabilitations totaling approximately 7,500 feet of eight-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch diameter pipeline.

The eventual construction phase will replace approximately 2,600 feet of 10-inch pipe along North River Road, 2,160 feet of eight-inch pipe along Rice Canyon Road, 930 feet of eight-inch pipe on the Thibodo Line which connects to the Little Gopher Canyon Road line, 739 feet of 12-inch pipe along Rainbow Glen, 670 feet of eight-inch pipe along Nella Lane, 200 feet of eight-inch pipe along Tecalote Drive at Millagra Drive and 140 feet of eight-inch pipe at Via Monserate by the Gaines Line extension.

Rainbow staff issued a request for proposals to design firms Sept. 19. Two companies responded by the Oct. 24 deadline. The proposals were reviewed and evaluated based on the executive summary, project description, ability to meet Rainbow's schedule, consultant identification, project organization and experience, past performance, local experience of the firm and creative alternatives.

The staff evaluation determined that Harris & Associates, which is based in Concord and has an office in Temecula, was the more qualified firm to perform the design work.