COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

May 30, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 26, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James C. Porter, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Health Services Emergency Generator Replacement (Project No. P12Y1)

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution adopting plans and specifications, determining prevailing wage scales, and calling for sealed proposals for replacement of the emergency generator at the Health Services building located at 225 West 37^th Avenue, San Mateo, California.

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

Your Board’s adoption of the proposed resolution can result in a project to replace a major Health Services facility system for the benefit of both the employees and the public that use this facility.

Background

At the request of Health Services a capital project was initiated to replace the existing emergency generator that is over 40 years old and unreliable.

Discussion

We have worked with Health Services staff and developed plans and specifications to replace the existing generator with a new generator that is capable of supporting the entire facility during the loss of normal utility power. The existing generator supports only a portion of the facility electrical load. During utility power failures the existing generator must be manually started and the electric load must be manually switched from normal utility power to emergency generator power and back again when normal utility power is restored. The existing generator must also be manually shut off. This arrangement has proven to be unreliable.

The proposed unit will automatically start when normal utility power fails and switch facility electric load to the emergency generator. When normal utility power is restored the equipment will automatically switch the facility electric load back to normal utility power and stop the generator. The new generator will be supplied by the County and installed by the successful bidder.

A resolution has been approved as to form by County Counsel.

Fiscal Impact

The work is estimated to cost $160,000. This project is included in the 2006-2007 Capital Projects Budget and is financed with Health Services and General Funds.