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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: John Hoffmann, P.E., Engineering Coordinator
DATE: August 21, 2023
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing the Director of Purchasing to enter into a professional services agreement with Olea Networks, Inc. DBA Olea Edge Analytics, Bee Cave, TX for large water meter sensor and analytical services in the amount of $185,300 with an additional $100,000 of contingent meter repair services, for a total of $285,300.
PURPOSE:
Large meter testing programs are an important tool to combat water loss and maintain revenue. The City's largest water meters, 98 4-inch and 11 6-inch meters, constitute only 0.2% of all the City's water meters but see 3.8% of total end-user flow. The City has not previously conducted a targeted meter testing program on the large meters. Preliminary analysis through Sensus Analytics, a meter health diagnosis tool provided by the meter manufacturer, estimates that issues with the City's largest meters result in $257,275 in lost annual revenue.
BACKGROUND:
The City advertised a QBS on March 16, 2023 with submissions due on April 7, 2023. Due to the specialized nature of the request, only two firms responded. A team of three individuals reviewed the submittals and selected Olea Edge Analytics (Olea) as the highest-ranking firm. Staff then engaged with Olea over the next several months to finalize the scope to achieve the most cost-effective solution across the one-year program. Based on the success of the program, the City will have the option to continue the use of the meters in future years and also determine if monitoring smaller meters would further reduce the City's water losses and recapture additional revenue.
DISCUSSION:
Though the City's largest meters represent only a small amount of the total meter population, they measure an outsized proportion of total end-user flow. Olea's sensors are installed directly on the large meters, providing detailed analysis on the health and flow profiles of each mete...
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