HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Contract to provide inspection and assessment services of GT1 Combustion Turbine RESOLUTION NO. 14-468
RESOLUTION APPROVING CONTRACT TO PROVIDE INSPECTION AND
ASSESSMENT SERVICES OF GT1 COMBUSTION TURBINE
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS,on July 8,2013,Electric Services'GT 1 engine generator catastrophically failed
while operating, and, at the time of the failure, the front compressing section of the engine was
rotating at 5,900 revolutions per minute (rpm) when it threw blades and tore much of that section
and the inlet vanes and cowling apart; and,
WHEREAS,the failure caused other collateral damage to the engine and other components
of the combustion turbine, and the root cause of the failure is unknown at this point; and,
WHEREAS, City staff issued a request for proposal (RFP) to the original equipment
manufacturer (OEM), Wood Group Pratt & Whitney(WGPW), for the purpose of inspecting the
post-failure combustion turbine to determine the extent of damage and to identify the repair options
and associated repair costs to return the unit back into service; and,
WHEREAS,the OEM was chosen for this task because it was deemed that it would provide
the most valid assessment of the damage and the repair options; and,
WHEREAS, the total cost for this work from WGPW is estimated to be $136,027.98; and,
WHEREAS, even though the failure of the engine,based upon visual observations, did not
seemingly damage the expander (free turbine) and the generator, it is important to perform an
inspection and assessment of them, since staff does not know their condition, related to the engine
failure or otherwise; and,
WHEREAS, once the inspections and assessments of the engine, expander, and generator
are complete, WGPW will provide the City with a report of the findings which will include the
options and costs for returning the combustion turbine to service; and,
WHEREAS, it is important to emphasize that the expenditures do not cover the costs for
repair or replacement of any of the combustion turbine's components (the engine, expander,
generator, or any of the balance-of-plant equipment); and,
WHEREAS,the cost of these inspections and assessments will be included in the insurance
claim and will be applied against our insurance deductible ($350,000); and,
WHEREAS, the FY 2014/15 Capital Improvements Plan includes $1,500,000 for work on
GT 1; and,
WHEREAS, in order to proceed with this work, Council will need to waive the City's
standard purchasing policies requiring formal competitive bids; and,
WHEREAS, this waiver is recommended due to Wood Group Pratt & Whitney's unique
capacity—as the Original Equipment Manufacturer—to evaluate the condition of GT 1 and to make
recommendations for how the unit can best be returned to service; WGPW is uniquely qualified to
provide services to inspect and assess the failure of GTI combustion turbine engine and to identify
the items needing repair or replacement and the associated costs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that the waiver of the City's purchasing policy requirement for formal bidding procedures is hereby
approved, and the contract with Wood Group Pratt & Whitney of Bloomfield, Connecticut, to
provide inspection and assessment services of the GTI Combustion Turbine in an amount up to
$136,027.98 is further hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 26th day of August, 2014.
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Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor
Introduced by: Goodman
Seconded by: Betcher
Voting aye: Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Goodman,Nelson, Orazem
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 26`h day of August, 2014.