TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 19, 2026
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
Title
Authority to increase Contract 06-360-3SR Upper Des Plaines Intercepting Sewer 14B Rehabilitation, NSA, Rebid, to Michels Trenchless, Inc. in an amount of $51,878.80, from an amount of $36,327,513.61, to an amount not to exceed $36,379,392.41, Account 401-50000-645700, Purchase Order 4000100
Body
Dear Sir:
On June 15, 2023, the Board of Commissioners authorized the Director of Procurement and Materials Management to award Contract 06-360-3SR Upper Des Plaines Intercepting Sewer 14B Rehabilitation, NSA, Rebid, to Michels Trenchless, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $36,082,848.50 plus a five (5) percent allowance for change orders, in an amount of $1,804,142.42, for a total amount not to exceed $37,886,990.92. The scheduled contract completion date is May 25, 2026.
As of March 6, 2026, the attached list of change orders has been approved.
Original Contract Amount $36,082,848.50
Date of Board Approval 6/15/2023
Cumulative Change Order (3/06/2026) $244,665.11
% Change of Original Contract Value 0.68%
Current Contract Value $36,327,513.61
Requested Increase $51,878.80
New Contract Value $36,379,392.41
% Change of Current Contract Value 0.14%
Total % Change of Original Contract Value 0.82%
The purpose of Contract 06-360-3SR is to rehabilitate 2,888 feet of 48-inch diameter sewer and 11,908 feet of 69-inch diameter sewer by cured-in-place pipe lining and geopolymer lining process, the rehabilitation of 28 manholes/structures by the spray-on lining system process and/or fiber reinforced polymer lining process, the abandonment of one offset manhole, the abandonment of part of a control structure, and the abandonment of 85 feet of 3’-6” x 4’-6” pipe.
Item 1: The original contract scope specified the structural rehabilitation of the existing intercepting sewer, Upper Des Plaines Intercepting Sewer 14B, using a geopolymer lining system with a reinforcing fabric mesh. However, due to field condition challenges in adhering and installing the reinforcing mesh to the geopolymer liner and recommendations from the manufacturer stating that the reinforcing mesh is not needed for the geopolymer to achieve required strength as specified in the contract documents, the District removed the requirement of the reinforcing fabric for the remainder of the contract work. As such, the scope of change order CO-12 is for the deletion of the reinforcing fabric from stations 38+78 through 82+75, 93+80 through 109+15, and 114+14 through 163+01, where lining has not been completed. The contractor submitted a cost proposal (CO-12) dated August 8, 2025, for this work for an extra in the amount of $0.00 and a credit in the amount of $104,952.09, for a net credit in the amount of $104,952.09. The engineer reviewed the proposal, found it to be reasonable, and stated via correspondence CO12, that the Engineering Department would recommend its approval.
Item 2: The original contract scope included cleaning the sewer to remove internal solids and debris with conventional methods by use of equipment jetting, rooting, and mineral deposit removal. However, while performing this work between Station 114+14 and Station 137+24, the contractor found additional labor efforts were required to properly clean and prepare the surface of the pipe prior to lining. The contractor’s work involved multiple water jetting passes as well as laborers in the sewer to power wash the pipeline walls in order to remove debris buildup, ranging from 15mm to 74mm in depth, which had adhered to the concrete. As such, the scope of cost proposal CO-15 is to fully clean the sewer of all solids and debris beyond the contractual conventual methods, and to enable the contractor to successfully prepare the sewer and install the new liner. The contractor submitted a cost proposal (CO-15) for an extra in the amount of $253,296.22 and a credit in the amount of $0.00, for a net extra in the amount of $253,296.22. The engineer reviewed the contractor’s proposal, found it to be unacceptable, and countered with correspondence CO-15, dated January 13, 2026, for an extra in the amount of $156,830.89 and credit in the amount of $0.00, for a net extra in the amount of $156,830.89. The contractor accepted the District’s counteroffer on February 2, 2026, whereby upon acceptance of the counteroffer, the engineer stated via CO15, that the Engineering Department would recommend its approval.
The above two change orders are in compliance with the Illinois Criminal Code since the changes are due to circumstances not reasonably foreseeable at the time the contract was signed and are in the best interest of the District.
It is hereby recommended that the Board of Commissioners authorize the Director of Procurement and Materials Management to execute two change orders to increase Contract 06-360-3SR in an amount of $51,878.80 (0.14% of the current contract value), from an amount of $36,327,513.61, to an amount not to exceed $36,379,392.41.
Funds are available in Account 401-50000-645700.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, KMF:LS
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Precious Brady-Davis, Chairperson Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for March 19, 2026
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