TO: JAMIE EARL, ACTING CITY MANAGER
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: MAY 12, 2026
Reviewed by:
Acting City Manager: JE
SUBJECT:
Title
AWARD OF CONTRACT TO TE ROBERTS, INC. FOR SEWER ON-CALL REPAIR SERVICES (FUNDING SOURCE: SEWER FUND)
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SUMMARY
The City requires timely and reliable repair services for sewer mains, storm drain systems, and related underground infrastructure to respond to emergency failures, blockages, collapses, and unforeseen maintenance needs. These repairs are often urgent in nature and require immediate contractor response to protect public health, prevent property damage, maintain service continuity, and minimize disruption to residents and businesses. To provide timely and efficient emergency response, the City solicited proposals for on-call sewer repair services. After reviewing the proposals, staff recommends awarding a contract to TE Roberts, Inc.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a three-year contract with two optional one-year extensions with TE Roberts, Inc. for on-call sewer repair services, in an amount not to exceed $150,000 annually.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The proposed contract establishes a not-to-exceed annual contract amount of $150,000. Funding for this service is available in the Sewer Fund Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and operating budgets. In 2025-26, $400,000 is available in the CIP budget for sewer repairs, covering funding for the first year of the contract. In future years, funding for emergency repairs will be included in the sewer fund operating budget.
This purchase complies with all City purchasing guidelines. Bid and contract documents are available for review in the City Clerk's office.
The staff cost to prepare this report and administer this contract is estimated at $4,300 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The City is currently under contract with B&D Construction to perform a citywide sewer condition assessment to evaluate the condition of existing sewer infrastructure and identify areas requiring maintenance or rehabilitation. As part of this process, urgent repair needs may be identified that require immediate attention to prevent system failures or service disruptions. The proposed on-call contract with TE Roberts, Inc. (TE Roberts) would provide the City with the ability to address promptly any urgent repairs identified through the assessment process, as well as to respond to other general emergency sewer and storm drain repair needs throughout the City.
Having an on-call contractor with pre-established unit pricing provides significant operational advantages. It allows staff to respond quickly to emergencies without delays associated with soliciting quotations for individual repairs. Established pricing also ensures transparency and cost control while allowing the City to address urgent infrastructure issues efficiently as they arise.
Bid Solicitation and Evaluation
Staff solicited bids for on-call sewer and storm drain repair services and received proposals from Mike Prlich & Sons; TE Roberts, Inc.; and WeRBuilders. Bidders were asked to submit various labor and equipment rates which would be used as the basis for billing emergency repair work. Labor and equipment unit prices varied among the three contractors, with each bidder coming in lowest in select categories. However, TE Roberts submitted the lowest mobilization costs and lowest material markups among the bidders.
Additionally, TE Roberts proposed an overhead and profit percentage of fifteen percent applied on top of its unit prices, lower than that proposed by Mike Prlich & Sons and equal to that proposed by WeRBuilders. Finally, the TE Roberts subcontractor markup is five percent, equal to that of Mike Prlich & Sons and lower than the markup proposed by WeRBuilders. As overhead, mobilization, and markup costs can greatly increase overall project costs, staff recommends TE Roberts, Inc. as the overall best value to the City for on-call sewer services.
References
Staff contacted references provided by TE Roberts and received favorable feedback regarding their performance in on-call sewer repair and emergency response work. Positive references were provided by the Garden Grove Sanitary District and the Orange County Water District, both of which cited the contractor’s responsiveness, quality of work, and reliability during emergency situations. TE Roberts has also conducted similar projects for City of Ontario, the East Orange County Water District, and the Yorba Linda Water District.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainable City Plan, Economic Sustainability Plan, General Plan, and the 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Kristin Mikula
Community Services Director Community Services Manager