Water Treatment Chemicals - Alum

CITY OF ABILENE
WATER DEPARTMENT
MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS
WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS
BID #CB-2636
1.0 Intent - These specifications intend to describe an agreement for water treatment chemical
for the City of Abilene Water Treatment Department.
2.0 Purpose - The chemical will be used to treat drinking water at the Grimes, Hargesheimer and
Northeast Water Treatment Plants, as well as the Hamby Wastewater Treatment Plant.
3.0 Invitation To Bid
The City of Abilene, Texas, is requesting proposals for the following water treatment
chemical.
LIQUID ALUMINUM SULFATE (ALUM)
The chemical will be delivered in quantities described in city specifications. Bid packets
are available at City Hall in the office of the Purchasing Administrator, 555 Walnut St.,
Abilene, TX 79601, email purchasing@abilenetx.gov, between 8:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. on
Monday through Friday and available for download on the city website.
Sealed bids will be received until Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., when all bids will
be publicly opened and read aloud. The City Council of Abilene reserves the sole right to
accept or reject any bid for any reason determined to be in the best interest of the citizens
of Abilene, Texas.
NO EMAILED OR FAXED BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
4.0 Terms of Agreement
4.1 The term of this agreement shall be for a period from the date of award and
ending September 30, 2026.
5.0 Basis of Award - The City of Abilene reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to
accept any bid which is considered to most benefit the City of Abilene. Any bidder choosing
to have a bid considered agrees to hold harmless the City of Abilene and all of its officials
from any claim arising out of the award of the bid. The bidder assumes all responsibilities
for understanding the information provided herein, and the City assumes no liability for
any information furnished.
5.1 As determined by the City Manager, as delegated by the Abilene City Council
pursuant to Resolution 62-2016, the City of Abilene will utilize the "best value"
competitive bidding method in determining the award of the contract, as authorized
by Chapter 2269, Texas Government Code. In determining the award of the
contract, the City of Abilene will consider the following criteria:
5.1.1 the price;
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5.1.2 the offeror's experience and reputation;
5.1.3 the quality of the offeror's goods or services;
5.1.4 the impact on the ability of the City of Abilene to comply with rules relating
to historically underutilized businesses;
5.1.5 the offeror's safety record;
5.1.6 the offeror's proposed personnel;
5.1.7 the offeror's past working relationship with the City of Abilene.
5.2 The City will award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder who provides the
"best value" to the City. The City reserves the right to reject any or all bids and
waive any formalities and technicalities.
6.0 Prices - Prices quoted will be used for bid analysis and the award of an agreement.
Prices shall be firm throughout the agreement period and shall include all associated
freight and delivery costs.
7.0 Price Adjustments - Prices may be adjusted as part of the agreement renewal process.
7.1 Requests for price increases must be accompanied by supporting evidence of a
price increase from the manufacturer.
7.2 In the event of an industry-wide price change, the City will consider requests for
one price increase per year of the agreement.
7.3 Notification of price changes must be submitted in writing to the Purchasing
Division with the effective date of the change to be at least thirty (30) days after
written notification.
7.4 The City reserves the right to accept price adjustments. If the request for price
adjustments is not acceptable to the City, then the City reserves the right to
cancel any individual item affected or cancel the entire purchase agreement.
7.5 If the price change is deemed unreasonable when compared to industry
changes, then the City reserves the right to terminate the contract upon thirty
(30) days written notice.
8.0 Vendor's Bid Price
8.1 The price will include all delivery costs, including the fees for off-loading trucks,
delivered chemicals (liquid, powder, slurry, or granular) to the user's storage
tanks, bins, or area.
8.1.1 All equipment (compressors, pumps, hoses, quick connectors, etc.)
required for off-loading must be provided by the Vendor, and all
associated costs must be included in the Vendor's bid price. The City
will not pay any shipping, off-loading, fuel surcharge, or handling
charges.
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8.1.2 The Vendor needs to submit a statement concerning the delivery quantity
and packaging of each chemical shipment.
8.1.3 The Vendor is responsible for unloading and transferring chemicals from
the truck to plant storage tanks.
8.1.4 The Vendor must adapt the transferring device to that of the plant
connections at no cost to the City.
8.1.5 If pneumatic unloading is required, the Vendor must provide a sufficient
on-truck operational air compression unit to blow chemicals into storage
tanks.
9.0 Product Data Sheet/Safety Data Sheet
9.1 Federal Law - The Federal law requires that a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) must be
provided by the Vendor for each chemical.
9.2 Safety Regulations
9.2.1 The Vendor will comply with all plant safety regulations when off-loading
products.
9.2.2 The Vendor is responsible for equipping trucks and drivers with all
equipment necessary to unload the chemicals safely and respond to any
emergency during unloading.
9.2.3 Any spills or uncontained discharge during unloading are the primary
responsibility of the Vendor, including compliance with all Federal and
State requirements.
9.3 Labeling Product - The labeling of products must comply with OSHA
requirements and the Texas Hazardous Materials Communication Act.
10.0 Bid Requirements
10.1 Bid package shall include the following for each chemical bid:
10.1.1 SUMMARY OF BID PROPOSAL FORM
10.1.2 CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS
10.1.3 A.W.W.A. / A.N.S.I. / N.F.S. CERTIFICATION
10.1.3.1 Notarized statement proclaiming that each chemical meets the
applicable American Water Works Association (AWWA)
specifications.
10.1.3.2 Certification that chemical is suitable for contact with or treatment
of drinking water by an accredited certification organization in
accordance with ANSI/NSF Standard 60 Drinking Water
Treatment Chemicals - Health Effects.
10.1.4 CONFLICT OF INTEREST QUESTIONNAIRE (FORM CIQ)
10.2 Failure to meet the bid requirements may render the bid non-responsive.
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10.3 Additional information: All bids will be accepted by the Purchasing Administrator
at City Hall, 555 Walnut St., Abilene, Texas, until 2:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026, at
which time all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any inquiry concerning
the bid should be directed to the Water Treatment Plant Manager, Phone (325)
676-6404. Each bid shall be presented per the instructions provided herein and on
forms provided herein in a sealed envelope clearly marked on the outside BID and
including the corresponding bid identification number. Any exceptions to the bid
specifications must be in writing on the Exceptions to Specifications form, which
has been provided.
11.0 National Sanitation Foundation Certification (NSF)
11.1 It shall be documented in the bid package, preferably on NSF letterhead, that the
water treatment chemical is certified as meeting National Sanitation Foundation's
Standard No. 60 - Drinking Water Treatment Chemical - Health Effects and No.
61 - Drinking Water Treatment Components - Health Effects. In addition, NSF
maximum use level in mg/L shall be included.
11.2 Per the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Rules and
Regulations for Public Water Systems, all water treatment chemicals (and medias)
must conform to the above standards. Non-certified water treatment chemicals will
be rejected by the City as not meeting the Texas Commission of Environmental
Quality regulations.
12.0 Payments and Cash Discounts - City will pay all invoices in accordance with applicable
state law, unless there is a dispute on the charges, on the quality, or the quantity of the
product that is delivered.
13.0 Quantities
13.1 Quantities listed in the attached tables are only estimations. Actual usage maybe
none or substantially more. The vendor should assume an average delivery
schedule of 7 loads per week for planning purposes. The City retains the option
to purchase more or less of these chemicals and is under no obligation to
purchase any chemical.
13.2 To assure long-term commitment and ability to supply treatment chemicals, a
statement shall be included in the bid package detailing the ability of the bidder to
supply the City with quantity and quality chemicals as specified in the attached
tables. If the bidder operates a production facility, then a statement shall be
included as to the impact of Abilene Water Treatment Department usage upon
present plant capacity and percent capacity of plant production.
14.0 Delivery of Chemicals
14.1 The Vendor shall provide delivery of chemicals within five (5) calendar days of the
order being placed, unless a later delivery date is specified by the City.
14.2 Failure to meet the delivery schedule, including partial or incomplete deliveries,
may constitute breach of contract. Two (2) or more late or failed deliveries within
any 90-day period shall be grounds for termination for cause.
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14.3 Vendors must maintain sufficient backup logistics and equipment to ensure
continuous delivery even in the event of equipment breakdowns, driver shortages,
or carrier delays.
14.4 Equipment and Offloading
All offloading equipment (compressors, pumps, hoses, quick connectors, etc.)
shall be owned, maintained, and inspected by the Vendor prior to each
delivery.
The Vendor shall carry backup hoses and fittings compatible with the City's
systems at all times. Any equipment failure that delays or prevents unloading
shall be considered a delivery failure for purposes of contract compliance.
The City of Abilene will not provide personnel, equipment, air, water, or other
assistance to aid the Vendor in offloading or transferring chemicals. The
Vendor is solely responsible for performing the offloading process in its
entirety and for ensuring that all safety and operational requirements are met.
Prior to offloading any chemical into the City's storage tanks, the Vendor shall
provide a representative product sample to the on-site City representative for
inspection and approval. Offloading shall not begin until the sample has been
visually inspected, verified against specifications, and approved for
acceptance.
* The City reserves the right to refuse any delivery if, in the judgment of City
personnel, the equipment or methods used by the Vendor create a safety or
operational risk.
14.5 Spills
* The Vendor shall immediately report any spill, leak, or uncontained discharge
to the City's on-site representative and shall initiate cleanup within one (1) hour
of occurrence.
* The Vendor is solely responsible for all cleanup activities, costs, reporting, and
any regulatory notifications required by TCEQ, EPA, or other authorities.
* Failure to report or properly remediate a spill within the required timeframe shall
constitute a material breach of contract and may result in immediate
suspension of deliveries and contract termination for cause.
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15.0 Conditions Which May Void Contract at City's Sole Option
15.1 Failure to deliver chemical on the scheduled day.
15.2 Two (2) or more failed or late deliveries within any 90-day period.
15.3 Failure to provide or maintain suitable and safe offloading equipment.
15.4 Failure to report or remediate spills as required under these specifications.
15.5 Failure to comply with any portion of these specifications.
15.6 Repeated quality control issues or chemical inconsistencies documented by the City.
15.7 Vendor assigns the contract to another vendor without prior written authorization of the
City.
16.0 Bid - Each individual chemical must be bid on the City's bid form.
Questions regarding these specifications shall be forwarded to:
City of Abilene Water Utilities Division
Kenny Hutchins, Treatment Plant Manager
209 E. Hwy 80
Abilene, Texas 79601
Telephone: (325) 676-6404
Email: kenny.hutchins@abilenetx.gov
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ITEM 1. - LIQUID ALUMINUM SULFATE (ALUM)
Liquid ALUM 48% solution shall meet the minimum American Water Works Association (AWWA)
Standard B403-24 for ALUM or the latest version except where noted. All product testing shall
occur in accordance with AWWA referenced standards
Certificate of Analysis shall be required.
A certificate of analysis will minimally include:
* Date & Time of Manufacture
* Certification of NSF/ANSI 60 compliance in accordance with AWWA Standard B403-24
* Specific Gravity Range shall be 1.300 to 1.400
* Percent Basicity shall not exceed 48%
* Liquid Aluminum Sulfate Solution must contain > 17% AL4O5.
Grab sample analysis from each delivered load may be verified by the City of Abilene in
accordance with the testing methods outlined in AWWA B403-24.
I. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES & IMPURITIES:
Chemical shall be ANSI/NSF Standard 60 certified for use in potable water treatment.
Chemicals shall be manufactured from high-quality raw materials. This product shall
contain no contaminant in an amount sufficient to increase the concentration of any
heavy metals significantly above current levels or causing them to exceed any Maximum
Contaminant Level, as established by the EPA under the authority of the Safe Drinking
Water Act.
Bid price shall be based on Section 4 Physical, Chemical, Impurities, and requirements of
AWWA B403-24 for Aluminum Sulfate.
II. PRICE:
Liquid Aluminum Sulfate (Alum) bid price shall be stipulated as price per liquid pound.
III. PRODUCT DELIVERY:
* Bulk shipments shall be accompanied by weight certificate by certified weigher.
* Truck deliveries are required in 4,000 - 4,500 gallons (45,000 -48,000 lbs.)
* Loads may be split, without additional charge, between destinations if requested by
the City.
* Deliveries will be between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, unless
specified by the purchaser at the time of order.
Deliveries are to be FOB:
Grimes Water Treatment Plant, 209 E Hwy 80, Abilene, TX 79601
Northeast Water Treatment Plant, 4210 East Lake Rd., Abilene, TX 79601
Hamby Wastewater Plant, 19000 CR 309, Abilene, TX 79601
(REVISED 4/26)
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CITY OF ABILENE
WATER TREATMENT CHEMICALS
BID SHEET
BID #CB-2636
ALL ITEMS SHOULD BE BID "AS PER SPECIFICATIONS"
For all Liquid Chemicals please use and include form provided.
EST. UNIT
ESTIMATED ESTIMATED
ITEM DESCRIPTION
QTY
UNIT
PRICE
EXTENSION
(TONS/LOAD) (PRICE/LOAD)
ALUM
(Liquid Aluminum Sulfate) 10,368,000 Liquid
1
(48% Solution, sp.gr. 1.300 - 1.400) Pounds Pound
AWWA Standard B403-24
ALL UNIT PRICES QUOTED WILL BE F.O.B. DESTINATION
ALL UNIT PRICES SHALL BE DELIVERED PRICES (FREIGHT INCLUDED)
___________________________________ ORDERING INFORMATION
COMPANY NAME
Contact:
____________________________________
Email:
SIGNATURE OF COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE
Phone Number:
____________________________________
PRINTED NAME OF COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE
Emergency Contact:
____________________________________
Emergency Phone Number:
TITLE OF COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE
____________________________________
EMAIL
____________________________________
PHONE NUMBER FAX NUMBER
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Alum
(Liquid Aluminum Sulfate is spec'd as 48% solution)
Price to Quote is to be per "Liquid Pound"
(Specific Gravity 1.300 - 1.400)
Typical Truckload = 48,000 lbs. (approximately)
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CITY OF ABILENE
LIQUID CHEMICAL
BID CALCULATION WORKSHEET
Alum Price Per Dry Ton (48% Solution, sp.gr. 1.300 - 1.400)
Price per Truckload FOB to Abilene: $_________________ (48,000 lbs.)
Price Per Truckload $ / 48,000= $ (price per Liquid Lb.)
___________________________________ ________________________________
Bidder's Printed Name Date
___________________________________ ________________________________
Bidder's Signature Phone
If you have any questions regarding how the City of Abilene wants the quote calculated, please
contact the Water Utilities System Manager at 325-676-6404.
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