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Page 2 of 4 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />STRATEGIC PLAN GUIDING PRINCIPLE <br />Excellence in Government Operations <br />BACKGROUND <br />In 2008, the Public Works Services Department began converting approximately 25,000 manually read <br />water meters to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, with about 90% of installations now <br />complete. As water meters typically have an average lifespan of approximately 15 years, these <br />agreements support the planned and ongoing replacement of aging infrastructure. <br />This effort represents a significant advancement in how the City manages its water system. The AMI <br />system improves operational efficiency by eliminating the need for manual meter reading, while also <br />enhancing water conservation through advanced leak detection and proactive customer notifications. <br />Additionally, AMI provides customers with timely, detailed water use information, enabling residents and <br />businesses to better understand their consumption, identify potential issues early, and manage water <br />costs more effectively. <br />ANALYSIS <br />On October 3, 2025, staff issued a formal Notice Inviting Bids (NIB), which was published in the San Mateo <br />Daily Journal and posted on the City’s website. The NIB allowed vendors to submit pricing across multiple <br />bid tables for various meter types, with contracts awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible <br />bidder for each table. <br />A total of three vendors submitted bids by the deadline. HPS West, Thirkettle, and Zenner were identified <br />as the lowest responsive and responsible bidders for their respective bid tables. Some bid tables received <br />limited or incomplete responses due to the specialized nature of the equipment and compatibility <br />requirements with the City’s existing AMI system. All meters require AMI transceivers to operate on the <br />Sensus FlexNet network, for which Thirkettle is the distributor. As a result, Thirkettle’s contract amount is <br />higher, as it includes both the meters and the required transceiver components for all meters. <br />Awarding contracts to multiple vendors provides the City with more competitive pricing and improves <br />access to meter supply, reducing the risk of delays due to limited availability. <br />Staff recommends awarding contracts to HPS West, Thirkettle, and Zenner for their respective bid <br />categories. Each agreement will have an initial two-year term, with the option to extend for up to three <br />additional two-year terms. Each extension includes a five percent increase over the preceding term to <br />account for anticipated inflation. These contracts provide flexibility for as-needed purchases to support <br />the ongoing maintenance and replacement of the City’s water meter system. <br />7.I. - Page 2 of 34 <br />297