A Case History of Ozone System Supplier Prequalification and Equipment Procurement

Abstract

To facilitate a fast track implementation of ozone facilities at two of its water treatment plants, the East Bay Municipal Utility District prepurchased ozone equipment during the design phase of the project to reduce total design and construction time and enable a more cost-effective design. Several steps were taken to assure an orderly bidding process to minimize the potential for protests and project delays. These steps included prequalification of ozone equipment suppliers, a mandatory pre-bid conference, and a requirement for a detailed technical proposal prior to contract award. Ultimately, this process withstood legal challenge. Because of the prepurchase of the ozone equipment, the contract documents provide careful attention to interfaces between the equipment supplier and the installing contractor, including shipping, handling, storage before installation, physical connections, and performance testing after installation.