Unrelated June strike delay costs SEAPA

Delays to line maintenance prompted by a public employee strike in Wrangell this June will cost a regional power utility an extra $103,000.

Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) chief executive Trey Acteson presented board members with a change order for the project, which would among other maintenance tasks replace marker balls along the transmission lines connecting Tyee Lake to the grid. Work had been set to start the latter half of June, during which time Wrangell would have had to run on its diesel backups. But an unrelated strike by two dozen of its city employees began on June 22, and raised concerns Wrangell Municipal Light and Power would be unable to maintain power during the two-week interval.

Northern Powerline Constructors had already mobilized for the task, which involved helicopters and training. SEAPA made the decision to delay the project in light of the circumstances, and though the strike was resolved by June 29 demobilization had already taken place. Work would instead be held until the summer production demand had subsided.

“I think we were proactive in shutting down as fast as we could when we saw a problem there,” Acteson commented.

The cost for stand-by time, mobilization and demobilization was estimated at $103,132, the amount of the change order. Nearly all voting and alternate members of SEAPA's board were present for the decision, with Clay Hammer sitting in for Wrangell member Stephen Prysunka. The change order was approved by unanimous decision, as was an amendment to the budget reflecting that. Operations manager Steve Henson added that the ball marker replacement has been scheduled to resume this week, lasting through September 16.

At the recommendation of agency staff, board members unanimously rejected bids received for an inspection project for Tyee submarine cables, with the project to be rebid a date determined by staff.

“We had two bids,” said Acteson. “And the low bid was $295,000. The high bid was $815,901.”

A request for proposals had been put out on July 24, with bids received by August 17. SEAPA had anticipated offers from more firms than were received, and after considering the bid packages its staff had concluded the offers were insufficient for the project.

“There are challenges, as you know. We've got 1,200 foot depth, and we've got tides,” Acteson explained to the board. “I really expected to see somebody that had done multiple cable inspections, that had a nice radio setup, that identified problems with the cable, and made recommendations on repairs. And we did not get that.”

Staff will reevaluate their project details, and may bid with some greater flexibility to encourage more applicants.

The board approved a bid received from BAM LLC of Ketchikan for a metalworks project at Swan Lake's reservoir. Their offer had been $162,000 plus a 10-percent contingency for mobilization and other potentialities, against a $708,600 high bid.

“This one also has a large spread, but we looked at it very closely and I think the high bidder just totally missed the project. I think the low bidder is pretty much right on our budget estimate,” said Acteson, who expressed confidence in their credentials. “They're familiar with the project.”

The board also unanimously approved award of a bid to BAM LLC for brushing work along the Swan-Tyee intertie transmission line, in the Neets Bay area. The company's was the low bid of two offers, for $256,000. An additional $10,000 contingency was also approved for the contract.

The board's next meeting is scheduled for September 28, to be held in Ketchikan.