Memorandum
Date: June 10, 2025
To: The Honorable Eddie Crandell, Chair, Lake County Sanitation District Board
From: Robin Borre, Special Districts Administrator
Subject: (Sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District, Board of Directors) (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) Approve Purchase of Three Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tools (SL-RAT) from InfoSense, Inc. in the amount of $107,705 plus tax
Executive Summary: The district has received a grant for Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) abatement. The purchase of three additional SL-RAT tools will be used in each utility area to identify lines in need of repair or cleaning. The SL-RAT is propriety and is only provided by one vendor. The equipment utilizes patented acoustic technology to provide real-time blockage assessments in 6-12” gravity lines. These tools allow collection system operators the ability to better allocate cleaning and CCTV resources. The district already has the software and one unit that had to be sent out for repair.
Each unit has been quoted at $34,235 (attached). The total requested purchase is $107,705 plus tax. The cost for the units is eligible and funding is available in our grant for I&I.
The SL-Rat is deployed between manholes and sends a signal back which is color coded in the software. There are four colors that are mapped indicating good, fair, poor, and blocked.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: __ Amount Budgeted: __ Additional Requested: ______ Future Annual Cost: ___
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Intranet+Forms/Information+Technology/AdvPlan.pdf> (“Yes,” if checked)
☒ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☒ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☒ Economic Development ☒ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☒ Business Process Efficiency ☒ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) Approve Purchase of Three Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tools (SL-RAT) from InfoSense, Inc. in the amount of $107,705 plus tax.