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Emergency Change Order for Streetcar Substation Repairs
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DESCRIPTION: Requesting Board authorization to approve a change order to an electrical substation repair and improvement contract.
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text.
ACTION REQUEST:
? Approval ? Review Comment ? Information Only ? Other
RECOMMENDATION:
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Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute a change order with Powell Electrical Systems, Inc. in the amount of $277,555.81 for the electrical substation repair and improvement project (2023-PM-01).
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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The St. Charles streetcar line is served by three electrical substations: Calliope, Valence, and Dublin. The substations are essential to streetcar operations as they are relied upon to provide a consistent electrical feed to the St. Charles line.
In August of 2024, the RTA Board passed resolution 24-038, authorizing a contract with Powell Electrical Systems, Inc. in the amount of $1,046,565. The purpose of the contract was to replace electrical switchgear at each of the substations that had become obsolete. By replacing six electrical breakers at the three substations, RTA would reduce repair costs, mitigate the possibility of power interruptions to the St. Charles line, and ensure a robust, redundant electrical feed for the foreseeable future.
Due to the lead time associated with ordering the replacement breakers and associated equipment, Powell began their work in March of 2026. However, during the course of the installation, an issue was discovered that would prevent the new electrical breakers from functioning properly. Critical electrical equipment upstream of the breaker boxes-specifically the Microprocessor Protective Relays or MPRs-was determined to be incompatible with the replacement breaker boxes. The MPRs serve as the "brain" of the electrical system and communicate with the breaker boxes and tells the breakers to open in the event of a problem. In order for the new bre...
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