The Public Works Department is seeking to implement a records management system for the testing program required for backflow prevention assemblies. This system will be used to verify the registration of the testers, manage the test report information and provide a system to notify customers of annual testing requirements for their backflow assemblies.
Backflow prevention is necessary to maintain water quality in our distribution system. Water flows from the distribution system to the customer; however, whenever the pressure drops within the public system, water that has entered private system could return to the public distribution system. Properly functioning devices prevent potentially contaminated water from returning to the public distribution system.
The City has over 18,000 registered backflow prevention devices and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires each device to be tested each year to ensure it functions properly. The test must be performed by a qualified Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester (BPAT) that is registered with both the TCEQ and the City of Plano.
Purchasing published a Request for Proposals (RFP), and four vendors submitted proposals. After reviewing all of the proposals, two vendors were shortlisted: SwiftComply, Inc. and Backflow Solutions Inc. (BSI Online). Upon further evaluation, demonstrations and reference checks, staff finds the proposal from BSI Online provides the best solution to meet the City’s needs and recommends award of a contract to BSI Online.
Payment for this service will be paid directly to BSI Online by the owners of the backflow prevention devices. BSI Online will retain approximately $10 per test for their services. The remaining funds will be submitted to the City to administer the backflow prevention program.
Approximately 18,000 tests will be performed per year. Over the seven year term of this contract, at $35 per test, BSI Online will collect approximately $4.4 M and will return approximately $3 M to the City. Without this change, additional staff will be required for tester registration/verification, test report review, data entry and customer notifications.