Subject:
Title
Award of bid to Applied Drilling Engineering, Inc. for Chesnut Park managed aquifer recharge well drilling and completion of subsurface testing
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the award of bid to Applied Drilling Engineering, Inc. for Chesnut Park managed aquifer recharge well drilling and completion of subsurface testing.
• The purpose of this contract is to provide the services of drilling a managed aquifer recharge well and up to one monitor well at Chesnut Park, delineating the geologic formations in the subsurface, testing the hydrogeologic properties of the identified subsurface formations, and completing the 24-inch diameter aquifer recharge well and the 6-inch monitor well, if required
• Two bids were received with award recommendation to Applied Drilling Engineering, Inc. as the lowest responsive responsible bidder for $3,265,600.00.
• All work to be completed within 540 consecutive calendar days from the issuance of the notice to proceed.
• The Small Business Enterprise commitment is 5% for this contract.
• Funding for this agreement is available under Chesnut Park Aquifer Storage and Recovery System project 004364A, included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Sewer Renewal and Replacement Fund in the amount of $10,445,000.00.
Contract No. 26-0046-ITB-C in the total not to exceed amount of $3,265,600.00, for a duration of 540 consecutive calendar days; Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
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Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air, and other natural resources
3.5 Foster a sustainable and resilient community that is prepared for sea level rise and a changing climate
Deliver First-Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
Summary:
Summary
The project consists of a Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) test well to evaluate the subsurface hydro-geologic properties at this location in preparation for a potential permanent well site. The MAR test well (MAR-1) is proposed to be completed with 1,250 feet below surface (bls) well including a 24-inch steel casing to approximately 600 feet bls. The project includes appropriate monitoring wells to evaluate impacts at the property boundaries.
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Background Information:
On November 3, 2025, the Purchasing Division released an invitation to bid on behalf of Utilities for Chesnut Park Managed Aquifer Recharge Well Drilling and Completion of Subsurface Testing. Two bids were received with award recommendation to Applied Drilling Engineering, Inc. as the lowest responsive responsible bidder in the amount of $3,265,600.00.
Pinellas County Utilities (PCU) has historically sought to better serve our customers through innovative solutions to complex challenges. In 2007, PCU completed the construction of the ASR well in Chesnut Park. In 2019, PCU completed a Feasibility Study to evaluate different solutions to the shortage of supplies of Reclaimed Water. The existing ASR well combined with a proposed MAR well will recharge the upper Floridan aquifer with excess surface water from Lake Tarpon that otherwise would be discharged to upper Tampa Bay. The environmental benefits of this project include: 1) increased water levels in the upper Floridan aquifer within the Northern Tampa Bay Water Use Caution Area; 2) freshening of the deep aquifer underlying the wellfields in the area; and 3) mitigation of saltwater intrusion by creation of a fresh water bubble / barrier within and under the USDW.
Fiscal Impact:
Total contract not-to-exceed: $3,265,600.00
Funding for this agreement is available under Chesnut Park Aquifer Storage and Recovery System project 004364A, included in the FY26-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Sewer Renewal and Replacement Fund in the amount of $10,445,000.00.
Funding in excess of the agreement amount is dedicated to phase two (2) construction of surface facilities.
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeremy Waugh, P.E., Director, Utilities
Merry Celeste, Purchasing Division Director, Office of Management & Budget
Chris Rose, Director, Office of Management & Budget
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Agreement
Tabulation