Title
Proposed Change Order No. 8
Contract No. GLWA-CON-197(SCN-0000097)
Modifications to Incinerator Sludge Feed Systems in Complex II at WWRF
CIP #213007/ BCE Score: 96.20
Body
Agenda of: July 22, 2026
Item No.: 2026-258
Amount: Original Contract $18,631,083.00
Change Order No. 1 905,731.00
Change Order No. 2 850,000.00
Change Order No. 3 0.00
Change Order No. 4 0.00
Change Order No. 5 0.00
Change Order No. 6 0.00
Change Order No. 7 0.00
Proposed Change Order No. 8 0.00
Contract Total Amount $20,386,814.00
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: June 29, 2026
RE: Proposed Change Order No. 8
Contract No. GLWA-CON-197/SCN-0000097
Modifications to Incinerator Sludge Feed Systems in Complex II at WWRF
Vendor: Weiss Construction Co., LLC
Status: Amendment/Change Order
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Navid Mehram, Chief Operating Officer - Wastewater Operating Services, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), authorizes the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to enter into Contract No. GLWA-CON-197/SCN-0000097, Proposed Change Order No. 8, “Modifications to Incinerator Sludge Feed Systems in Complex II at WWRF” with Weiss Construction Co., LLC, with no increase in cost for a total cost not to exceed $20,386,814.00 and an increase in duration of 365 days for a total duration of 3,406 days; and authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
On April 2, 2018, GLWA awarded Weiss Construction Co, LLC (Weiss) a Construction Agreement for the Modifications to Incinerator Sludge Feed Systems in Complex II at WRRF, Contract No. GLWA-CON-197. The Notice to Proceed date was April 2, 2018. The purpose of this contract is to do Improvements for the Dewatered Sludge Cake Conveyance System (Package A), Replacement of EB-26 Substation (Package B), and Replacement of 9 MCCs (Package C) as per the Design Drawings and Specifications issued with the Contract.
Change Order No. 1 added $905,731.00 to the contract and extended both the Substantial and Final Completion dates by 364 days. Screw conveyor structural support steel was relocated from above the fifth floor of incineration Complex II to a location below the fifth-floor plating.
Change Order No. 2 added $850,000.00 to the contract and further extended both the Substantial and Final Completion dates by 365 days, due to Covid related impacts to the base contract work schedule, along with additional requested modifications to the belt conveyor guard assemblies.
Change Order No. 3 further extended both the Substantial and Final Completion dates by 243 days. Additional time was used by the contractor to make corrections to provide proper functioning of the conveyors and chutes.
Change Order No. 4 extended only the Final Completion date by 291 days from September 29, 2023 to July 16, 2024. Additional time was used by the contractor to install abrasion resistant HDPE piping and valves to serve the new strainers, in place of the previous piping which was susceptible to abrasion and frequent leakage. Additional modifications were made to the conveyor chutes, plows, plow tables, and spray nozzles that were installed to eliminate excessive and unsustainable sludge spillage and water leakage from the conveyors.
Change Order No. 5 extended only the Contract Completion date by 183 days. Additional time was used by the contractor to continue the remaining work under Package A, including modifying the belt conveyors and strainers, investigating the root cause of previous motor failures, and running a second 30-day system performance test.
Change Order No. 6 extended only the Contract Completion date by 381 days. Additional time was used to engage third parties to investigate the system failures during performance tests of the conveyance system, collect and test oil samples from various motors on the North side conveyance system, rehabilitate several motors on the North side conveyance system, and install remote temperature devices (RTDs) and thermal protection devices.
Change Order No. 7 extended only the Contract Completion date by 180 days. Additional time was used to coordinate and perform the on-site test for the North side conveyance system and produce the root cause analysis report.
This Change Order No. 8 is required to allow the time needed to resolve the motor failure issues, restart the 30-day performance test, complete all contractually required work, resolve outstanding disputes, finalize closeout documentation, and closeout the project.
JUSTIFICATION
Based on the current status of the project, it will not be completed by August 1, 2026. The parties have spent significant time determining the root cause of motor failures which have been documented as part of prior Change Orders. Further, the original Contractor, Weiss Construction Company, has ceased operations. GLWA, with the assistance of outside counsel, has been engaged with Weiss Construction Company’s surety, Liberty Mutual, to ensure the completion of this and other GLWA projects where Weiss served as the Contractor.
In order to determine, identify and implement a solution, including the obligated 30-day performance test and all close-out activities, a time extension is necessary to ensure that the work described above can be completed.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT STATUS
Original Contract Time 1,034 days (04/01/2018 - 01/30/2021)
Change Order No. 1 364 days (01/31/2021 - 01/29/2022)
Change Order No. 2 365 days (01/30/2022 - 01/29/2023)
Change Order No. 3 243 days (01/30/2023 - 09/29/2023)
Change Order No. 4 291 days (09/30/2023 - 07/16/2024)
Change Order No. 5 183 days (07/17/2024 - 01/15/2025)
Change Order No. 6 381 days (01/16/2025 - 01/31/2026)
Change Order No. 7 180 days (02/01/2026 - 08/01/2026)
Proposed Change Order No. 8 365 days (08/02/2026 - 08/01/2027)
New Contract Time 3,406 days (04/01/2018 - 08/01/2027)
PROJECT ESTIMATE
Original Contract Price $18,631,083.00
Change Order No. 1 905,731.00
Change Order No. 2 850,000.00
Change Order No. 3 0.00
Change Order No. 4 0.00
Change Order No. 5 0.00
Change Order No. 6 0.00
Change Order No. 7 0.00
Proposed Change Order No. 8 0.00
New Contract Total $20,386,814.00
FINANCIAL PLAN IMPACT
Summary: Sufficient funds are provided in the financial plan for this project.
Funding Source: 5421 - Wastewater Construction Fund
Cost Center: 880000 - Capital Improvement Program
Spend Category: Construction
Project Worktag: PRJ-213007
Estimated Cost by Year and Related Estimating Variance: See table below.
Original Contract Price $18,631,083.00
Change Order No. 1: 905,731.00
Change Order No. 2: 850,000.00
Change Order No. 3: 0.00
Change Order No. 4: 0.00
Change Order No. 5: 0.00
Change Order No. 6: 0.00
Change Order No. 7: 0.00
Proposed Change Order No. 8: 0.00
New Contract Total: $20,386,814.00
COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item was presented to the Operations and Resources Committee at its meeting on July 8, 2026.
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD.