To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Purchase of One (1) Troxler 5850v2 Gyratory Compactor
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the purchase one (1) Troxler 5850v2 Gyratory Compactor;
2. Authorize the Purchasing Agent to enter into a purchase agreement with Troxler Electronic Laboratories, Inc.; and
3. Direct the Auditor-Controller to transfer $40,058 from 1200321-2118 to 1200321-8986 per the attached appropriation transfer.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Road Fund (1200)
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Materials Laboratory (Materials Lab) performs acceptance testing to provide assurance that materials incorporated into construction projects administered by the Department of Public Works (Public Works) are in conformance with the contract specifications, as required for receiving funding from the Federal Highway Administration. Materials Lab personnel are certified to collect samples and perform the required tests, and the laboratory test equipment is calibrated and certified at least once each year as part of a Quality Assurance Program.
The county has used a California Kneading Compactor to perform various laboratory tests, including compaction of asphalt and soil, since it was purchased on June 30, 1965, for a price of $4,700. On Jan. 29, 2020, this equipment failed verification, and the Materials Lab is no longer certified to test asphalt quality characteristics. Consultations with materials laboratory staff at the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), other California counties, and local consulting firms have not identified anyone with the expertise required to work on this equipment, and very few adjustments can be made to attain the tolerance required for verification due to the mechanical nature and age of the machine. In addition, Caltrans no longer uses the Kneading Compactor to create or verify hot mix asphalt (HMA) mix designs; th...
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