E2. Bid Award for Cellular Water Meter ReplacementCITYOF
KALISPELL
TO: Doug Russell, City Manager
FROM: Susie Turner, P.E., Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Recommendation for the Cellular Water Meter Replacement and
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project
MEETING DATE: June 21, 2021
BACKGROUND: The city has allocated funds to phase in the replacement of the existing 21-
year-old metering system to a cellular mobile reading system. The goal of the new metering
system is to provide 1) reliable meters that accurately account for customer water usage, 2) a
turnkey automated cellular reading, and 3) utility customers a tool to access their daily water data
through a customer engagement portal.
The city advertised for proposals to update the metering system and received two submittals. The
Selection Committee scored the firms after participating in interviews and reviewing submittals
and reference information. The Selection Committee consisted of five City staff representatives
from the IT Department, Finance Department, and the Public Works Department.
REQUIRED SERVICES: The selected firm providing the Cellular Water Meters and
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) were solicited to provide services as follows:
• 3/4" — 10" cellular meters meeting City specifications for pressure, flows, accuracy, failure
rates, and warranty
• Advanced Metering System compatible with the the City billing system, ADG
• Advanced Metering Analytics (AMA) software specification capable of cellar upgrades
• Customer engagement web portal and smartphone app
• Data collection server backup, storing, and archive system specification
• Technical Support and Training
RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending Yellowstone Waterworks in conjunction with
Badger Meter Inc. be awarded the project based on their Cellular Meters and AMI System
proposal for the following:
• Qualifications, experience and history with cellular meters and AMI Systems
• Technical requirement and system capability to meet the City's specifications
• Ease of meter system conversion and meter installations
• Product quality assurance and customer service experience
• System Costs
ACTION REQUESTED: Motion to select Yellowstone Waterworks in conjunction with
Badger Meter Inc. as the firm to proceed with the Cellular Water Meter Replacement and
Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project.
Public Works Department, 201 lst Ave E, Kalispell, MT
www.Kalispell.com
Page 2 of 6
FISCAL EFFECTS: Costs for the Cellular Water Meter Replacement and Advanced Metering
Infrastructure (AMI) Project are allocated in the Water Fund Budget Line Item 95210-447-
430550-935.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Council.
ATTACHMENTS: Anticipated Schedule and Implementation Plan
Badger Meter Product Data Sheet
Public Works Department, 201 1st Ave E, Kalispell, MT
www.Kalispell.com
Page 3 of 6
SCHEDULE AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Upon execution of an agreement with the recommended firm
the City will begin the conversion process to integrate the ADG billing system with Beacon
Advance Metering Analytics (AMA), Beacon AMA summary material provided below. The
City will commence meter replacements once the software is integrated, staff has received
training, and the City has received the ordered meters. It is anticipated to take 6-8 weeks from
the time the agreement is executed to being able to start the meter change outs. The Metering
Division within Public Works has developed a plan of action for the phased conversion of the
metering system.
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: The plan to migrate from a radio read drive by meter reading
system to a cellular read system will take several years to accomplish. Our plan is to install and
replace approx. 1,100 water meters annually. To achieve this goal the following process will be
considered to prioritize meter replacements:
1. All new water services will receive a cellular read meter.
2. New cellular meters will be installed in place of the older style meters as service requests
are made for maintenance on existing meters.
3. There will also be a strong focus to change out the larger commercial/industrial meters
(2in. and larger) to be upgraded within the first few years. Most of these meters have been
in place since the last large-scale meter replacement project that took place in 2001 and
2002. These larger meters are more susceptible to slowing down and not accurately reading
the water within the AWWA Standards (98.5-101.5%).
4. The Water Dept. will send service requests for meter conversions to customers who
currently have the oldest meters in the system. These can be identified by their serial
number.
5. Certain areas and subdivisions will also be targeted for meter conversions as the Meter
Reading Technician identifies specific areas that are experiencing large failures of radios.
6. Meters in pits are going to be targeted as well for meter conversion. These meters are easily
accessible and often do not require scheduling with the property owner for maintenance.
CUSTOMER INFORMATION AND EDUCATION: The following steps will be
implemented to provide water customers information and education on the metering system
update.
Creation of Pamphlets (handouts)
Handouts will be created to inform water customers on the meter system conversion and
the new customer portal tools available for their access to meter usage information.
2. Website update
Information will be placed on the City's website providing contact information, meter
system conversion progress, and customer portal information and instructions.
Public Works Department, 201 1st Ave E, Kalispell, MT
www.Kalispell.com
Page 4 of 6
3. Social Media Posts
Social media posts will be utilized to inform water customers of the customer portal tools,
contacts and direction to find information.
Public Works Department, 201 1" Ave E, Kalispell, MT
www.Kalispell.com
Page 5 of 6
BEACON" Advances! Metering Analytics
Badger Meter With ORION* Network as a Service f Naa 51
OVERVIEW
The BEACON' Advanced xlelering rmalors IAMhj Solution
wish GflIOW Network as a Service INaaSF present& a simpler
yel powerful idu tiorrtohYir qa new Ih*l 8f utililyr8pliehiiing
irrfewryation to light.
The Solution comb1Me&" intutive BEACON AMA 50flware as a
Service 15aa5j with a Naafi approach Ldirig proven ORION
Cellular endomits to deliver greater vhibilily and control aver
utlity Nonagement-
Built-in iedrastfucture managelybMt serrifei and a sy€tern design
that keeps }Tau in step wish technology advane meat;, allow€ y a r
to do what you do hell —manage your water uCilily. Plus,
builtyhcor[SUNb re,ulagemenllootshelpenhanceOiSlomer
servif$ i M13Eaie ia1li5faftiorl and reduce foits.
SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
BEACON Adv&fiebd Mell*dtgAdAIyCI[ijAMllj
With tools beyond meleY Yeadi%) and rielwerk managermeht,
BACON AMA software 811ers targeted Advanced Metering
Analylic�L BEACON AMA software Pub inlerual meter data to wo*
to ins cease etlifienty in day-lo-day u[ilily op-�rali[Mt and address
demand€far ditiOnable il"ligemfe.
• Prahk:rnsolver- Useriruuitivedatatod€placelheporrerof
water consumption data al yeur Ahgertois allowing you to
rapidly respond to cuslooner inquiriai and quickly re"be—
and even-Amimatc—marty billirig i5sue!L
• Crstorlil ddeslgs -A fu€tomizable dashboard delivers
ihfiXMMi&% fj5hll`igured t5 u&er &kLf,irilyaffMilevel inakxrnal
Thatched to the utity3 individual rcgr;remenik pra,iding dale
Management integrity, iecurilyrand foMrol.
• YMatkswlthym-Integration withuliliLyiystems—
billiri¢
nmXk (Nder, inrerd8ry, Cuiknrher R&Ialidn€ho ManagErrihtl
KWNdGeographic lnfornra[iunSyrs[emiJGlsj—€treamlines
and impr8lrts utility aperklibm wi[hou[ didrupling the furrenl
utility billing inlerfafefrletranifer profess
• Rnd out hat - Alert 6(7nMoni fart be Set io Nw5nitIDr aril
nBClfy users 9 ipLaft ex[epik5r1f, irbduding fontimuoui Now
foifasterleak dettfr%b t
• Innowetionatyntrirv1lim- Secure, hastedplatformwilh
BuILOMOtle saibWe,pgradM ensures the latest terhm818gyf arid
features are always draftable.
EyeDnweter'
The BEACON AMAieftware suite includes informativeconiumer
c.,treach Caeliioimpr8oearatemer service f8nii5ling dttue
CyeOrMaler ccomunner en jegeroerrt veaNile, srnartphone mobile
app* and email 8r SM5 text alerts, provid ing easy access to
permm%al conimmpliom data and alerls to Pol,en[ial lea ks. Wilh these
total, water consaAmers are able la view [het i usage auivity, and
gain greater undbrOanding and fahbol of wlral they vise and the
valueyou Uravide-
eEArDS-ING-.THEN-10IAUgrAt 2W
HARDWARE
ORION NaaSii powered by the provehORIDNsystem for
in[erval data capture and two-way comnwhicatiem. The solution
employs cel lular end poihls which, as arty leverage the public
cellular network aad require no proprietary gateways to operate,
dramatically red rr a in fYaitruftve requirements fernpared litt a
traditioriel fiAed network.This €peels installations wAsimplifies
e,Varrsiunasasystem evolves.
FflghresoWtlondata- ORIONCellularemdpi int&are
W1bjr3rirY*d L5hul&`rMl!it3By br86difadl 15-m'irnrte6 MPH&
reedimg and event data t& the BEACON software up to four N1
tiMOM per day. The high resolution dala helps idemilypbtentlal
oustomer-side leak€ and other afwfmal ies in wafer use, and
provides [heulility witha p8tenl lool toenhawh its
oustomt& service.
Two-w" comwunfeaa�ddan - BEACON AMA €aftware
camrnr.iicates YOMORUNCellular er dpakhis in accompliih
a nurmber of sy€mrn tasks, including requesting additional
irrforrotion from the ehdpoimt and tynfhronibng the iniamal
endpoint clock If needed, the ORION Iwo -.ray system
ari.hitecture send€upgrulei to UM enclpoitA firmware over
the air via thenery.,26. rr[ibngthe powerful BEACON AMA
software wile.
Data iH"dky- Eat lhmessageFrom IheORION Cellular
endpoint is securely lrahsported to the BEACON AtrtA €oflware
ably via private hetwark and never Stier the public rrternet.
SECURITY
BEACON AMA ii 150 270D1 certified and SDC 2 enamti bed for
iefurily, availabatyand LemfideMialily.
Product Data Sheet
Public Works Department, 201 V Ave E, Kalispell, MT
www.Kalispell.com
Page 6 of 6
8€KarAdmdMatMiS—yAMdVraWy hCWKW*ffl&%&AdidStrVi[l(14dd5J
TECHNICAL SUPPORTANDTRAINING
Configuredior the widty;safeand secule BEACON AW SmSpmvides utilities with regulmsof mare update,, long-term s„ pport and
maimenaneft Comprehensive BEACON AMA rea&g" {&Used are available for online eir oykAite delivery at me time of system deployment
Thnlainlairr best frrac�ices, a library df oolineveiaut and nplli&M for group Lve Gi58d training ardsuppdrl are also a,railable.ChEe
deplayed,orrrtechnicalsuppon specialists. cm be contacted by phone,ernail and webtapr&Ade angaing,cuslonler-hiendtysupport
Garami5ed one -On -one training is arailahle (fee applieshtio-furtherenhance %derexpertim.
Addllkmalllly� Badger hteteratllersexrerded tustomizeillWining to furff*r efAaneeuser axppertidt
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
BEACON AMA
Developedasa hostedsdf[ware p4a1{0rrr49EA00N AMAis a cloud-ba%edapplication aeeessed through a standard web biow&er_INIternet
arCeS6id required. user k4rrd provide securealccesd.
BEACON AMA tupporledweb brawierS lncludetthe latest arndr.ext prer;ausmajorreleases-of Gaagle' Chrarne, Mitrdsofl' Edge,
NiftSilla' Firefox',Microuafi' Internet Explorer' 1IE 11 only); and Apple' Safari'_
EWnWater Consumer Engagement
The €yKMWaIar cordurner er gagemern weGdite iis a doud-loaded application acresaed ttriough a standard wdeb brow&er_ Internet acres iisi
required. Water WnSumer user Iogint pn WidedeGYe a—& h}ttlreir info) lrlmiDr
Supponedweb browsers indudethe lereuand nexi peavinusmajorreleasesof Google' Chrdrne, Mieruwft' Edge, MaxillrFirefox',
Mieresaft• Internet Expkxer•4IE 11 anlAandApoe' Safari'_
ErKMWaterdmanphone apoicatlonsrequlreAndroid &a of059.1 or IA&,andCan bedaarrlldaded from GaaglePlay or Via Apple Store.
SMART WATER fS $ABIM METER
DES:'. —J Ctu O.1,a—ryr4mad trsd W3iFs dr 9sdp,.Wwur,hi. Mir igpQa,,A�ih 7hi AMyuM i-9 Iho W'-}'4i[Y 11 Ihdi-OLPXMa Q"lil -
❑rN 1C m—. i" ufvLiPW}rh&:AucI-il,povaff"KLid MhLHirin7li Lid Mmi i9iMWi IN right 0[hLi94 p0du9[ M{yO.Miwfir." fxk.2 ftc4mWd%
www,badgermeter,com
Public Works Department, 201 V Ave E, Kalispell, MT
www.Kalispell.com