Title
Staffing Services Agreement with NAES (B)
Explanation
In November 2017, the City acquired Deerhaven Renewable (DHR), formerly known as the Gainesville Renewable Energy Center (GREC). At the time of acquisition, GRU entered an Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Service Agreement with North American Energy Services (NAES) to continue operations of the DHR facility. In an effort to standardize operations at all four power plant sites, leverage the efficiency improvements of having one GRU staff, and make day-to-day operational decisions at the DHR plant, the utility intends to terminate the O&M service agreement with NAES and to hire their staff into City positions at DHR. For those positions not staffed on the initial transition to GRU employment, management will utilize NAES to provide continuity as we hire and train GRU employees to operate and maintain the site. This contract will be only for staffing services, not for managing the operations and maintenance of the plant. The staffing services agreement will begin on the termination of the O&M agreement. The City of Gainesville holds staffing services contracts that are utilized throughout the city for business purposes, and this will be an additional staffing services contract targeted with power generation expertise. Therefore this is in alignment with our practices. This item was presented to the UAB on June 13, 2019.
Fiscal Note
The proposed change versus the Energy Supply budget will reduce costs by the amount of the NAES management fees and allow for direct control over the personnel.
Recommendation
Staff: Approve the contract for staffing services with NAES and authorize the General Manager to execute the contract, subject to approval of the City Attorney as to form and legality.
UAB: On June 13, 2019, the UAB voted 7-0 to advise the commission to approve the staff recommendation.