Report Prepared by: Laura Ivancich, Management Analyst, Engineering Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of Professional Services Agreements with Precision Engineering (Surveying), Quad Knopf, Inc. (Surveying and Landscape Design), VH Design Group Inc. (Surveying), NJ Associates Inc., (Architectural Design), Siegfried Engineering Inc., (Architectural Design), Cupples Keller Designs (Landscape Design), and Melton Design Group (Landscape Design) to Provide Support Services for the City’s Engineering Department in a not Exceed Amount of $500,000 per Agreement Based on the Consultant Hourly Rates Listed within Exhibit B of Each Respective Agreement for the Period Ending November 7, 2027
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving multiple Professional Services Agreements for engineering and design services for the City’s Capital Improvement Projects, and support of the Engineering Department. The services provided under these agreements will mainly be funded from individual Capital Improvement Project budgets as the projects occur through the contract period ending November 7, 2027, at the hourly rates set forth in Exhibit B of each respective agreement.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the Professional Services Agreements, for a contract period ending November 7, 2027, with Precision Engineering (Surveying), Quad Knopf, Inc. (Surveying and Landscape Design), VH Design Group, Inc. (Surveying), NJ Associates Inc., (Architectural Design), Siegfried Engineering Inc., (Architectural Design), Cupples Keller Designs (Landscape Design), and Melton Design Group (Landscape Design) in a Not to Exceed Amount of $500,000 for each agreement; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager to sign the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve subject to conditions outlined by Council; or,
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
4. Continue to a future meeting; or,
5. Deny.
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Charter Section 200, Powers.
DISCUSSION
The Engineering Department issued a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for qualified firms to provide professional engineering services, including (1) Civil Engineering, (2) Surveying, (3) Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Observation and Materials Testing, (4) Traffic Engineering, (5) Architecture, and (6) Landscaping). The RFQ was issued in accordance with Chapter 10 of the Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual (LAPM). To use consultants on state and federally funded projects, such as CMAQ and ATP, an RFQ had to be issued, and consultants were selected in accordance with Chapter 10 of the LAPM. Additionally, it is required that a resolution be adopted to use Chapter 10 of the LAPM for this process. The resolution that was adopted at the 9/2/2025 City Council meeting covers these additional agreements.
The RFQ allowed vendors to propose on one or more of the six (6) core services. In response to the RFQ, the City received a total of 24 proposals for various services.
On September 2, 2025, Council approved on-call agreements with nine (9) consultants for Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Construction Observation, and Traffic Engineering. Staff notified Council that they would bring back consultant agreements to be approved for Surveying, Architectural Design, and Landscape Design at a later date once interviews and selections have been made.
Many services that are performed by the on-call consultants are more specialized and provide support to the Engineering staff. At this time, staff is proposing to approve agreements with seven (7) vendors to provide design related services, including Surveying, Architecture Design, and Landscape Design.
The proposed scope for each respective consultant is attached to the respective contracts.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funding for these contracts will come from individual Capital Improvement Projects as the projects occur.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Professional Services Agreement - Precision Engineering
2. Professional Services Agreement - Quad Knopf Inc.
3. Professional Services Agreement - VH Design Group Inc.
4. Professional Services Agreement - NJ Associates Inc.
5. Professional Services Agreement - Siegfried Engineering Inc.
6. Professional Services Agreement - Cupples Keller Designs
7. Professional Services Agreement - Melton Design Group
8. Resolution 2025-54