Report Prepared by: Joe Cardoso, P.L.S., City Surveyor, Engineering Division
Title
SUBJECT: Award of Bid and Approval of Professional Services Agreement in the Amount of $55,426 with H.T. Harvey & Associates for Wetland Scientist Services for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program Westerly Bike Path Connection, for City Project No. 111066
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers awarding a bid and approving an agreement with H.T. Harvey & Associates in the amount of $55,426 for wetland scientist services for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program Westerly Bike Path Connection Project.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion awarding a bid and approving the professional services agreement with H.T. Harvey & Associates in the amount of $55,426; and, authorizing the City Manager or Assistant City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200
Merced Municipal Code section 3.04.120 (Services with an estimated value greater than $31,000.00 are made by written contract). i
California Government Code Section 4526 - Selection procedure policy for professional services.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2018-19 Adopted Budget.
DESCRIPTION
Staff sent out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the selection of a qualified biologist firm to provide services during construction of the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Westerly Bike Path Connection Project. The City received two RFP packages on October 5, 2018.
A selection committee rated each RFP based on the criterion established in the RFP document (see Attachment 2). Staff selected H.T. Harvey & Associates as the most qualified firm to fulfill the assignment.
The construction project scope of work (to be performed by Avison Construction, Inc.) consists, in general, of removing portions of the existing bike path and construction of new concrete in its place. The project also has a 90-foot wide pedestrian bridge to be placed over Black Rascal Creek. Trees will need to be removed per the California State Fish & Wildlife (CSFW) Permit and headwalls installed for the bridge. H.T. Harvey & Associates is responsible for the environmental aspect of the project. They will conduct a preconstruction and post construction inspection as necessary, conduct bi-weekly inspections and reporting as required in associated permits for the project, and establish an end of project report. Additionally, a qualified wetland scientist will be on-site during construction near Black Rascal Creek to conduct water sampling.
History and Past Actions
The City of Merced (City) received a grant from the CMAQ Program for preliminary engineering related to the construction of a Class I Bike Path along State Route 59 and the Bear Creek Corridor, bounded by Buena Vista Drive and 16th Street. As part of the preliminary engineering, the City hired an outside consultant to complete the environmental technical studies required by the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).
In January 2012, the City entered into an agreement in the amount of $21,177 with Quad Knopf, Inc., to prepare the environmental documents for the Bear Creek Bike Path Project. After the initial documents were completed and sent to CalTrans, the City received comments from CalTrans which required the documents to be revised and resubmitted. In addition to their comments, CalTrans also required additional documents, including a Water Quality Memorandum and a Noise Technical Memorandum, which were not part of Quad Knopf’s original agreement.
In March 2013, Quad Knop’s agreement was amended for an additional $4,800, to complete the revisions and prepare the additional documents. Again, the City received comments from CalTrans regarding the Natural Environmental Study (NES) which required the documents to be revised and resubmitted.
In March 2015, Quad Knopf’s agreement was amended for a second time for an additional $2,000 to complete the NES revisions.
On December 7, 2015, Council approved the third amendment to professional services agreement with Quad Knopf, Inc., in the amount of $27,054 for the preparation of environmental technical studies for future construction of a Class I Bike Path along State Route Highway 59. To avoid further environmental delays, the project scope was altered by adjusting the project boundaries. The revised boundary encompasses Buena Vista Drive to the existing concrete bike path behind Walmart. The revised project scope was presented to the Bicycle Advisory Commission at their October 27, 2015,
meeting.
On March 19, 2018, the City Council approved a construction agreement with BNSF Railway Company to allow the City to construct a bike path in their right-of-way.
On August 6, 2018, Council approved a California Department of Transportation Program Supplement for the use of $996,000 in CMAQ Grant funding for construction engineering and project construction of the Westerly Bike Path Connection. The local match of $129,000 is from Measure V - Alternative Modes.
On November 5, 2018, Council awarded a bid and approved an agreement in the amount of $798,955 with Avison Construction, Inc. for the construction of a concrete bicycle path near the intersection of Highway 59 and Buena Vista Drive and the installation of a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Black Rascal Creek.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
This project was established as a Capital Improvement Project (project 111066), funded by CMAQ Grant under Fund 450 - Streets & Signals CIP Fund and Fund 075 - Measure V Alternative Modes. Project 111066 contains sufficient funding to complete this project.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Agreement for Professional Services
2. Request for Proposals - Wetland Scientist