REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
HARLAVPREET S. BRAR, Professional Engineer
Public Works Department, Site Development Project Management Section
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to professional on-call architectural and engineering design services for the Public Works Engineering Division on City of Fresno parks capital improvement projects (Citywide)
1. Approve an On-Call Consultant Services Agreement with O’Dell Engineering Inc., of Fresno, California in the amount of $3,000,000
2. Approve an On-Call Consultant Services Agreement with Blair, Church and Flynn Consulting Engineers Inc., of Clovis, California in the amount of $3,000,000
3. Approve an On-Call Consultant Services Agreement with GHD Inc., of Fresno, California in the amount of $3,000,000
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends City Council to approve three (3) On-Call Design Service Agreements (Agreements) between the City of Fresno (City) and 1) O’Dell Engineering Inc., 2) Blair, Church and Flynn Consulting Engineers Inc. (BCF) and 3) GHD Inc., collectively (Consultants), to provide professional architectural and engineering design services for Citywide parks capital improvement projects, for three-year terms, to be reimbursed for hours worked at the hourly rates specified in the Schedule of Fees included in the Consultant’s respective agreement, not to exceed $3,000,000, with no guarantee expressed or implied that the $3,000,000 will be authorized under any of the three respective agreements, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute all three agreements on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Works (DPW) Engineering Division manages a large capital improvement program, which includes a significant amount of new capital improvement projects for the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department. The projects include improvement of the existing park facilities to enhance the guest experience and provide an environment that promotes health and social interaction. With the growing need for park improvements citywide, an increase in project workload and commonality of the improvement projects, staff recommends the proposed contracts as a feasible solution to efficiently deliver these projects. Staff recommends approval of the three agreements, each with three-year terms and a total compensation not to exceed $3,000,000 individually to provide professional architectural and engineering design and construction support services for the Public Works Engineering Division.
Upon approval and execution of the Agreements, improvement projects requiring architectural and engineering design services under this contract will be identified, a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to all three Consultants, and project-by-project Task Orders will be issued based on the most qualified consultant for each project. The funding for these services will come from the allocated project funding sources for each individual task order.
BACKGROUND
With the ageing park infrastructure and growing need for new park improvement projects that will provide new facilities to promote public health and social interaction, there is an increase in the PARCS capital improvement project workload. The increased workload and commonality of such projects has lead to the need for on-call consultants to effectively design and prepare construction documents. The agreements for On-Call Professional Architecture and Engineering Design Services will allow staff to deliver these types of projects promptly and more efficiently. The consultant’s scope of services will include but are not limited to the following: developing park’s master plan, rehabilitation and/or design of new play structures, tot lot play areas, splash pads, shade structures, playing courts, sports fields, walking paths and trails, dog parks, addition of site amenities including benches, picnic tables, water fountains, trash receptacles, bleachers, fencing, lighting upgrades and restroom facilities, ADA assessment of the existing site, landscape and irrigation design, parking lot and storm water drainage improvements. Hiring consultants to provide these services on a project-by-project basis is time consuming and creates project initiation delays. Staff recommends approval of the proposed agreements to improve project timelines to perform the professional architectural and engineering design services.
In accordance with AO 6-19, staff sent out a request for Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) in February 2023 via Planet Bids, email, and published in The Business Journal for On-Call Capital Improvement Project Design Services. Out of the twelve (12) SOQs received, one (1) SOQ was deemed unresponsive. The remaining eleven (11) SOQs were evaluated, ranked, and the top six (6) qualified respondents were interviewed between April 18, 2023, and May 2, 2023. At the conclusion of the evaluation period O’Dell Engineering, BCF, and GHD were selected as the most qualified consultants for these services.
Staff recommends City Council to approve the three Agreements with 1) O’Dell Engineering, 2) BCF, and 3) GHD, for professional design and construction support services, each with three-year terms and a total compensation not to exceed $3,000,000 individually, with no guarantee expressed or implied that $3,000,000 will be authorized under any respective agreement, to provide park improvement design support for the Public Works Engineering Division on City’s capital projects, and authorize Public Works Director or designee to sign on behalf of the City.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the proposed agreement as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
A consultant agreement for the design of plans and cost estimates is not a “project” pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines § 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was implemented in the consultant selection process pursuant to the Fresno Municipal Code Section 4-109. O’Dell Engineering Inc., BCF and GHD Inc. are local firms located in the Fresno area.
FISCAL IMPACT
These Agreements have no immediate impact to the General Fund and the Agreements will service projects in all Council Districts. All funding necessary for the services of the proposed Agreements will be appropriated under the individual capital projects for each task order.
Attachment(s):
Consultant Agreement - O’Dell Engineering Inc.
Consultant Agreement - Blair, Church and Flynn Consulting Engineers Inc.
Consultant Agreement - GHD Inc.