REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: WILLIAM C. HERR, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Construction Management Division
JOHNAN RUIZ, Senior Engineering Inspector
Public Works Department, Construction Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Capital Improvement Projects within the City of Fresno street right of way (All Council Districts)
1. Approve agreement in the amount of $958,000 with RMA GeoScience for materials testing and acceptance services
2. Approve agreement in the amount of $958,000 with Salem Engineering Group Inc. for materials testing and acceptance services
3. Approve agreement in the amount of $958,000 with Krazan & Associates, Inc. for materials testing and acceptance services
4. Approve agreement in the amount of $117,000 with Moore Twining & Associates, Inc. for independent assurance testing
5. Authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the agreements on behalf of the City
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve agreements in the amount of $958,000 each with RMA GeoScience, Salem Engineering Group, Inc., and Krazan & Associates, Inc. for Materials Acceptance Testing and Inspection Services and approve an agreement in the amount of $117,000 with Moore Twining & Associates, Inc. for Independent Assurance Testing for Capital Improvement Projects within the City of Fresno Street right of way.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is a Federal Highway Administration requirement that must be implemented as a condition of federal-aid funded projects. This program tests materials incorporated into City projects and assures that the materials and workmanship are in conformance with project specifications, State and Federal requirements. Local agencies receiving federal funding for City constructed projects, must have a Caltrans approved, fully implemented QAP prior to receiving construction authorization on federally funded projects.
To accomplish implementation of its QAP, the Public Works Department is requesting the approval of the consultant agreements in the amount of $958,000 each with RMA GeoScience, Salem Engineering Group, Inc. and Krazan & Associates, Inc. for Materials Acceptance Testing and Inspection Services as well as a consultant agreement in the amount of $117,000 with Moore Twining & Associates, Inc. for Independent Assurance consulting services within the City of Fresno street right of way and authorizes the Public Works Director or his designee to sign the agreements on behalf of the City. The utilization of private testing labs and independent quality assistance firms has been in place for many years in order to comply with Federal, State and local requirements.
BACKGROUND
As required by both Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Caltrans for federal-aid projects, Public Works has revised its current QAP. This program provides assurance that the materials and workmanship incorporated into our federally funded construction projects are in conformance with contract specifications, State and Federal requirements. FHWA requires local agencies to update their QAP every five years and that an approved fully implemented QAP be in place prior to receiving construction authorization on federal-aid projects. One of the main elements of the QAP is acceptance testing of the materials used on these projects. Public Works engages local consulting firms (“laboratories”) to perform these required tests.
Additionally, as a requirement of the State and Federal QAP, Public Works requires an additional independent assurance consulting firm to perform evaluation and certification services to ensure the testing labs awarded Materials Acceptance Testing and Inspection Services contracts are in compliance with all testing and inspection requirements.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised in the Business Journal on August 15, 2022. The Statements of Qualifications were reviewed, and the participating laboratories were short listed with interviews held the week of September 19, 2022. Public Works has determined that RMA GeoScience, Salem Engineering Group, Inc. and Krazan & Associates, Inc. meet and/or exceed the necessary qualifications to perform the Materials Testing and Acceptance Services outlined in the QAP. Public Works has also determined that Moore Twining & Associates, Inc. meets and/or exceeds the necessary qualifications to perform Independent Assurance Testing services outlined in the QAP.
Therefore, the Public Works Department is requesting the approval of the consultant agreements in the amount of $958,000 each with RMA GeoScience, Salem Engineering Group, Inc. and Krazan & Associates, Inc. as well as the approval in the amount of $117,000 with Moore Twining & Associates, Inc. and to authorize the Public Works Director or his designee to sign the agreements on behalf of the City.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreements as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, the award of these contracts does not qualify as a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
All interviewed firms had a local presence and therefore local preference was not implemented.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this testing program has been included in each Capital Improvement Project’s budget allocation and will have no impact on the General Fund.
Attachment:
Agreement with RMA GeoScience
Agreement with Krazan & Associates, Inc.
Agreement with Salem Engineering Group, Inc.
Agreement with Moore Twining & Associates, Inc.