REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, M.A., Director
Department of Transportation
BY: SHELLE O’BRIEN, Project Manager
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Department of Transportation Fresno Area Express (FAX) Bus Maintenance Facility Improvement project (Bid File No. 12500168):
1. Adopt Environment Assessment No. P24-1582, dated November 21, 2024, a determination that the proposed project qualifies for categorical exemption as set forth in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 and Section 15302/Class 2, of the State of California CEQA Guidelines.
2. Approve a construction contract in the amount of $3,473,781 with RMS Construction, for construction services to implement the Department of Transportation Fresno Area Express (FAX) Bus Maintenance Facility Improvement project.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to sign and execute all related documents.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council:
1. Adopt Environment Assessment No. P24-1582, dated November 21, 2024, a determination that the proposed project qualifies for categorical exemption as set forth in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 and Section 15302/Class 2, of the State of California CEQA Guidelines.
2. Approve a construction contract in the amount of $3,473,781.00 with RMS Construction, for construction services to implement the Department of Transportation/Fresno Area Express (FAX) Bus Maintenance Facility Improvement project.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to sign and execute all related documents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Transportation Fresno Area Express (FAX) Bus Maintenance Facility Improvement project seeks to award a construction contract to upgrade the existing natural gas detection system and construct a new hydrogen gas detection system inside the existing FAX Bus Maintenance Building, and replace the existing roll-up shop doors with modern, insulated doors. This project is being conducted to support the State mandated zero-emissions requirements described within FAX’s Zero Emission Transition Plan. In accordance with the Transition Plan, FAX has received its first two hydrogen fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) on site through a separate contract.
Per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes for hydrogen gas in the Maintenance Facility, upgrades to the existing gas detection and emergency ventilation systems are required for FAX to maintain its new fleet of FCEBs properly and safely. The existing roll-up shop doors, which have reached the end of their useful life, are also key components of the existing emergency system and will be replaced as a part of this project’s scope. Additional required upgrades included in this project are a new fire water booster pump and upgraded 300kV emergency generator.
The award of this contract will allow FAX to implement key steps toward meeting its zero-emission requirements which will convert the entire bus fleet while also replacing critical safety equipment in support of improving service, vehicle reliability, and employee safety.
This contract complies with Fresno City Council Resolution 2021-242 Project Labor Agreement and is allowed by the federal government through Executive Order 13502 and the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act enacted November 15, 2021.
BACKGROUND
FAX seeks to award a construction contract that will provide the following:
• Installation of a new hydrogen gas detection system and facility fire life safety improvements as required by NFPA codes.
• Installation of new insulated roll-up shop doors.
• Installation of a new fire water booster pump required to support the existing fire suppression system in the event of a hydrogen fire.
• Replacement of the existing 125kV emergency generator with a 300kV emergency generator to support the additional emergency electrical loads from the new gas detection components, roll-up doors, and fire suppression equipment.
This project is needed to support the FAX Zero Emission Transition Plan adopted by Council in June 2021 which requires FAX to begin operating and supporting a zero-emission fleet that will include a mix of FCEBs that have arrived on site in 2024 through a separate contract and nine BEB’s beginning in 2021.
To support these new vehicles, FAX is required to comply with NFPA regulations for hydrogen gas in the Maintenance Facility. These codes require upgrades to the existing gas detection and emergency ventilation systems. Such upgrades include new explosion-proof ventilation fans for the existing natural gas ventilation system, new ducting for venting out hydrogen gas, new explosion-proof ventilation fans for hydrogen gas venting, new hydrogen gas detection sensors, additional fire water suppression capacity, a new fire water booster pump to meet the additional fire water capacity, and a new 300kV emergency generator to provide power to these upgraded emergency systems. NFPA does not allow FAX to utilize the same equipment and gas venting pathways for both natural gas and hydrogen gas, thus the need to provide so much new equipment through this project’s scope.
The roll-up shop doors, required by code to automatically open when the gas detection system triggers an alert for a gas leak, are also connected to this emergency system and have reached the end of their useful life and must be replaced. FAX is seeking to replace these roll-up shop doors with modern, insulated doors that provide more reliable operation in the event of an emergency, better regulation of temperatures on the shop floor, and improved safety features such as automatic sensors to prevent the doors from closing on staff and equipment.
This contract complies with Resolution 2021-242 Project Labor Agreement. Executive Order 135052 issued by the President in 2009, encourages the use of Project Labor Agreements in construction contracts, but did not change federal law prohibiting hiring based upon local or geographical preference. The Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act, enacted November 15, 2021, changed federal law to enable hiring based upon local or geographical preference for federally assisted projects. Therefore, the use of Federal Transit Administration funds does not preclude the use of a Project Labor Agreement or hiring based upon local/geographical preference.
The Department of Transportation worked with City of Fresno Purchasing Department to post a Notice Inviting Bids on PlanetBids on August 26, 2024. The invitation for bids (IFB) was also posted on the City’s website, advertised in local community groups and construction organizations, and in Mass Transit Magazine as well as the Central California Builders Exchange. Two (2) bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on October 31, 2024. RMS Construction was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire on January 3, 2025. FAX has performed an analysis of RMS Construction’s bid and determined it to be fair and reasonable, having fallen 17.885% below the cost estimate of $4,230,410.00. Therefore, staff recommends Council approve a construction contract in the amount of $3,473,781.00 with RMS Construction to perform construction services for this project.
The City Attorney has approved the contract as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff determination that the proposed project qualifies for categorical exemption as set forth in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301/Class 1 and Section 15302/Class 2, of the State of California CEQA Guidelines as the improvements to the FAX Maintenance facilities involve the restoration or rehabilitation of existing facilities with negligible or no expansion of capacity.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was in effect for this procurement, however did not affect the outcome of the bid.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project has no fiscal impact on the General Fund. The project budget is comprised of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Program 5339 funds, State of California SB1 State of Good Repair funds, and California Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (LCTOP) funds. Local match funds will be comprised of FAX Enterprise funds, as needed. Appropriations were included and are available in the FAX FY2025 budget.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation and Fiscal Impact Statement
Environmental Assessment No. P24-1582
Standard Contract