REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: AHMAD ALKHAYYAT, PE, MBA, Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Solid Waste Management Division
LORENZO NADORA, Solid Waste Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Solid Waste Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement with Southwest Strategies, LLC, for an amount not to exceed $299,744 for professional education and outreach services for City of Fresno residential food waste education and outreach program (Bid File 12301817) (Citywide)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant services agreement with Southwest Strategies, LLC, in the amount not to exceed $299,744 to provide professional education and outreach services for City of Fresno residential food waste education and outreach program (Project); and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign the agreement on behalf of the City of Fresno (City).
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) is actively pursuing compliance with the requirements imposed through Senate Bill (SB) 1383 and incorporated into Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, in addition to all City organics and food waste requirements. After a competitive consultant selection process, the SWMD desires to enter into a consultant services agreement (Agreement) for the Project to create and implement a comprehensive, multi-lingual food waste education and outreach program targeting residential solid waste customers in the amount not to exceed $299,744.
Approval of this contract with Southwest Strategies, LLC, will assist the SWMD’s efforts to achieve SB 1383 compliance.
BACKGROUND
The organic waste recovery outreach and education requirements imposed by SB 1383 are incorporated into the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 7, and Section 18985.1. As stated therein, the City is required to provide relevant information such as requirements, methods, and benefits to organic waste generators receiving organic waste collection services.
SWMD requires a consultant for these services because public information and media services personnel are not contained within the division. The public information professionals will provide SWMD with a comprehensive public information and outreach program that will update, educate, and inform the City’s residential customers about food waste and organics waste in general.
In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1, and Administrative Order 6-19 (AO 6-
19), the DPU conducted a competitive process to select a consultant to provide professional services for the Project. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was posted on Planet Bids on February 1, 2023. On March 8, 2023, the City received five Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) packages from prospective consultants. Pursuant to AO 6-19, the RFQ required the consultants to provide detailed information regarding the experience of the firm and proposed team along with additional project related scope items necessary to perform the requested services. Upon review of the received SOQs and based upon established criteria and the proposed fee, Southwest Strategies, LLC, was selected as the firm providing the best value for the requested services.
Staff recommends the approval of a two-year consultant services agreement to Southwest Strategies, LLC, for an amount not to exceed $299,744, for professional education and outreach services for City of Fresno residential food waste education and outreach program. The contract has been approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office and the consultant’s Certificates of Insurance have been approved by the City’s Risk Management Division. Upon approval by the City Council, the Agreement will be executed by the Director of Public Utilities, or his designee.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378 the approval of this agreement does not qualify as a "project' and is therefore exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented for this professional services contract because this is funded through state grants.
FISCAL IMPACT
The expenditure will not have any impact on the General Fund. Funding for Public Education and Outreach services for the Department of Public Utilities is budgeted beginning FY 2024 in the DPU Solid Waste Management Enterprise Funds (Enterprise Funds] using SB 1383 Local Assistance Grant Program funding.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Consultant Services Agreement