REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, PE, Public Utilities Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
PETER A. MARACCINI, PE, PhD, Supervising Professional Engineer
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a consultant services agreement with Blais and Associates, LLC, for Grant Application and Administration Services for the Department of Public Utilities in the amount of a total fee not to exceed $450,000 for a three-year term (Bid File No. 10109) (City-Wide)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that City Council approve a consultant services agreement with Blais and Associates, LLC, for Grant Application and Administration Services for the Department of Public Utilities (Project) in the amount of a total fee not to exceed $450,000 for a three-year term; 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) is seeking outside funding to fully or partially pay for projects related to drinking water, wastewater, recycled water, and solid water management. With outside funding, DPU is able to reduce in part the financial burden to water, wastewater, and solid waste ratepayers. To take advantage of the many outside funding opportunities, DPU desires to contract with Blais and Associates, LLC, to provide grant review, evaluation, application preparation, and administration services. These services would be requested on an as-needed basis as specific grant or loan funding opportunities arise for drinking water, wastewater, recycled water, and solid waste management projects.
BACKGROUND
DPU is primarily comprised of the Water Division, Wastewater Management Division, and Solid Waste Management Division. Due to expansion of the utilities, the need to replace aging infrastructure, and changes to current operations brought on by new regulations, DPU creates Capital Improvement Programs for each division that detail the planned projects and anticipated spending. The budget for the Capital Improvement Programs is almost entirely funded by ratepayers paying for water, wastewater, or solid waste management services.
DPU desires to proactively pursue grant and low interest loan opportunities to augment funding sources which can have a positive effect on user utility rates. Primarily through State and Federal funding opportunities, the augmentative funding sources will be applied to the various Capital Improvement Programs. Due to the breadth and diversity of potential funding opportunities, DPU seeks a qualified consultant to monitor for grants relevant to our needs, develop grant proposals for various DPU projects, and provide grant administration and reporting services following a grant award. These services would be requested on an as-needed basis as specific grant or loan funding opportunities arise for drinking water, wastewater, recycled water, and solid waste management projects.
In accordance with Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 4, Article 1, and Administrative Order 6-19 (AO 6-19), DPU conducted a competitive process for selecting a consultant to provide the requested professional services for the Project. On March 30, 2022, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was published in the Business Journal and posted on the City’s Planet Bids website. Three Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) were received by the deadline of April 22, 2022. A selection committee, consisting of representatives from DPU, evaluated the SOQs and ranked the consultants. As allowed for in AO 6-19, the RFQ was structured for the prospective consultants to provide detailed information regarding experience of their teams and project approach. Upon review of the qualifications and analysis of the proposed fees, Blais and Associates, LLC, was selected as the consultant providing the best value based on the totality of the evaluation.
A standardized agreement has been used, without modification, in accordance with Administrative Order 4-4, which the City Attorney has reviewed and approved to form. The 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 (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this agreement is not a “project” as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was implemented during the evaluation of the SOQs. Blais and Associates, LLC, is not a local business pursuant to Fresno Municipal Code (FMC) Section 4-109(b)(1). Another consultant submitting an SOQ did qualify as a local business and, pursuant to the FMC Section 4-109(d), was extended a five percent preference during the evaluation of the SOQs. After the five percent preference was applied to the local business submitting an SOQ, Blais & Associates, LLC, still was evaluated as most qualified and as providing the best value to the City.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. Funding for the services is included in the Water Division’s five-year Capital Improvement Program budget within the Water Enterprise Fund 40101 and the Wastewater Division’s five-year Capital Improvement Program budget within the Wastewater Enterprise Fund 40501.
Attachment: Consultant Services Agreement