REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 1, 2016
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Construction Management Division
BILL HERR, Construction Manager
Public Works Department, Construction Management Division
BY: JESUS A. GONZALEZ, Professional Engineer
Public Works Department, Construction Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Materials Testing, Acceptance Services and Independent Assurance Testing for Capital Improvement Projects within the City of Fresno street right-of-way (Citywide)
1. Approve agreement in the amount of $470,000 with Blackburn Consulting for materials testing and acceptance services.
2. Approve agreement in the amount of $470,000 with Krazan & Associates, Inc., for materials testing and acceptance services.
3. Approve agreement in the amount of $55,000 with Moore Twining Associates, Inc., for independent assurance testing
4. 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 $470,000 each with Blackburn Consulting and Krazan & Associates, Inc. for Materials Testing and Acceptance Services; and approve an agreement in the amount of $55,000 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 (FHWA) requirement that must be implemented as a condition of Federal-aid funded projects. This program tests materials being incorporated into City projects and assures that the materials and workmanship are in conformance with project specifications, State and Federal requirements. The City utilizes consulting firms engaged as testing laboratories to provide the required testing and quality assurances per Federal requirements. Following the issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and a thorough consultant selection process, staff has negotiated the three agreements being recommended for Council approval. All costs associated with the materials testing and QAP are funded by the respective capital improvement projects being constructed.
BACKGROUND
As required by both FHWA and Caltrans for Federal-aid projects, the Public Works Department has updated 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 a third independent firm to perform evaluation and certification services to ensure the testing labs awarded Materials Testing and Acceptance Services agreements are in compliance with all testing and inspection requirements.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised in the Business Journal on February 24, 2016. The Statements of Qualifications were reviewed and the participating laboratories were short listed with interviews held the week of March 14, 2016. Public Works has determined that Blackburn Consulting 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 $470,000 each with Blackburn Consulting and Krazan & Associates, Inc. as well as the approval in the amount of $55,000 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 agreements for consultant services have been approved to form by the City Attorney’s Office.
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 a factor.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this testing program has been included in each Capital Improvement Project’s budget allocation and will have no fiscal impact on the General Fund.
Attachment:
Agreement with Blackburn Consulting
Agreement with Krazan & Associates, Inc.
Agreement with Moore Twining Associates, Inc.