REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
January 17, 2019
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, Interim Director
Department of Transportation
BY: BRIAN BARR, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
KRISTOPHER GREY, Projects Administrator
Department of Transportation/Capital Projects
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to awarding a contract to remove underground diesel storage tanks in the Fresno Area Express bus yard:
1. Adopt findings of categorical exemptions pursuant to sections 15301 and 15330 of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines
2. Award a construction contract to Jimmy the Junker, Inc., DBA Williams Excavation, of Fresno, California, in the amount of $481,600 for removal and disposal of underground diesel tanks, dispensers, and associated piping
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council adopt findings of categorical exemptions pursuant to Sections 15301 and 15330 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, and award a construction contract for the base bid amount of $481,600 to Jimmy the Junker, Inc., DBA Williams Excavation of Fresno, California, as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the removal and disposal of underground diesel tanks, dispensers, and associated piping at the Fresno Area Express (FAX) bus yard.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
FAX no longer uses diesel powered buses; therefore, it no longer has a need for diesel fuel storage. FAX seeks Council approval of a construction contract for the removal and disposal of underground diesel fuel tanks, dispensers, and associated piping located at the FAX bus yard. Removing the diesel tanks will improve the environmental health of the FAX facility and improve the safety of the staff and nearby buildings in the facility.
BACKGROUND
Previously, FAX operated transit service using diesel-powered buses. To support a large bus fleet, FAX stored diesel fuel in underground storage tanks. As the bus fleet is now 100 percent powered by compressed natural gas fuels, there is no longer a need to purchase and store diesel fuel for transit use. FAX seeks to remove four 20,000 gallon underground diesel storage tanks, dispensers, and associated piping located in the parking lot of the FAX bus facility. Furthermore, removal and disposal will eliminate any potential environmental liabilities with continuing to store diesel fuel.
This work is the first phase of the FAX Facility Improvement Project, which also includes a new fare counting building, parking lot efficiency upgrades, bus entrance/exit reconfigurations, solar generation, fire alarm upgrades, and electric bus charging infrastructure.
This work will not affect fuel storage capacity for the City’s municipal fleet as fuel storage is not shared.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on November 12, 2018, posted on the City’s website, and faxed to eleven building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to fifteen prospective bidders. Four sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on December 4, 2018. Bids ranged from $481,600.00 to $491,750.00. Jimmy the Junker, Inc., DBA Williams Excavation, of Fresno was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bids will expire on February 6, 2019. The engineer’s estimate for the project was $543,387.00; the total contract price is 11.37 percent below the estimate.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment of this project and has determined this project is exempt under Sections 15301 and 15330 of the CEQA guidelines. Section 15301 is applicable because the project will rehabilitate existing facilities with no expansion of capacity. Furthermore, Section 15330 is applicable because the project is a minor cleanup action taken to prevent, minimize, stabilize, mitigate, or eliminate the release or threat of release of a hazardous waste costing $1 million or less. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not applicable as federal funding is used for this construction project. However, the lowest bidder is a local business.
FISCAL IMPACT
This project has no fiscal impact to the General Fund. This project will be funded from State of California Proposition 1B California Transit Security Grant Program funds and FTA grants.
Attachment:
Bid Evaluation