REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: ANDREW J. BENELLI, PE, City Engineer/Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic Engineering Division
JILL GORMLEY, TE, Traffic Operations and Planning Manager
Public Works Department, Traffic Operations and Planning
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to on-call professional engineering services for the Public Works Traffic Operations and Planning Division for bicycle facilities planning (Citywide)
1. Approve an On-Call Consultant Services Agreement with TJKM Transportation Consultants, in the amount of $100,000
2. Approve an On-Call Consultant Services Agreement with Peters Engineering Group, in the amount of $100,000
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve two On-Call Professional Engineering Services Agreement between the City of Fresno (City) and 1) TJKM Transportation Consultants and 2) Peters Engineering Group, collectively (Consultants) to provide professional engineering services for the Public Works Traffic Operations and Planning Division on city bicycle facility projects, for two-year terms, to be reimbursed for hours worked at the hourly rates specified in the Schedule of Fees included in the Consultants’ respective agreements, not to exceed $100,000, with no guarantee expressed or implied that the $100,000 amount will be authorized under any of the two respective agreements, and Authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute both agreements on behalf of the City.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recognizes the need for bicycle facilities that balance safety, access and mobility for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. Planning and designing a network of bicycle facilities throughout the City is a priority for the City, as identified in the goals of the General Plan and the Active Transportation Plan. Due to the increase in project workload and the commonality of the improvements included in these projects, staff is recommending the proposed on-call agreements as a solution to efficiently deliver these projects. The consultant’s proposed scope of services includes various professional engineering services that will support City staff with grant preparation, transportation infrastructure design, and traffic operations projects. The Department has performed a qualification-based hiring process and has selected two firms to perform these necessary services on an on-call basis.
Upon approval and execution of the Agreements, projects will be identified, a Request for Proposal (RFP) will be issued to both Consultants, and project-by-project Task Orders will be issued based on the most qualified consultant for the project. The funding for these services will come from Measure C bicycle funds.
BACKGROUND
The growing need for more bicycle facilities has led to the need for on-call consultants to efficiently develop the planning design documents and support City staff in grant preparation and construction of facilities. The agreements for On-Call Professional Engineering Services will allow staff to deliver bicycle projects promptly and more efficiently. The proposed services will include preparation of conceptual drawings and striping plans, cost estimates, and operational analyses of corridors and intersections. Hiring consultants to provide these services on a project-by-project basis is time consuming and creates project initiation delays. Staff recommends approval of the proposed agreements in order to improve efficiencies and project timelines to perform the professional engineering services for the City’s capital programs.
In accordance with Administrative Order (A.O.) 6-19, staff sent out Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for professional engineering services on January 13, 2023, via Planet Bids, email, and published in the Business Journal. At the closing of the advertisement period on February 10, 2023, the RFQ received five responses. City staff evaluated each Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) and determined all submittals were qualified to move into the interview process. One firm denied the interview. The remaining four SOQ’s were evaluated and ranked and each consultant team was interviewed. At the conclusion of the evaluation period TJKM Transportation Consultants and Peters Engineering Group were selected as the most qualified consultants for these services.
Staff is recommending the City Council Approve two agreements with 1) TJKM Transportation Consultants, and 2) Peters Engineering Group for Professional Engineering Services, each with two-year terms and a total compensation not to exceed $100,000 individually, with no guarantee expressed or implied that $100,000 will be authorized under any respective agreement, to provide various professional engineering services for the Public Works Traffic Operations and Planning Division on City capital projects, and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the agreement, approved as to form by the City Attorney’s Office, on behalf of the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the award of these contracts does not qualify as a “project.”
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was implemented in the consultant selection process.
FISCAL IMPACT
These agreements have no immediate impact to the General Fund and the agreements will service projects in all Council Districts. All funding necessary for the services of the proposed agreements will be appropriated under Measure C bicycle funds.
Attachment(s):
Consulting Services Agreement - TJKM Transportation Consultants
Consulting Services Agreement - Peters Engineering Group