Title
Transportation Department recommending Chairman be authorized to sign the following Agreements to provide geotechnical and geological engineering support services, including materials testing and environmental geotechnics, during the 2007 and 2008 construction seasons:
(1) Agreement for Services AGMT 06-1240 with Kleinfelder, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $500,000 for a two year term;
(2) Agreement for Services AGMT 06-1241 with Blackburn Consulting in an amount not to exceed $225,000 for a term to expire December 31, 2008; and
(3) Agreement for Services AGMT 06-1242 with Youngdahl Consulting Group, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $225,000 for a term to expire December 31, 2008.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve.
FUNDING: 2004 General Plan Traffic Impact Mitigation Fee Program, Reimbursable Developer Fees, Federal Aid.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$950,000.00 |
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Funding |
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Budgeted |
$140,000.00 |
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New Funding |
$ |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other * |
$810,000.00 |
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Total Funding Available |
$950,000.00 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$- 0 - |
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* To be included in future year budgets.
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost:
The Department included $140,000 in its Fiscal Year (FY) 2006/2007 budget for these Agreements and anticipates budgeting the remaining amount in FY 2007/2008 and FY 2008/2009. The final cost is recovered through restricted sources that fund the Department's capital improvement projects and by developer impact fees. The Department does not anticipate expending the entire $950,000 from the three Contracts, but needs to maintain flexibility in the event one consultant contract is utilized to a greater extent than the others. There is no cost to the County General Fund.
Background:
On June 8, 2006, the Department sent Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) to 35 consultants to provide professional geotechnical and geological engineering support services, including materials testing and environmental geotechnics, on capital improvement projects, developer financed highway improvements, subdivision projects, utility encroachments and emergency work on the County's West Slope during the 2007 and 2008 construction seasons. Nine consultants responded to the RFQ and the consultant selection committee, consisting of Department of Transportation Senior staff and El Dorado Irrigation District employee, Brian Mueller, Co-Drinking Water Division Manager, Engineering, evaluated their respective qualifications for the level of expertise required to perform the specific criteria. Blackburn Consulting, Youngdahl Consulting Group, Inc., and Kleinfelder, Inc. were chosen to provide the appropriately skilled and experienced staff, as well as the unique equipment necessary to accomplish the complex and essential services needed on highway and bridge construction projects.
Reason for Recommendation:
The Department's Construction Unit supports the Capital Improvement Program and developer built highway improvements. During the next two years, project design and construction is expected to remain steady resulting in a continued need for soils investigations, specialized materials inspections and materials testing. Contracted engineering services will include geotechnical observation, consultation, investigations and sampling, including final reports, materials testing, structural section evaluation, asbestos-serpentine evaluation, hazardous waste evaluation, underground drainage design, slope stability investigations, environmental site assessments and geophysical testing such as ground penetrating radar, seismic refraction, etc. The Department has some staff skilled in the basics of materials testing; however, the majority of the services require skills that are not expressly identified in County job classifications. In addition to providing expert and experienced staff, the consultants will also supply the appropriate specialized equipment necessary to perform the work.
It has been the experience of the Department that when working with such a multitude of contractors, developers, consultants and subconsultants, conflicts of interest occur, availability and particular expertise issues arise, and actual construction activity levels are unknown. Therefore, given peak construction activity periods, staff availability, the variables of project initiation and completion, postponement and other unforeseen factors, the Department requires multiple contracts for services. The Department will administer the professional services on a Task Order basis to the extent that the Department deems it necessary to augment its current staffing levels.
The Department requests the Board make findings pursuant to Article II, Section 210 b (6) of the El Dorado County Charter that there are specialty skills required for the work performed under these Agreements that are not expressly identified in County classifications.
The El Dorado County Employees Association, Local #1, has been informed of these proposed Agreements.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1) The Chairman will sign the two originals of each of the three Agreements; and,
2) The Board Clerk will forward one original of each of the fully-executed Agreements to the Department for further processing.
Contact:
Richard W. Shepard, P.E.
Director of Transportation
Concurrences:
Approved by County Counsel and Risk Management