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Department of Transportation, Community Development Services, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 498-S1711 with Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd., in the not-to-exceed amount of $147,000 for a term to become effective upon execution by both parties and expiring three years thereafter, to provide specific on-call environmental support services for Tahoe Basin projects.
FUNDING: Capital Improvement Program funding sources that fund Transportation projects.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Department of Transportation (Transportation) recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 498-S1711 (Agreement) with Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd. (Nichols), in the not-to-exceed amount of $147,000 for a term to become effective upon execution by both parties and expiring three years thereafter, to provide specific on-call environmental support services for Tahoe Basin projects.
Transportation recommends the Board make findings in accordance with Section 3.13.030 of the County Ordinance that it is more economical and feasible to engage an independent contractor for the on-call environmental support services because there are specialty skills required for the work performed under this Agreement that are not expressly identified in County classifications. Some Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects involve environmental review services which require familiarity with State and Federal environmental procedures, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and permitting processes.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The County's Procurement and Contracts Division completed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process on behalf of the Community Development Agency and Transportation in March 2014 for a variety of project support services. A multi-jurisdictional panel evaluated and ranked each Statement of Qualifications and established, based on category of service, a short list of acceptable service vendors. On February 2, 2017, Transportation initiated a Request for Proposals (RFP) and sent the RFP to the top twelve ranked consulting firms from the 2014 RFQ in Category 2D. Since results from the 2016 RFQ were not finalized until February 27, 2017, the 2014 RFQ was used for this solicitation. Senior Engineering staff evaluated the three proposals received. It was determined that Nichols had the best qualified staff and experience to assist Transportation in successfully preparing necessary environmental documents. Both the RFQ and RFP processes was conducted in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to not approve the Agreement. County staff does not have the specialty skills necessary to complete much of the environmental work required to deliver projects. The next option would be to proceed with another RFP and agenda process that could take two to three months to complete.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Risk Management have reviewed and approved the Agreement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated with this item. Funding for the Agreement will be provided by various funding sources that fund Transportation's CIP projects in the Tahoe Basin.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on two original copies of the Agreement.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward one signed original copy of the Agreement to Community Development Services Administration and Finance, Contracts and Procurement Unit, for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Bard R. Lower, Interim Director
Department of Transportation