Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board:
1) 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 environmental reviews and structural engineering support services; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign First Amendment to Agreement for Services 238-S1611/451 with CH2M Hill, Inc., to extend the performance period an additional two years for a total of five years, to provide environmental reviews and structural engineering support services for the Mount Murphy Road at South Fork American River - Bridge Replacement Project, CIP 77129/36105029, with no change to the not-to-exceed amount, the fee schedule, or the scope of the agreement.
FUNDING: Highway Bridge Program (100%). (Federal Funds)
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Department of Transportation (Transportation) brought to the Board on June 14, 2016, Item 21, Legistar 13-0217 the Agreement for Services 238-S1611/451 (Agreement) with CH2M Hill, Inc. (CH2M), to provide environmental reviews and structural engineering support services for the Mount Murphy Road at South Fork American River - Bridge Replacement Project (Project), Capital Improvement Program (CIP) 77129, which was approved. The First Amendment (Amendment) to the Agreement will extend the performance period an additional two (2) years for a total of five (5) years. The environmental compliance process has taken longer than expected to complete and the Project continues to work through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance process.
Transportation recommends the Board make findings in accordance with Section 3.13.030 of the El Dorado County Ordinance that it is more economical and feasible to engage an independent consultant for the environmental reviews and structural engineering support services on the Project because there are specialty skills and qualifications required for the work to be performed under this Agreement that are not expressly identified in County classifications and the work to be performed is not sufficient to warrant the addition of permanent staff. There are specialty skills required for much of the work, including CEQA, NEPA, and structural engineering requirements.
The initial analysis of the Project was broken out into two phases, Phase 1A and Phase 1B. Phase 1A evaluated the feasibility of rehabilitating the existing structure and improving roadway approaches in compliance with current design standards. The recommendation at the conclusion of Phase 1A work was to proceed with Phase 1B to investigate feasible alternatives for replacement of the deficient Mt. Murphy Road Bridge along the existing alignment or at another location.
On December 16, 2014, Item 47, Legistar 13-0217, the Board received a presentation from Transportation regarding the status of the project planning phase (Phase 1B) of the Project. The presentation summarized the completion of a series of three Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) workshops held in 2014 at the Gold Trail Grange (Grange) in Coloma, including a description of the three alternative bridge locations that resulted from preferences expressed by the SAC combined with technical analysis conducted thus far. Analysis of the three alternatives and associated environmental constraints analysis is the subject of the completed Alternative Analysis Report (AAR), which marks the completion of Phase 1B of the Project.
Transportation then presented these results at a public meeting on the evening of January 28, 2015 at the Grange. This public meeting also served as the public Scoping Meeting for the CEQA Notice of Preparation of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that will be prepared for this Project under Phase 2. Subsequent public meetings were held on January 12, 2017 and September 5, 2018 to update the public on the status of the Project.
Materials, presentations, and meeting summaries can be found on the Project website at <http://www.edcgov.us/MtMurphyBridge/>.
The proposed Amendment will not change the original not-to-exceed amount of $1,867,675.99, nor will it change the original employee fee schedule included in the Agreement. The purpose of the Amendment is to extend the performance period for the services still to be completed. No new scope is being added and the existing budget remaining is sufficient to accommodate the services required.
The El Dorado County Employees Association, Local #1, was informed of this proposed Amendment.
ALTERNATIVES
1) The Board could direct Transportation to make changes to the Amendment and return to the Board at a later date. Transportation's ability to bring the environmental document to the Board for consideration would be delayed. Board approval of the environmental document is necessary for the completion of the Project.
2) The Board could direct Transportation to complete the environmental document through an alternate agreement. This option would also result in delayed completion of the environmental document and potential additional costs.
3) The Board could cancel the Project. Potentially, HBP funding already expended would have to be paid back by the County.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See Discussion / Background Section above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Risk Management have reviewed and approved the Amendment.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to net County cost resulting from approval of the proposed Amendment. Funding for the Project is budgeted in Transportation’s 2018 CIP, which was approved by the Board on June 26, 2018, Item 61, Legistar 18-0616.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on two (2) originals of the Amendment.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward one (1) original Amendment to the County’s Chief Administrative Office, Procurement and Contracts, for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation