Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board take the following actions related to the Mosquito Road Bridge at South Fork American River Project, Capital Improvement Program project number 77126/36105028:
1) Receive a presentation regarding the project’s progression to the construction phase for the replacement of the Mosquito Road Bridge;
2) Award Request for Proposal number 20-961-081 for the construction support services to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.; and
3) Authorize the Director of Transportation to further negotiate a contract for the project and return to the Board for contract approval.
FUNDING: Highway Bridge Program Funds (99.9%) and Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) Funds (0.1%).
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Department of Transportation (Transportation) has received federal funding for the design and right of way phases from the Federal Highway Association Highway Bridge Program (HBP) to replace the existing Mosquito Road Bridge (Project). The Project is located in a steep canyon of the South Fork of the American River, approximately six (6) miles north of U.S. Highway 50, and two (2) miles south of the communities of Mosquito and Swansboro. The purpose of the Project is to replace the existing bridge with a functional bridge that meets current design and safety standards. Federal funding for the Project has been programmed for the construction phase as Transportation moves toward preparation for construction. The active construction period is estimated to be two and a half (2 ½) years, with an estimated six (6) months to complete the necessary documents for Project closeout. Transportation plans on advertising for construction bids this winter 2021/2022, with construction beginning approximately in spring of 2022.
On March 23, 2021, at the request of Transportation, the Procurement and Contracts Division of the Chief Administrative Office issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for construction support services on the Project. Transportation evaluated the need for services based on specialty services required for building a balanced cantilever segmental bridge. After an extended RFP proposal schedule and process, Transportation received three (3) proposals by the due date of May 3, 2021. A panel evaluated and ranked the proposals based on the thoroughness, clarity, and quality of the material presented with emphasis on understanding scope and the building of this type of bridge, past performance and related experience, expertise, project approach, and familiarity of federal processes. The panel also conducted interviews with all three (3) proposers. The top-ranked proposer was determined to be Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. (Jacobs Engineering). Notification of the RFP results was provided to all of the proposers on May 17, 2021. The County’s Project Manager and Contract Administrator (CA) have been reviewing Jacobs Engineering’s cost proposal to begin negotiations, which include an out of state specialist segmental bridge construction structure inspector be a part of the Project construction team. Given the unique and specialty nature of segmental bridges, experienced field personnel are scarce. The proposed structure inspector has direct field experience on over 25,000 bridge segments but lives out of state, resulting in additional Other Direct Costs (ODCs) for working out of the area. These grant reimbursable ODCs, which will be reviewed by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and are consistent with other projects of specialized need, include outside rental equipment and trucks, long and short term lodging, meals and incidentals, and mileage. Prior to contract award, Architectural & Engineering (A&E) contracts on federal and state funded transportation projects require Transportation to obtain contract approval from Caltrans. Transportation is also preparing to utilize Jacobs Engineering on an on-call basis to supplement existing Transportation staff when needed. Transportation intends to utilize its staff as much as feasible during construction. The scope of the on-call work is broken out into two (2) categories of Optional Tasks and Optional Services items. The Optional Tasks have pre-defined work items that will be initiated with a notice to proceed document by the Resident Engineer (RE). The Optional Services are contingencies for the Optional Tasks, but must be initiated with task orders and work orders by the CA during construction. The total estimated cost of the support services contract is approximately $4.6M, which includes an approximate $2.5M base scope of services, predefined Optional Tasks estimated at approximately $900K, and Optional Services estimated at $1.3M. The Project’s construction management budget includes $5.2M for Transportation staff, of which $2.2M is the shared optional tasks and services between Transportation staff and Jacobs Engineering.
Transportation is also preparing the Fourth Amendment to Agreement for Services 467-S1411 with Quincy Engineering, Inc. (Quincy). Quincy has been working with Transportation through final design and preparation for advertising for construction bids on the Project. The Fourth Amendment to Quincy’s agreement will continue Quincy’s design assistance with Transportation and Jacobs Engineering for construction support services through the construction of the Project. The scope and estimate are still being negotiated and this agreement will be brought to the Board for approval in a separate item.
On December 10, 2019, Transportation presented a Project update to the Board that included an Environmental Impact Report addendum to close Mosquito Road for up to ten (10) weeks annually, consistent with maintenance activities of the existing bridge, to assist with the construction operations of the Project. These closures may also be short term and intermittent as needed to maintain public safety. Details of the closure dates, schedule, and detours will be coordinated with the community, emergency response, and key stakeholders as additional information and construction schedules become available. Resolution 021-2018 allows for Director of Transportation approval of road closures up to 60 days, but requires Board approval for longer durations. A resolution for Board approval of these road closures will be brought to the Board with the advertisement for construction bids item.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board choose not to authorize the Director of Transportation to negotiate the contract, Transportation would not be able to build the Project and may include the consequence of reimbursing all federal funding received to date.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On August 16, 2016, Item 25, Legistar 16-0629, the Board adopted the Draft Feasibility Study for Public Access to the South Fork of the American River at Mosquito Road Bridge.
On August 8, 2017, Item 27, Legistar 17-0725, the Board certified the Final Environmental Impact Report.
On December 10, 2019, Item 47, Legistar 19-1702, the Board received a presentation regarding the latest Project design and adopted the Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report.
On February 23, 2021, Item 29, Legistar 20-0914, the Board approved the High Cost Project Agreement with Caltrans for the Project.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Chief Administrative Office, CDS Administration and Finance, and Caltrans have each been involved with portions of this Project.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for the Project is included in Transportation’s 2021 Capital Improvement Program, which was approved by the Board on June 8, 2021, Item 54, Legistar 21-0624. The Board will not obligate the County with the current requested action. The obligation will result from the subsequent action of awarding the contract to Jacobs Engineering.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
TRANSPORTATION FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Transportation will return to the Board for approval of Jacobs Engineering’s contract at a later date.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation