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Department of Transportation recommending the Board take the following actions pertaining to South Tahoe Greenway - Upper Truckee River Bridge at Johnson Meadow Project, Capital Improvement Program project number 36107023:
1) Find in accordance with County Ordinance Code Chapter 3.13, Section 3.13.030 (C), Contracting Out, that it is appropriate to contract with Nichols Consulting Engineers for geotechnical and environmental services;
2) Award Request for Proposal 22-925-065 to Nichols Consulting Engineers, Chtd.; and
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement 6996 with Nichols Consulting Engineers in the amount of $259,935 for a three (3) year term.
(Supervisor - District 5)
FUNDING: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Air Quality Mitigation Funds (0.5%), Regional Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (12.1%), To Be Determined (87.4%), (Local and Federal Funds). Funding for the environmental and geotechnical phase of the project is fully funded with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Air Quality Mitigation Funds and Regional Surface Transportation Block Grant Program funding. Funding for the construction phase is to be determined and will be a combination of local and federal funds.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The South Tahoe Greenway - Upper Truckee River Bridge at Johnson Meadow Project (Project) will build upon the South Tahoe Greenway shared use path network through the south shore of Lake Tahoe. The Project aims to construct approximately 1.2 miles of a Class 1 shared-use path and replace a bridge over the Upper Truckee River that was heavily used before its destruction by the 2017 winter storms. The Project will provide active transportation users a critical link to Barton Hospital to the west and Lake Tahoe Community College and the Tahoe Sierra neighborhood to the east. The Project will also add another link in the South Tahoe Greenway that will eventually connect Meyers with Van Sickle Bi-State Park at Stateline, Nevada.
The proposed Agreement for Services #6996 (Agreement) with Nichols Consulting Engineers (NCE) is necessary to provide environmental, geotechnical, and design support services for the Project. The RFP process was conducted in accordance with County Procurement Policy C-17 and Chapter 10 of the Caltrans Local Assistance Procedures Manual.
Funding for the Agreement is included in the Project funding as shown in Transportation’s 2022 CIP, which the Board approved on June 14, 2022 (Legistar #22-0521, Item 48).
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 environmental and geotechnical support services because there are specialty skills required for the work to be performed under this proposed Agreement that are not expressly identified in County Bargaining Unit classifications. The need for expertise in specialty services is sporadic and temporary and is not sufficient to warrant the addition of permanent staff. The El Dorado County Employees Association, Local 1, has been informed of this proposed Agreement.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve the Agreement. Transportation would make changes as requested and return to the Board for approval. This would increase the cost of the Project and delay construction.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See Discussion/Background section above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Procurement and Contracts, County Counsel, Human Resources, and Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve staff recommendation.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to net County cost resulting from the approval of the proposed Agreement. Funding for this agreement is covered by Regional Surface Transportation Block Grant Program (RSTP). Funding for the Project is included in Transportation’s 2022 CIP, which was approved by the Board on June 14, 2022 (Legistar #22-0521, Item 48).
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on one (1) original of the Agreement.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward one (1) fully-executed original of the Agreement to the Chief Administrative Office, Procurement and Contracts Division, for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation