Title
Environmental Consulting Services Agreement (NB)
Explanation
As a result of discussions with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), specialized assistance in the development of operational performance standards for the proposed Thermal Treatment Unit (TTU) that is to be part of the Poole Roofing/CSXT manufactured gas plant site remediation work is required to augment the City's existing contract with Environmental Consulting & Technology, Inc. Staff has identified Focus Environmental as a highly qualified firm with a demonstrated track record of specialized knowledge and experience uniquely able to provide the required supplemental assistance. The proposed scope of services includes modifying the existing project bid specifications to reflect greater specificity and technical detail for the TTU and its operation. A subsequent and related task would be the development of proposal evaluation criteria to be used in the selection process of the TTU vendor. In addition, Focus will be tasked with a constructability review of the contract documents, intended to reduce the exposure to contract change orders.
Focus Environmental was selected based on its highly qualified environmental staff and its history of success with 100+ technically complex remediation projects using thermal treatment and air pollution control processes for waste management. These projects ranged in size from 700 to 275,000 tons of treated soil over the past ten (10) years for a wide variety of industrial and governmental clients. In addition, Focus Environmental specializes in the field of soil remediation yet does not have ties to a company performing thermal treatment and thus is uniquely qualified to represent the City and its interests.
Much work has been done over the past several months trying to establish the operation criteria for the proposed mobile thermal treatment unit to be used in the remediation work. The regulatory agencies have agreed to inclusion of operational air emission standards as part of the Remedial Action Plan for the site. These parameters would then become incorporated into the required air permit. This is a departure from the normal Remedial Action Plan process in which the work is bid, the contractor is selected, and subsequently the air permit is issued based on the contractor's proposed performance. The modified process will allow GRU to bid the project with permitted emission standards as performance standards that would be used in the bid evaluation process. This should trim as much as six (6) months off of the permitting activity and should take some of the potential complications out of the bidding and contract award process.
Recommendations
The City Commission authorize the General Manager or his designee to negotiate and execute an agreement with Focus Environmental, Inc., as a specified source, for consulting services associated specifically with thermal treatment unit (TTU) issues related to the Poole Roofing/CSXT manufactured gas plant site remediation in an amount not to exceed $70,000.00.
Fiscal Note
Funding for this request is included in the Gas Acquisition Cleanup within the Capital Improvements Budget for FY 2005.
Drafter
Prepared by: Ed Regan, P.E., Assistant General Manager, Strategic Planning
Submitted by: Michael L. Kurtz, General Manager