Title
General Architectural, Engineering and Consultation Services (B)
**This item was presented to the UAB on April 19, 2017.**
Explanation
On November 6, 2014, the City Commission authorized the CRA, City (Public Works and Facilities), and GRU to initiate contract negotiations with qualified architectural, engineering and consultation firms as a result of a request of a Request for Statement of Qualifications (RFSQ) for those services, issued for the first time as a joint effort. The resultant continuing contracts comply with Consultant’s Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) and provide staff augmentation when internal resources are already being fully utilized, the internal technical capabilities are not available, or third party input is desired from professionals in various disciplines.
The initial three-year contract term, which concludes September 30, 2017, may be extended for two additional one-year periods. Labor rates may be adjusted annually, based in part on the CPI, with the concurrence of the CRA, City, and GRU. Over half of the awarded firms are small, minority-owned or woman-owned businesses. The list of firms eligible for renewal is attached and includes a notation for the business classification.
As with all requirements for these professional services, the CRA, City, and GRU will award work to a firm on a project specific basis, and will award each project based upon an evaluation of a firm's understanding of the project scope, specific expertise and ability to complete the project, as well as the project completion time and cost. For projects with a cost estimated to exceed two million dollars, or when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the CRA, City, or GRU, a separate RFSQ will be issued requesting project specific submittals from the list of qualified professionals with the ranking submitted to the City Commission for approval.
Staff anticipates issuing a new RFSQ for continuing contracts during Fiscal Year 2018 to also allow participation of other interested firms.
Fiscal Note
Funding for the projects for which design or consultation services are required have been budgeted in the Capital Improvements Budgets of the CRA, City, and GRU departments requiring these services for FY 2018 and will be budgeted in future years as required.
Recommendation
Staff
1) approve the listing of qualified architectural, engineering and consultation firms eligible to renew agreements for the provision of design, engineering or consultation services associated with the CRA, City, and GRU facilities and City Commission approved Capital Improvement Projects or other projects that may emerge;
2) authorize the CRA Executive Director, City Manager and General Manager, or their designees, to negotiate renewals with the qualified firms in accordance with the provisions of CCNA for each of the remaining extensions;
3) authorize the CRA Executive Director, City Manager and General Manager, or their designees, upon successful negotiations, to execute renewal amendments for professional services for each of the successive one-year terms, subject to approval of the City Attorney as to form and legality, in an amount not to exceed budgeted amounts for professional architectural, engineering or consultation services.
UAB
At their April 19, 2017 meeting, the Utility Advisory Board voted 4-0, with member Walpole absent and member Alford recusing herself, to recommend that the Commission approve staff's recommendation.