TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7186 and award a contract to Walsh Construction II LLC, of Corona, CA, for the Reconstruct Taxiway L Project at the Long Beach Airport, in the amount of $17,608,929, with a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $1,760,893, for a total contract amount not to exceed $19,369,822; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments;
Adopt Categorical Exemption CE-20-099; and
Increase appropriations in the Airport Fund Group in the Airport Department by $25,308,052, offset by grant revenue and funds available. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with Walsh Construction, LLC, for the Reconstruct Taxiway L Project (Project) at the Long Beach Airport (Airport). Taxiway L serves as the primary taxiway for all departing commercial aircraft and is also used by air cargo carriers. Taxiway L has exhibited accelerated pavement damage (in structural subgrade), presumably due to the limitations of compaction over the Lakewood Boulevard and Spring Street tunnels. As a result, the Airport has performed numerous emergency surface repairs to prevent foreign object debris. This project will reconstruct Taxiway L and the connectors using Portland Cement Concrete. The resulting improvements to the primary air carrier taxiway will preserve safety and capacity.
The bid was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on April 29, 2021, and 4,788 potential bidders specializing in construction services were notified of the bid opportunity. Of those bidders, 73 downloaded the bid via the City's electronic bid system. The bid document was made available from the Purchasing Division, located on the sixth floor of City Hall, and the Division’s website at www.longbeach.gov/purchasing <http://www.longbeach.gov/purchasing>. A bid announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 35 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. In addition, a bid announcement was made through Constant Contact and 1,128 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) specializing in construction-related services were notified. Four bids were received on June 8, 2021. Of those four bidders, none were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), certified Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), or Long Beach businesses (Local). Walsh Construction, LLC, of Corona, CA, was the lowest responsible bidder.
Construction is anticipated to begin in September 2021 and should take approximately 15 months to complete. The construction Plans and Specifications contain phasing requirements to maintain sufficient access for all Airport passengers and operators, including commercial airlines and general aviation tenants.
Local Business Outreach
To align with the City’s outreach goal, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit bids for City contracts. The Purchasing Division also assists businesses with registering on the PlanetBids database to download the bid specifications. Through outreach, 423 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit bids, of which one downloaded, and none submitted a bid. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
In an effort to notify DBEs, and in addition to regular practices, an additional bid announcement was made and 1,128 DBEs specializing in construction-related services were also notified of this bid opportunity.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Categorical Exemption CE-20-099 was issued for this project (Attachment). The project received a Categorical Exclusion pursuant to FAA Order 1050.1F, and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act on May 27, 2020.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard F. Anthony on July 1, 2021, Purchasing Agent Michelle Wilson on June 28, 2021, and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on July 9, 2021.
SUSTAINABILITY
The project specifications will allow the contractor to use asphalt millings from the demolition of the existing Taxiway L as a base material for the new pavement section. This will significantly reduce the number of dump truck trips required for construction of the aggregate subbase and the amount of new aggregate material that needs to be produced. The new Taxiway L concrete pavement will have an anticipated service life of 40 years. Existing taxiway lights and associated signs will be removed and replaced with LED lights, which will have a much longer life expectancy, lower energy consumption, and lower maintenance costs compared to existing lighting.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7186 and award a contract concurrently is requested on August 3, 2021, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total amount of the contract will not exceed $19,369,822, inclusive of a 10 percent contingency of $1,760,893 for unforeseen circumstances. The total project cost, including the contract award, is estimated at $25,308,052, which includes design, construction management, inspection services, material testing, labor compliance, DBE administration, and related project support.
On July 7, 2020, the City Council authorized the acceptance of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grant for Fiscal Year 2020 to fund capital improvements to Taxiway B and Taxiway L in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000. The grant award was received on September 15, 2020. The Taxiway L Reconstruction Project will be funded by FAA AIP and FAA CARES Act grant in the amount of $25,055,872.
The total grant funding allocated for the AIP-eligible portion of the project is $22,944,280. The grant requires matching funds in the amount of $2,363,772, of which $2,111,592 will be funded by the FAA’s allocation of funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress on March 27, 2020. The remaining grant match requirement of $252,180 will be funded by funds available within the Airport Fund Group generated by Passenger Facility Charges (PFC) in the Airport Department. An appropriation increase in the amount of $25,308,052 in the Airport Fund Group in the Airport Department is requested, offset by reimbursement grant revenue and PFC funds available within the Airport Fund Group.
This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. The award of this contract will provide continued support to our local economy by assisting in the preservation of employment for 24 full-time employees residing in Long Beach.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CYNTHIA GUIDRY
DIRECTOR, LONG BEACH AIRPORT
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER