TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7091 for the Long Beach Blue Line Signal Prioritization Project; award the contract to Aldridge Electric, Inc., of Libertyville, IL, in the amount of $2,078,187, authorize a 15 percent contingency in the amount of $311,728, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,389,915; authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments;
Increase appropriations in the Transportation Fund (SR 182) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $1,330,000, offset by funds available; and
Accept Categorical Exemption No. CE-17-052. (Districts 1,2,6,7,8,9)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with Aldridge Electric, Inc., for enhancement of signalized intersections along Metro Blue Line Corridor.
As a part of the City’s continuous efforts to improve and increase Metro Blue Line efficiency, the Long Beach Blue Line Signal Prioritization Project (Project) was developed to synchronize Blue Line timing and speed along the existing Blue Line route. It is anticipated that these improvements will reduce the commute time between Long Beach and Los Angeles by an estimated ten minutes. The Project includes traffic signal controller upgrades, light rail detection configuration, new fiber optic communication infrastructure, rail signal prioritization fine tuning, and various closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at signalized intersections along the Metro Blue Line Corridor from Downtown Long Beach to Wardlow Road. The Project also includes fiber optic, traffic signal controller upgrades, new signal timing, and various CCTV cameras will be installed at signalized vehicle intersections along Atlantic Avenue from Willow Street to SR-91. Over the course of the Project, there will not be any large scale impacts to Metro and vehicle transportation and minimal downtime. Grant funding for the Project was obtained from Metro’s 2013 Call for Projects.
This bid was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on April 14, 2017, and 4,362 potential bidders specializing in construction services were notified of the bid opportunity. Of those bidders, 52 downloaded the bid via the City’s electronic bid system. The bid document was made available from the Purchasing Division, located on the seventh 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 22 local, minority, and women-owned business groups. Four bids were received on May 17, 2017. Of those four bidders, one is a Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE) and certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE), none are Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs) or Long Beach businesses (Local). Aldridge Electric, Inc., of Libertyville, IL (not an MBE, WBE, SBE or Local), was the lowest responsible bidder.
Local Business Outreach
In an effort 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, 392 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit bids, of which two downloaded but none submitted bids. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
In conformance with the California Environmental Quality Act, Categorical Exemption No. CE 17-052 was issued for this project (Exhibit A).
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on June 14, 2017 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on June 21, 2017.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7091 and award a contract concurrently is requested on July 18, 2017, to ensure that the contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost of the Project is estimated at $2,510,000, which includes the contract amount of $2,389,915, including contingency, and the costs for staff oversight. Total Project costs are supported by $720,000 in grant funding from the Metro Call for Projects 2013, and $1,790,000 in County Prop A local return funds. Of this amount, $1,180,000 is appropriated in the Transportation Fund (SR 182) in the Public Works Department (PW).
An appropriation increase for the remaining amount of $1,330,000 is requested in the Transportation Fund (SR 182) in the Public Works Department (PW), offset by funds available.
Approval of this recommendation will provide continued support to our local economy. The number of additional local jobs created by the Project will not be known until the contractor completes their hiring and construction has commenced.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
CRAIG A. BECK
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER