TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFQ PW18-136 and award a contract to John L. Hunter & Associates, Inc., of Buena Park, CA, for as-needed Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit professional compliance and support services, in an annual amount not to exceed $5,000,000, for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, and any necessary amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to award a contract to John L. Hunter and Associates, Inc. (JHA) for as-needed Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit professional compliance and support services. The City has typically contracted for as-needed services with firms that have specialized expertise beyond existing City staff. NPDES permit compliance consists of prohibiting non-stormwater discharges that are a source of pollutants through the MS4, implementing controls to reduce the discharge of pollutants in storm water to the maximum extent practicable, and other provisions the Regional Water Board determines as appropriate for the control of pollutants discharged from the MS4. These requirements are executed by the City through various programs as stated in the NPDES permit by the Regional Water Board.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on October 9, 2018 and October 23, 2018, and 5,105 potential firms specializing in MS4 and NPDES professional compliance and support services were notified of the RFQ opportunity. Of those firms, 69 downloaded the RFQ via the City’s electronic bid system. The RFQ document was also 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>. An RFQ announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 28 local, minority, and women-owned business groups. Four Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) were received on October 25, 2018. Of those 4 firms, one was Minority-owned Business Enterprise (MBE), none were Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), two were certified Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), and one was a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). The selection committee determined that JHA was the most qualified based on the criteria specified in the RFQ.
Local Business Outreach
In an effort to align with the City’s outreach goal, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit SOQs for City contracts. The Purchasing Division also assists businesses with registering on the PlanetBids database to download the RFQ specifications. Through outreach, 553 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit SOQs, of which 7 downloaded the RFQ. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on May 29, 2019, and by Purchasing Agent Tara Yeats and Budget Analysis Officer Julissa José-Murray on June 5, 2019.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Specification No. RFQ PW18-136 and award a contract concurrently is requested on July 2, 2019, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The contract authority for the as-needed MS4 and NPDES professional compliance and support services contract will not exceed $5,000,000 for the two-year term. There is no appropriation increase requested at this time. Any work not currently budgeted will only proceed at such time that appropriations have been approved by the City Council. Each work order will be funded by the requesting department prior to the work order being issued to the contractor. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. The number of additional local jobs created by the award of this contract will not be known until work has commenced.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CRAIG A. BECK
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER