TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-7170 for Taxiway B (Future Taxiway E) construction at the Long Beach Airport and award the contract to Griffith Company, of Santa Fe Springs, CA, in the amount of $7,148,514, with a 10 percent contingency in the amount of $714,851, for a total contract amount not to exceed $7,863,365; authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary amendments;
Increase appropriations in the Airport Fund Group in the Airport Department by $10,235,390, offset by grant revenue and funds available; and
Adopt Categorical Exemption CE-20-067. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with Griffith Company, for Taxiway B (Future Taxiway E) construction at the Long Beach Airport (Airport). The project is the fifth implementation phase of the Airfield Geometry Study (Study) and includes the conversion of the decommissioned Runway 16R-34L pavement to new asphalt pavement. The existing Taxiway B is primarily utilized by general aviation, including Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) and FedEx. Aircraft taxiing southbound on Taxiway B sometimes anticipate reaching their destination parking ramp and fail to hold short of Runway 8R-26L. As recommended in the Study, the project will establish an offset stagger of Taxiway B north of Taxiway J, to increase the situational awareness of pilots operating on Taxiway B and help mitigate issues that lead to the identification of a hot-spot. The project includes the demolition of the decommissioned runway pavements, construction of a new taxiway and taxiway connector, grading and minor drainage improvements, new LED airfield lighting and signage, and relocation of the vehicle service road.
The bid was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on April 19, 2020, and 4,703 potential bidders specializing in construction services were notified of the bid opportunity. Of those bidders, 92 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 28 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. In addition, a bid announcement was made through Constant Contact and 2,273 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) specializing in construction-related services were notified. Four bids were received on May 26, 2020. Of those four bidders, none were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), DBEs, certified Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), or Long Beach businesses (Local). Griffith Company, of Santa Fe Springs, CA, 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, 414 Long Beach vendors were notified of the bid opportunity, of which 6 downloaded, but none submitted a bid. The Purchasing Division is committed to continuing to perform outreach to local vendors to expand the bidder pool.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, Categorical Exemption CE-20-067 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, Deputy Finance Director Sandy Tsang-Palmer and by Budget Analysis Officer Julissa José-Murray on September 2, 2020.
SUSTAINABILITY
The construction method of treating the in-place soil will reduce the number of dump truck trips for removals, in turn, reducing vehicle emissions. The project specifications will allow the contractor to use asphalt millings from the demolition of the existing Runway 16R-34L 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 B asphalt pavement will have an anticipated service life of 20 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-7170 and award a contract concurrently is requested on September 15, 2020, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously. Construction is anticipated to begin in November 2020 and should take approximately nine 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.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total construction contract amount will not exceed $7,863,365, which includes a recommended 10 percent contingency of $714,851 for unforeseen circumstances. The total project cost, including the contract award, is currently estimated to be $10,235,390, which includes design, construction management, inspection services and material testing, labor compliance and 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, if awarded, to fund the Taxiway B Construction and Taxiway L Reconstruction Projects. Award notification for the grants was received on September 1, 2020.
The total grant funding for the AIP-eligible portion of the project is $7,650,838. The grant requires matching funds in the amount of $788,207. The City’s cost match will be funded by the FAA Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress on March 27, 2020. The total federal funding for the project from the AIP grant and the CARES Act is $8,439,045. An appropriation increase in the amount of $10,235,390 in the Airport Fund Group in the Airport Department is requested, offset by $8,439,045 from reimbursement grant revenue and $1,796,345 from funds available within the Airport Fund Group.
The 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 have a positive impact to the regional economy by supporting employment of 59 jobs in Long Beach and surrounding cities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
CYNTHIA GUIDRY
DIRECTOR, LONG BEACH AIRPORT
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER