TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. R-7030 and award a contract to Los Angeles Engineering, Inc., of Covina, CA, for the El Dorado Duck Pond Rehabilitation Project, in a total amount of $5,486,918; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments; and
Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department by $1,117,000, offset by reimbursable federal grant funding to be transferred from the Water Fund Group in the Water Department. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into a contract with Los Angeles Engineering, Inc. (Los Angeles Engineering), to provide construction services required for the urgently needed rehabilitation of the El Dorado Park Duck Pond (Project). This critical Project is increasingly time sensitive as the existing recirculation pumps are no longer operable and much of the existing infrastructure continues to fall into major disrepair. Relocation of wildlife required for this project must also be completed prior to the nesting season to minimize impacts.
The El Dorado Park Duck Pond, which holds roughly three million gallons of water, located in El Dorado Park West, is a major regional park located along the eastern border of the City of Long Beach (City). The area around the duck pond includes various recreational amenities and is a wildlife habitat. This Project will address leaks and other existing deficiencies in the duck pond infrastructure, improve public access, and include the installation of a reclaimed water irrigation system. For safety reasons, and since the pond will be drained as part of the proposed repairs, the pond will be temporarily closed to the public during construction.
The work to be done consists primarily of, but is not limited to, dewatering, sediment removal, site demolition, utility relocation, site grading, new sewer connection, new irrigation feeder line, new reclaimed water line, realigned storm drain outlet, construction of sidewalk, construction of shoreline and wetland planters, construction of forebay and wetlands, ADA parking upgrades, new signage, replacement of the pump system, micron filtration and disinfection systems installation, structural repair of the pump building, removal and replacement of existing vegetation required for performance of the work, planting of native vegetation, BMP installation, safety and security controls, compliance with all permit requirements, and other work as shown in the approved plans and specifications.
The Public Works and Water Departments have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in which Public Works will design and construct an irrigation system providing reclaimed water to the adjacent golf course thereby reducing the use of potable water. The Water Department will contribute a total amount of $1,117,000 from federal grant funding for the Project.
The bid was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on November 18, 2021, and 647 potential bidders specializing in construction services were notified of the bid opportunity. Of those bidders, forty-six (46) 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 thirty-nine (39) local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. On November 30, 2021, the bid closing date, three (3) bids were received. Of the three (3) bidders, one (1) is a Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs) and none are Women-owned Business Enterprises (WBEs), Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), or Long Beach vendors (Local). Los Angeles Engineering, Inc, of Covina, CA, not a MBE/WBE/SBE/DBE or Local, was the lowest responsive, responsible bidder.
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 Planet Bids database to download the bid specifications. Through outreach, two (2) Long Beach vendors were notified to submit bids.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Erin Weesner-Mckinley, Purchasing Agent Michelle Wilson, and Budget Operations and Development Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on December 1, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on December 7, 2021, to ensure the contract is in place expeditiously so construction may begin in January 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total contract amount with Los Angeles Engineering will not exceed $5,486,918 for the construction of the Project. The current project cost is estimated at $9,000,000, including the contract award amount of $5,486,918, which includes the cost for planning, design, permitting, construction management, labor compliance, and project oversight and inspections. The project is currently supported by $2,254,000 of Measure A funds, $2,800,000 of Measure W funds, $300,000 of grant funding from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Opens Space District Grant, and $515,184 of one-time General Capital Funds currently appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department. Additionally, the Water Department has agreed to transfer up to $1,117,000 from the Water Fund Group. The agreed reimbursement is funded with federal grants awarded to the Water Department and will be used to cover a portion of the total Project cost.
An appropriations increase in the amount of $1,117,000 is requested in the Capital Projects Fund Group in the Public Works Department offset by reimbursable federal grant funding to be transferred from the Water Fund Group in the Water Department.
The base construction cost of the project is currently funded. The total project has an existing funding shortfall of approximately $2,013,816. As directed by City Council as part of the Adopted FY 22 Budget, a recommendation to support the funding gap of this project with potential FY 21 surplus will be brought back to the City Council as part of the FY 21 Year End Performance Report. Any remaining costs not funded by identified resources or by any allocation of FY 21 surplus made available for the project, will be brought back to the City Council for approval. Additional funding sources are anticipated to come from the Water Department grant support and other grant opportunities. The time sensitive nature of the Project due to grant commitments, the challenges in finding a qualified contractor, and regulatory requirements to start the project before nesting season require this action now, instead of waiting until February 2022 for FY 21 year-end recommendations to the City Council. Funding for this project and other City Council priorities will be reviewed in whole at that time.
This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. Approval of this recommendation will provide continued support to the local economy. The number of additional local jobs created by this project will not be known until the contractors have completed their hiring and construction has commenced.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
ERIC LOPEZ
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER