TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFP PW19-098 and award contracts to AKM Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Irvine, CA, and Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc., of Fountain Valley, CA, for as-needed stormwater and pump station related engineering consulting services, in an annual aggregate amount not to exceed $1,500,000, 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 contracts, including any necessary amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to enter into contracts with AKM Consulting Engineers, Inc. (AKM), and Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. (PACE), for as-needed stormwater and pump station related engineering consulting services, with specific experience and expertise in providing engineering technical support for the city stormwater drainage system and storm water pump station systems.
The City of Long Beach (City) provides for the annual maintenance of its approximately 3,800 catch basins, 379 miles of storm drains, and total of 24 stormwater pump stations within the City’s approximately 52-square-mile area. Some of the pump stations date back to the early 1900s and, as a result, many of them require upgrades. In 2005, the City developed a stormwater master plan and a stormwater pump station evaluation. A subsequent study, entitled Stormwater Pump Station Assessment, was completed in December 2015 (2015 Study). The City’s Public Works Department staff recently conducted additional reviews of the pump stations and updated the list of needed improvements identified by the 2015 Study. The awarded consultants are expected to inspect the existing pump stations and storm drain systems; verify the deficiencies identified by City staff; develop plans, specifications, estimates, and contract documents for bidding and construction of the improvements; provide bidding process support and engineering services during the construction of the improvements; and, prepare as needed hydrology and hydraulics studies, stormwater studies, drainage improvements, and/or water quality studies.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised in the Long Beach Press-Telegram on September 17, 2019, and 725 potential proposers specializing in storm drainage and engineering consulting services were notified of the opportunity. Of those proposers, 44 downloaded the RFP via the City’s electronic bid system. The RFP document was also 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>. The RFP announcement was also included in the Purchasing Division’s weekly update of Open Bid Opportunities, which is sent to 29 local, minority-owned, and women-owned business groups. Four proposals were received by the October 21, 2019 deadline. Of those four proposers, none were Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBEs), three were Long Beach Small Business Certified (LBSBE) and California Certified Small Business (OSB), none were Long Beach businesses (Local). The selection committee determined that AKM Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Irvine, CA, and Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc., of Fountain Valley, CA (not a MBE, WBE, or local), were the most qualified firms to provide the services.
A three-member Selection Committee comprised of representatives from the Department of Public Works Engineering and Public Service Bureaus determined AKM and PACE best met the City’s needs and will provide the best value overall for the City. AKM and PACE demonstrated their wide range of experience with other cities and public agencies in the Southern California area, completing comparable engagements with storm water pump stations and storm drain systems. In addition, both AKM and PACE demonstrated their extensive experience and expertise in design and construction management to perform the subject matter.
Local Business Outreach
In an effort to align with the City's outreach goal, Long Beach businesses are encouraged to submit proposals for city contracts. The Purchasing Division also assists businesses with registering on the PlanetBids database to download the RFP specifications. Through outreach, 31 Long Beach vendors were notified to submit proposals, of which two downloaded and none submitted a proposal. 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 5, 2020, Deputy Finance Director Sandy Tsang-Palmer on May 8, 2020, and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on May 13, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action to adopt Specifications No. RFP PW19-098 and award contracts concurrently is requested on June 2, 2020, to ensure the contracts are in place expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total aggregate contract authority will not to exceed $1,500,000 for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods. The requested contract authority is estimated based on current and anticipated projects within various City departments, primarily the Public Works Department. 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, per project, on an as-needed basis.
This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. The number of additional local jobs created by these contracts is not available at this time, and will depend on the work assigned over the course of the contracts.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CRAIG A. BECK
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
ACTING CITY MANAGER