CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
Item No.: ____
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Authorization of City Engineering Services and Various On-Call Professional Services Consultant Agreements Meeting Date: September 22, 2026
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council will consider adopting a resolution approving a professional services agreement with Transtech Engineers, inc., for city engineering services and with 38 additional qualified consultants for various on-call professional services.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Commerce relies on qualified professional engineering firms and related consultants to supplement City resources and provide specialized expertise necessary to deliver its Capital Improvement Program (CIP), transportation programs, public works activities, development plan reviews, design, construction projects, inspections, grant-funded programs, and other municipal engineering functions.
The City’s Public Works Department utilizes Transtech Engineers, Inc. for a broad range of the City’s current engineering services as indicated above, including City Engineer support, staff augmentation, CIP project management, utility permits and inspection, and other day-to-day engineering activities.
In addition, to Transtech, the City currently maintains an On-Call Professional Services Consultant List consisting of qualified consultants in various engineering related disciplines that are utilized based on the needs and discretion of the Department. These consultants may specialize in design, surveying, geotechnical services, grant services, construction management and inspection, and other technical services.
To establish an updated consultant pool that reflects the City's current and anticipated professional service needs, on April 9, 2026, the City issued a Request for Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) through PlanetBids for City Engineering and Various On-Call Professional Services.
The solicitation covered locally funded Capital Improvement Program projects and projects funded in whole or in part by Metro, State, Federal, or other grant sources. Consultants were permitted to submit qualifications for one or multiple disciplines.
The City received interest from 39 distinct firms for various disciplines. Staff evaluated the firms based on qualifications, demonstrated municipal experience, relevant project experience, proposed personnel, technical capabilities, experience with publicly funded and grant-funded projects, responsiveness, and demonstrated competence within the applicable disciplines.
Based on the evaluation, staff recommends approval of a professional services agreement with Transtech Engineers, inc., for city engineering services and with 38 additional qualified consultants for various on-call professional services to be utilized at the discretion of the Public Works Department and within its approved budget.
Because several firms submitted qualifications for multiple service categories, a consultant may appear in more than one category in the consultant list. However, the City will execute one agreement with each recommended consultant, identifying the applicable approved service categories for that consultant.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed agreement with Transtech is intended to provide City Engineering services that are comprehensive and full-service in function for continuity of ongoing municipal engineering responsibilities.
Transtech will serve as the City's primary engineering consultant and provide engineering resources necessary to support the City's ongoing operations, projects, programs, and regulatory responsibilities.
Services may include, but are not limited to:
Serving as the City's Contract City Engineer;
Staff augmentation;
Day-to-day municipal engineering and Public Works support; Capital Improvement Program project management;
Project development, scope, budget, and schedule management; Design management and engineering review;
Project and construction management;
Construction engineering and inspection;
Encroachment permits and related inspections;
Traffic and transportation engineering;
Traffic signal and transportation project coordination; Development engineering and plan review;
Review of public and private improvement plans;
Preparation and review of plans, specifications, and cost estimates; Grant project coordination and administration;
Coordination with Metro, Caltrans, Los Angeles County, utilities, railroads, and other outside agencies; Coordination and management of specialty consultants;
Engineering support for City Council and other public meetings; Emergency and priority engineering support; and
Other municipal engineering services reasonably required by the City.
The intent of the Transtech agreement is to establish the firm as the City’s primary engineering resource for the Department’s ongoing municipal engineering needs, while preserving the Department’s authority and discretion to engage other comparable or specialized professional service providers based on expertise, cost-effectiveness, availability, project schedules, or other operational considerations.
The proposed agreements with the additional consultants will establish a qualified on-call consultant pool for these specialized and/or supplemental services.
The service categories may include:
General civil engineering;
Construction management and inspection;
Geotechnical services and material testing;
Roadway design;
Traffic engineering and transportation engineering;
Surveying and mapping;
Environmental;
Grant administration and funding assistance;
Public outreach and community engagement; and
Engineering plan checking;
Landscape architecture and urban design;
Architecture;
Structural engineering;
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering;
GIS and asset management;
Other specialized professional services identified in the approved consultant agreements.
For projects funded solely with local City funds, the City may utilize the on-call consultants in accordance with applicable City procurement requirements. For Federal, State, Metro, and other grant-funded projects, the City will comply with applicable funding-agency procurement requirements. Where a separate competitive procurement is required, the City will issue an RFP for construction management and inspection services. This approach provides the City flexibility to utilize its full-service engineering consultant and/or qualified on-call construction management and inspection consultants while maintaining compliance with applicable funding requirements.
The approval of the proposed agreements does not authorize any specific project expenditure or guarantee any minimum amount of work to any consultant.
When professional services are required, the City may issue a project-specific task order, work authorization, or other appropriate contractual instrument within the applicable consultant's approved service categories and the City's contracting authority.
For specialized assignments, the City may request proposals from one or more qualified consultants within the applicable discipline. Selection may consider project-specific qualifications, demonstrated competence, availability, schedule, approach, funding requirements, and fair and reasonable compensation.
Each assignment will identify the applicable scope of work, deliverables, schedule, staffing, compensation, and funding source.
Any assignment exceeding the applicable administrative authority or otherwise requiring City Council approval will be presented separately to the City Council.
The proposed agreements will have an initial term of five years, with two optional five-year extensions, subject to satisfactory performance, continued City need, funding availability, and City approval.
Staff recommends adoption of the attached Resolution.
ALTERNATIVES:
Approve staff recommendation.
Reject staff recommendation.
Provide further direction to staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the on-call agreements does not immediately obligate the City to expend the maximum authorized amounts, and no additional appropriation is required at this time. Costs incurred under these agreements will be funded through available appropriations in the City’s adopted operating budget. Expenditures will occur only when individual work orders are issued and will be charged to the appropriate departmental or project accounts based on the services provided. Each work order will be subject to available funding and compliance with the City’s Purchasing Policy and applicable provisions of the California Public Contract Code.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS:
This item relates to the City Council’s specific 2016 Strategic Action Plan:
Fiscal Sustainability
Guiding Principle #2:
Implement city business processes and operational efficiencies to streamline the cost of government including the examination and identification of cost of services.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Exhibit A - List of On-Call Professional Services Consultants