Fremont City Council Meeting: 12/17/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Information Technology Services Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5319) DOC ID: 5319
Updated: 12/13/2024 1:01 PM by Dina Lewis Page 1
FFA LAST MILE BROADBAND PROJECT CONSULTING, DESIGN ENGINEERING
DRAWINGS, GRANT MANAGEMENT, AND CONSTRUCTION VENDOR
MANAGEMENT - Authorize the City Manager, or Her Designee, to Enter into Agreement and Issue Purchase Orders with EN Engineering, LLC for Consulting, Design Engineering Drawings, Grant Management, and Construction Vendor Management for the FFA Last Mile Broadband Project, in an Amount Not to Exceed $835,233.
Contact Persons:
Name: Jeremy Huynh Sanford Taylor
Title: Management Analyst II IT Director
Div/Dept: Information Technology Services Information Technology Services Phone: (510) 494-4847 510-494-4802
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: Staff is recommending that the City Council authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to enter into an agreement and to execute implementing documents with EN Engineering, LLC, for Consulting, Design Engineering Drawings, Grant Management, and Construction Vendor Management for the FFA Last Mile Broadband Project, in an amount not to exceed $835,233.
BACKGROUND: On July 20, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 156, which included a $2 billion Federal Funding Account grant program, funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law No. 117-2) and administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for last-mile broadband infrastructure projects to connect unserved and underserved Californians.
On April 22, 2022, the CPUC issued rulemaking 20-09-001, adopting rules for the Federal Funding Account grant program, and creating a framework for public agencies and broadband service companies to apply for the grant program. On July 24, 2024, the CPUC notified the City of its intent to award grant funding in the amount of $7,690,056.20. Funds allocated by the CPUC shall be available for expenditure until December 31, 2026. On September 3, 2024, the City Council approved accepting and appropriating funding for the grant award.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: On October 9, 2024, RFP Number 25-016 Fiber Last Mile Broadband Project – Consulting, Design Engineering Drawings, Grant Management, and Construction Vendor Management was published on Bidnet Direct to solicit proposals from qualified firms to develop design engineering drawings and assist the City with grant management and construction vendor management for the Last Mile Broadband Project.
The RFP submittal deadline was October 23, 2024.
Proposals were submitted by two firms and ranged in cost from $363,000 to $835,233.
Demonstrations were provided by EN Engineering, LLC, and Odiscom LLC. The Proposers provided an overview of their proposed strategy, design solutions, implementation methodology, schedule, plan, and budget for each of the four phases in the scope of work.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5319) Meeting of December 17, 2024 Updated: 12/13/2024 1:01 PM by Dina Lewis Page 2
The Proposers also presented previous experience and approaches with similar projects and solutions in other municipalities and government agencies.
The staff panel evaluated the proposals in two steps based on the written proposals and the demonstration (maximum 100 points). The evaluation criteria included completeness of the proposal, proposed strategy, implementation methodology, schedule effectiveness of a solution, proposers' experience, cost, municipal experience, and similar project experience.
Among the two vendor responses to the RFP, the EN Engineering, LLC written proposal and demonstration aligned most closely with the City’s local government agency requirements, objectives, and the tasks identified in the RFP Statement of Work Requirements.
The EN Engineering, LLC written proposal and the demonstration interview compared most favorably and added more value than the proposal submitted by the other Proposer.
Odiscom LLC did not demonstrate relevant experience in municipal fiber deployment and municipal processes.
EN Engineering, LLC provides broadband, engineering planning, grant management services, and public-private partnership agreement development services to municipal governments, with subject matter experts in fiber optic network design and municipal broadband development. In its 23-year history, EN Engineering, LLC has planned, engineered, and managed construction and inspections for over thirty municipal governments. Staff recommends entering into a contract with EN Engineering, LLC, LLC for all phases.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for Consulting, Design Engineering Drawings, Grant Management, and Construction Vendor Management for the Last Mile Broadband Project are appropriated in the Federal Capital Grants Fund PWC9118-522.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The recommended action is exempt from and not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because, without limitation, it is not a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(2) and/or 15378(b)(5) and as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), each as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance.
Subsequent planning for the Last Mile Broadband Project will include a community outreach process and specific facility installations for the Last Mile Broadband Project will include preparation of an environmental clearance in accordance with CEQA guidelines.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
LINKS: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to enter into an agreement and to execute implementing documents with EN Engineering, LLC, for Consulting, Design Engineering Drawings, Grant Management, and Construction Vendor Management for the FFA Last Mile Broadband Project, in an amount not to exceed $835,233.