Item 337/2024
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Ursula Luna-Reynosa
Dept:
City Manager Dept: Economic Development and
Housing
Date: 8/27/2024
Subject: Award of contracts to MNS Engineers, Inc. and Willdan Engineering to provide U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and State of California Department of Housing and Community Development consultation services. (Cost: MNS Engineers, Inc. - Not-to-Exceed $150,000 per year; Willdan Engineering - Not-to-Exceed $50,000 per year) (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
For City Council to award contracts to MNS Engineers, Inc. and Willdan Engineering to provide U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) consultation services.
BACKGROUND
Since August 2022, Michael Baker International (MBI) has been providing HUD and HCD grant management consulting services to the City. Over the past two fiscal years, MBI has provided assistance and guidance on various projects, including : affordable housing compliance monitoring; revised Density Bonus application; Em ergency Solutions Grant compliance monitoring; environmental review training; HOME -American Rescue Plan Allocation Plan; Annual Action Plans; Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Reports; Davis-Bacon, Section 3, Build America Buy America Act compliance monitoring; IDIS and HEROS technical assistance; Semi -Annual Labor Standards Enforcement Report; Housing Authority Administrative Plan Amendment; management of park improvement projects through the Community Services Department; and the 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan for the use of HUD funds. City staff has been consistently satisfied with MBI’s high level of customer service and housing expertise.
In June 2024 City staff began preparing for FY 2024-25 in collaboration with MBI, considering an amendment to extend their contract through June 30, 2025. During this process, the City was informed that several key MBI staff members, including those assigned to the City, are transitioning to MNS Engineers, In c. (MNS). This transition includes MBI’s Housing Division Manager and 17 key staff members.
Item 337/2024
DISCUSSION
To address these changes, an RFP was issued to solicit proposals from qualified firms with demonstrated expertise and experience in administering funds received from HUD and HCD.
Released on July 11, 2024, the RFP garnered two (2) formal proposals by the July 25, 2024 deadline. An internal selection panel evaluat ed and rated the se proposals bas ed on qualifications, proposal quality, budget, time management, and prior record of performance with other Governmental Agencies and the City of Garden Grove.
Based on the evaluation results, staff determined that both MNS Engineers, Inc. and Willdan Engineering are qualified and experienced organizations that can perform the duties required under the contract. Both organizations showed that they have the capacity to handle the entire scope of work that was outlined in the proposal.
The following is a summary of the ratings:
Rater MNS Engineers, Inc. Willdan Engineering
A 95 91
B 100 90
C 95 96
TOTAL 290 277
1. MNS Engineers, Inc. was founded in 1962 and has more than 60-years of experience specializing in construction management, civil engineering, and land surveying services. Their Housing Department will be the lead Project Team for this contract with over 80 years of combined experience in community planning, environmental compliance (CEQA/NEPA), regulatory permitting, municipal finance, and housing grant administration for HUD and HCD funded projects. Additionally, 17 members of their Housing Department staff transferred from MBI and have a great understanding of the City’s current needs with an exceptional track record performing the required dutie s requested through the RFP.
2. Willdan Engineering has over 60 -years of experience and has been a consistent industry leader providing all aspects of municipal, infrastructure, and transportation engineering; program management; financial consulting; munic ipal planning; environmental; energy related services, along with a full complement of related disciplines. Willdan Engineering has more than 1,600 employees over 50 locations nationwide that would be available to City staff, if needed. Willdan Engineering is currently in contract with the City’s Community Development and Public Works Departments, and have a great track record of performance.
MNS Engineers, Inc. and Willdan Engineering have extensive experience related to the scope of work outlined in the RFP, and City s taff recommends awarding both firms a contract for HUD and HCD consultation services in a combined not -to-exceed amount of $200,000 per year. City staff recommends funding MNS Engineers, Inc. a not -to-exceed of $150,000 per year for various services, including but not limited to; continue the annual affordable housing and subrecipient monitoring, preparing the annual HUD Action Plans and Consolidated Annual Item 337/2024
Performance and Evaluation Reports, and Davis-Bacon Act, Section 3 and Build America Buy America Act monitoring. City Staff recommends funding Willdan Engineering a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 per year to primarily perform Environmental Reviews for HUD funded projects and other grant management activities as needed.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund . The previously approved $200,000 not -to-exceed contract with MBI will be replaced by the $150,000 contract with MNS Engineers, Inc. and the $50,000 contract with Willdan Engineering. The MBI contract was included in the Amended FY 2024-25 Budget that was approved by City Council on June 11, 2024, and there will be no further impacts to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Award a contract for HUD and HCD consultation services to MNS Engineers, Inc., in the not-to-exceed amount of $150,000 per year, for a total performance period of up to five (5) years.
Award a contract for HUD and HCD consultation services to Willdan Engineering, in the not-to-exceed amount of $50,000 per year, for a total performance period of up to five (5) years.
Authorize the City Manager, or her designees to execute the contracts referenced above, and make minor modifications as appropriate thereto, on behalf of the City; and
Authorize the City Manager, or her designees to exercise option year terms and sign the option year amendments.
ATTACHMENTS
1. MNS Engineers, Inc. Agreement
2. Willdan Engineering Agreement