Agenda Item: 15
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: April 11, 2023
SUBJECT: CONTRACT FOR THE BLUE CLOUD BIKE PARK DESIGN
PROJECT P0020
DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood Services
PRESENTER: Susan Nelson
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award design contract to Avid Trails for the Blue Cloud Bike Park Design, Project P0020, in the amount of $390,561, and authorize a contingency in the amount of $39,056, for a total contract amount not to exceed $429,617.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
Haskell Canyon Open Space, 526 acres, was acquired by the City of Santa Clarita (City) in June 2011. In August 2022, Blue Cloud Open Space, 196 acres, was acquired, which abuts the eastern boundary of Haskell Open Space. The area, totaling over 720 acres, is adjacent to the United States Forest, the Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power, residential properties, and commercial studios. Approximately 500 acres of the combined open space land have been identified as an ideal location for a bike park.
In August 2019, with the help of a grant from the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA), staff determined the terrain in Haskell Canyon as an ideal location for a bike park.
Through the survey completed by IMBA, the identified area offers ideal elevation changes and track lengths. The Blue Cloud Open Space property provides a unique opportunity to expand on IMBA’s original survey to include more diverse downhill biking trails ranging from beginner to expert and a climbing trail back to the top. The site provides the ability to create single-track trails of varying difficulty, space for pump tracks, jump tracks, technical elements, and supporting amenities such as parking, restrooms, rest areas with shade, and a repair station.
This project exemplifies the City’s commitment to improving the quality of life of its residents and supports the Building and Creating Community theme of the City’s five-year strategic plan, Santa Clarita 2025. It also supports the Open Space, Preservation and Outdoor Recreation theme identified in the Parks and Recreation 5-Year Plan.
This project will design and create construction documents for the bike park, including trails and site amenities. The design team will assess the opportunity to include a sanctioned BMX track through this process. In September 2022, this project was advertised for bids as a Design and Build Request for Qualifications, including a bridging architect to develop the construction documents, but no bids were received.
Staff adjusted the approach and a Request for Proposal (RFP) number PPOS-22-23-P0020 for the design only of the bike park was published and circulated via the City’s e-procurement platform, BidNet, on January 6, 2023. The RFP asked firms to identify their relevant experience with similar projects and demonstrate their design approach for this project. On February 15, 2023, two firms submitted proposals. Staff reviewed the proposals and, based on their evaluations, scored the firms on a 100-point scale as follows:
Rank Company Location Score
1 Avid Trails Valencia, CA 93.17
2 KPFF Consulting Engineers Newport Beach, CA 84.67
The scoring system was based on the following criteria: understanding the project and responsiveness to the RFP, proposer's quality, organization, and completeness of proposal, schedule and their ability to meet the scope of work, quality and experience of the design team, quality and experience of the construction management team, qualifications and experience on similar projects. Additionally, the consulting firms were asked to provide a detailed schedule and scope of work required to prepare the plans, specifications, and an engineer’s estimate.
Avid Trails demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the project needs and provided a detailed scope of work and approach to the project. They analyzed the project location and identified vital design factors that must be addressed. Based on their design experience with similar projects, and the completeness of their proposal for this project, staff recommends awarding the design contract to Avid Trails.
The requested contingency will cover the costs of unforeseen design constraints and account for potential design modifications requested by the City, and other permitting agencies, during the project’s design. This includes potential adjustments to the trail design drawings, engineered grades, change order requests made by the design firm, and change orders for additional work requested by the City.
California Government Code 4526 prescribes the selection of architectural and engineering services based on demonstrated competence and professional qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the services required. It does not authorize the selection of professional architect and engineering services based on cost. City staff reached an agreement with Avid Trails at a fair and reasonable price.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Adequate funds are available in the Facilities Fund expenditure account P0020723-516101 to support this recommended contract and project administrative costs.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Avid Trails Proposal (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)