Item Number: 13
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: March 5, 2024
Submitted By:
Fredy Bonilla, City Engineer
Subject:
Approval of Agreements with Five (5) Consultants for On-Call Geotechnical and Engineering Testing Services
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council approve a Consultant / Professional Services Provider Agreement with five (5) consultants: 1) Merrell Johnson Geotechnical, Inc., 2) Geocon West, Inc., 3) RMA Group, 4) Ninyo & Moore Geotechnical and Environmental Sciences Consultants, and 5) Fenagh, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $250,000 each for on-call geotechnical and engineering testing services over the initial term of two years.
Fiscal Impact:
This action may result in a fiscal impact of $625,000 per year contingent upon the level and extent of services required for budgeted infrastructure capital improvement projects.
The compensation for services potentially to be provided by each consultant will be no more than $125,000 per year over the initial two-year term. A total aggregate contract amount of $500,000 per consultant may be expended over a four-year period if the City agrees to two (2) allowable one-year extensions.
Services will be provided on an as-needed basis, and they will be budgeted with each capital improvement project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
This agreement aligns with Goal E Invest in Infrastructure in the City of Victorville Strategic Plan 2023-2026 by providing professional services for the development and construction of infrastructure projects.
Background:
In January of 2024, the Engineering Department requested a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) for consideration from interested engineering firms to provide On-Call 3 5
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Geotechnical and Engineering Testing Services to assist with a variety of potential projects. The scope of work may include preliminary investigations, evaluation of existing transportation infrastructure, and construction inspection of various capital improvement projects. The City does not maintain staff for these specialized services due to the fluctuating workload and need.
The majority of the work potentially to be assigned will be for construction support including inspection and quality assurance testing of soils, aggregates and concrete mixtures utilized in capital improvement projects managed by the Engineering Department. The agreements may additionally be utilized by other City departments requiring professional geotechnical services as an on-call alternative to the issuance of a project specific request for qualifications.
Depending upon the City’s workload, the consultants may or may not be called upon to provide services within the agreement term. Consultants who have entered into an agreement with the City will receive a request for a quote to provide an estimated cost for individual projects for budgeting purposes. The consultants may be assigned projects that are discrete, short-term jobs or may be part of a larger public works project that could span weeks to months. Construction management costs for consultant work will be estimated and included for each capital improvement project in the annual budget approved by the City Council or by a budget amendment and creation of a new capital improvement project.
Discussion:
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued using procedures in accordance with Municipal Code Section 2.28.280. On January 26, 2024, the RFQ was issued and geotechnical consulting companies were notified. On February 23, 2024, twelve (12) companies submitted their SOQ. Each proposal was reviewed by a selection committee composed of five individuals from the Engineering Department. The selection of the consultants was based on demonstrated expertise, experience, references, staffing, capability, and local presence in providing support and to best meet the needs of the City.
Staff determined that Merrell Johnson Geotechnical, Inc., Geocon West, Inc., RMA Group, Ninyo & Moore Geotechnical and Environmental Sciences Consultants and Fenagh, Inc., best meets those needs.
From the top five consultants selected, the water division of the Engineering Department currently holds an agreement with Fenagh, Inc., for on-call material testing services for water related capital improvement projects. Additionally, Ninyo & Moore holds an agreement with the City for a groundwater remediation project on 8 th Street in Old Town Victorville. These agreements are limited in scope of work and to specific departments or divisions wherewith they cannot be utilized by other City departments for other work than their intended purpose.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve Consultant / Professional Services Provider Agreements with: 1) Merrell Johnson Geotechnical, Inc.; 2) Geocon West, Inc.; 3) RMA Group; 4) Ninyo & Moore Geotechnical and Environmental Sciences Consultants; 3 5
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and 5) Fenagh, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $250,000 each for on-call geotechnical and engineering testing services over the initial term of two years.
Staff remains available for any questions Council may have.
Attachments: A. Agreement – Merrell Johnson Geotechnical, Inc.
B. Agreement – Geocon West, Inc.
C. Agreement – RMA Group
D. Agreement – Ninyo & Moore Geotechnical and Environmental Sciences Consultants
E. Agreement – Fenagh, Inc.