Submitted By: Lisa Crouthamel
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Presentation By: Doug Peebles
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Department: Electric Utility
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Approve a three-year contract for professional electric transmission design and engineering services with GAI Consultants, Inc. not to exceed $2,500,000
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
Letter of Interest Issued to the Public: 01/07/2022; Selection Committee Meeting: 02/21/2022; and Shortlist Presentations: 03/28/2022
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BACKGROUND:
Ocala Electric Utility (“OEU”) contracts for professional engineering services capable of providing full-service design and construction management of electric substations, transmission and distribution facilities, and other related services.
A multi-level and multi-discipline firm is desirable, increasing the likelihood that a qualified individual will cost-effectively handle each project facet. The firm must show expertise in design, engineering, and construction management in the following areas:
1. 230kV and 69kV transmission utilizing steel and concrete transmission poles and caisson foundations.
2. 230kV, 69kV, and 12 kV overhead and underground lines.
3. 230kV, 69kV and 12kV substations.
4. Typical design tasks include assessing and designing equipment foundations, protective relaying schemes, and evaluation and design of substation ground grids.
5. Civil engineering pertaining to geotechnical evaluation, site work, stormwater, and protective and visual barriers.
This agreement will cover various upcoming electric design and engineering projects, including East State Road 40 widening (69kV relocation) project design, Pine Oaks 230kV transmission relocation, substation upgrade design(s), and possibly design work for large-scale communication attachments make-ready work.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
On January 7, 2022, the City issued its Letter of Interest (“LOI”) No. ELE/211020 to acquire professional electric transmission design and engineering services. The LOI closed on January 28, 2022, with ten (10) firms submitting proposals. The selection committee met on February 21, 2022, where the ten (10) firms were shortlisted to four (4).
The remaining four (4) firms provided presentations to the selection committee on March 28, 2022. Burns and McDonnell Engineering, Inc. was the highest-ranked firm and was chosen by the committee. After several months of negotiations, a mutually agreeable contract could not be reached between City and Burns and McDonnell. The City moved forward with the second highest-ranking firm, GAI Consultants, Inc.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Individual task work orders will be requested and negotiated as needed and will be charged to individual projects at pre-negotiated rates with GAI Consultants, Inc. Task work orders of $50,000 or more will require council approval. Expenditures under this contract will follow City procurement procedures.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
These services were procured in compliance with the City’s Procurement Policy.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The Agreement has been reviewed and approved for form and legality by the City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
Deny, or table.