City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 05/13/13 Item Number: C-2
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Approval of a Professional Services Agreement
with IDC Consulting Engineers, Inc. for Final Design Services for the Higuera Street
Bridge Replacement Project, P-553, BHLS 5240(026) in the Amount Not-to-Exceed
$960,700 ($859,807 for the Base Contract and $100,893 in Change Order Authority).
Contact Person/Dept.: Sammy Romo/PW Phone Number: (310) 253-5619
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Agenda and Meetings – City Council (05/07/13); (E-Mail) IDC
Consulting Engineers, Inc. (05/09/13); (E-Mail) ARUP (05/09/13)
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (05/02/13)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (05/07/13)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (05/07/13)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (05/07/13)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a professional services agreement
with IDC Consulting Engineers, Inc. for final design services for the Higuera Street
Bridge Replacement Project, P-553, BHLS 5240(026) in the amount of $859,807
(plus an additional $100,893 for potential change orders for a total not-to-exceed
amount of $960,700).
BACKGROUND:
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (County) is contracted by the
State of California (Caltrans) to perform bridge inspections in Los Angeles County
every 2 years. In December 1999, the Higuera Bridge was determined by the
County to be functionally obsolete due to its geometric configuration relative to the
street configurations on both approaches to the bridge. In addition the Sufficiency
Rating (SR) for the bridge was determined to be 72.9. According to the federal
Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation (HBRR) Program, bridges with an
SR less than 80 and that are either functionally obsolete or structurally deficient
are eligible for federal HBRR funds and with a City local funding match
requirement of 20%. In 2001, the City of Los Angeles submitted an application to
Caltrans to replace/rehabilitate the Higuera Street Bridge (8% of the bridge is in
City of Los Angeles’ right-of-way) through the HBRR Program. The City of Los
Angeles was successful in their attempt to obtain authorization to fully replace the
bridge, but subsequently deleted the project from their work plan. The
authorization to replace the bridge then lapsed. City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Culver City staff submitted an application to the federal Highway Bridge Program
(HBP, formerly HBRR as mentioned above) after the local funding match
requirement was reduced from 20% to 11.47%. Caltrans (program manager of
HBP) authorized staff to perform preliminary engineering to determine the cost
effectiveness of replacing versus rehabilitating the bridge. If the cost to rehabilitate
the bridge is at least 50% of the cost to fully replace the bridge, then Caltrans can
authorize the City to fully replace the bridge.
On April 11, 2011, the City Council awarded a contract to IDC Consulting, Inc. to
perform a preliminary engineering study on the bridge. The Preliminary Engineering
Report determined that rehabilitation of the bridge would cost at least 50% of full
replacement. As a result, the bridge was approved for full replacement by Caltrans.
Subsequently, Caltrans authorized the City to seek a consultant to design the full
removal and replacement of the bridge. HBP programmed the funding for the final
design.
DISCUSSION:
On October 17, 2012, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was sent to several known
reputable bridge engineering firms as well as published on the City’s website.
Proposals were due November 29, 2012. The two engineering firms which
submitted proposals were IDC Consulting Engineers, Inc. and ARUP. Below is a
summary of the cost for design services as stated in the proposals.
Design Consultant and Cost
IDC Consulting, Inc. $859,807
ARUP $964,751
The Public Works Director/City Engineer, Engineering Services Manager, Senior
Civil Engineer, and Associate Engineer conducted a review of the proposals and
subsequently conducted interviews of the two firms. It was unanimously
determined that IDC Consulting Engineer’s (IDC) proposal and interview results
showed that they are the most responsive and best qualified firm to provide final
design services on this project. IDC and its staff have extensive bridge design
experience in similar projects throughout southern California.
A community meeting was held to obtain input on the closure of the bridge during
construction. There was no opposition stated at the meeting to the full closure of
the bridge for removal and replacement.
Staff recommends the City Council approve the proposal from IDC It is expected
that the final design will take approximately twelve to eighteen months to complete.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
The bridge will be designed as a single span reinforced concrete bridge that is
similar to the one that Metro constructed on National Boulevard. The new bridge
design shall include 2 lanes in each direction with full width bike lanes and
sidewalks. Community meetings will be conducted to obtain input on the final design
components of the bridge such as bridge railing and lighting. Upon final review and
approval from Caltrans, City staff will seek funding from the federal HBP Program for
construction of a new bridge. Additionally, it should be noted that the design scope
includes a new bike ramp to Ballona Creek. The design for this will be paid through
a grant from the Baldwin Hills Conservancy (BHC). Staff has submitted an
application to the recent Metro Call for Projects for construction of the new bicycle
ramp.
These professional services are excepted from the bidding requirements per Culver
City Municipal Code Section § 3.07.085.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Proposed Project Budget
Funding Source Amount
HBP Grant $797,390
Gas Tax (City Match) (41880000.730100.PZ553) $103,310
BHC Grant (42380000.730100.PZ964) $60,000
Total $960,700
The cost for final design services as stated in IDC’s proposal is $859,807, and the
amount of federal and local funds programmed is $960,700. It is recommended
that the City Council authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve
design change orders in an amount not-to-exceed $100,893 (11.73%).
MOTIONS:
That the City Council:
1) Approve a professional services agreement with IDC Consulting, Inc. for final
design services for the Higuera Bridge Replacement Project, P-553 in the
amount of $859,807; and,
2) Authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve change
orders, if necessary, for an amount not-to-exceed $100,893 (11.73% of
$859,807); and,
3) Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and,
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
4) Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the
City.