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CC - (1) Award of a Construction Contract to Ortiz Enterprises, Inc. in the Amount of $7,608,634.20 for the Higuera Street Bridge Replacement Project, PZ553, BHLS 5240(026) and the Ballona Bicycle Path Connectivity Project at Higuera Street, PZ964, F7507 as the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder; (2) Authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to Approve Change Orders in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $760,863; (3) Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with IDC Consulting, Inc. in an Additional Amount Not-to-Exceed $426,901 for Construction Support and Environmental Monitoring; and (4) Approval of an Amendment to the Existing Professional Services Agreement with Biggs Cardosa Associates in an Additional Amount Not-to-Exceed $338,035 for Construction Management and Inspection Services
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Meeting Date: June 14, 2021
Contact Person/Dept: Sammy Romo/PW
Phone Number: 310-253-5619
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/09/2021);
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer (06/07/2021)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council (1) award a construction contract to Ortiz Enterprises, Inc. in the amount of $7,608,634.20 for the Higuera Street Bridge Replacement Project, PZ553, BHLS 5240(026) and the Ballona Creek Bicycle Path Connectivity Project at Higuera Street, PZ964, F7507 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; (2) authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve change orders in an amount not-to-exceed $760,863; (3) approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with IDC Consulting, Inc. in an additional amount not-to-exceed $426,901 for construction support and environmental monitoring services; and (4) approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Biggs Cardosa Associates in an additional amount not-to-exceed $338,035 for construction management/inspection services.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The existing Higuera Street Bridge was built in 1938 and is 43 feet wide and has sidewalks and three traffic lanes - two in the southbound direction and one in the northbound direction. The bridge is structurally deficient as well as being functionally obsolete and is approaching the end of its useful service life. The proposed bridge will be 70 feet wide and will have two lanes in each direction, bicycle lanes, and sidewalks. The bridge construction is primarily funded through the Federal Highway Bridge Program. A bicycle ramp to connect Higuera Street and the Ballona Creek Bicycle Path will be constructed as well. Funding for the bicycle ramp is primarily through Metro. The proposed bicycle ramp will be directly adjacent to proposed retaining walls approximately 5 to 10 feet tall.
On March 25, 2021, staff received four bids in the following amounts:
Contractor Total Base Bid Bridge Portion Bicycle Ramp Portion
1. Ortiz Enterprises, Inc. $7,608,634.20 $6,397,244.20 $1,211,390.00
2. Griffith Company $8,113,914.05 $6,659,007.05 $1,454,907.00
3. KEC Engineering $8,159,186.70 $6,899,191.70 $1,259,995.00
4. Beador $8,170,300.00 $6,788,750.00 $1,381,550.00
Staff reviewed the contractor bid documents and determined Ortiz Enterprises, Inc. (Ortiz) submitted the lowest responsive total base bid. Staff reviewed the bid proposal and found the bid documents responsive and complete. Staff also contacted the references listed in the bid documents. Ortiz is a well-known contractor and has successfully completed many similar bridge projects in cities throughout Southern California with satisfactory performance. Ortiz is currently the contractor for Culver City’s Culver Boulevard Realignment Project on Culver Boulevard between Elenda Street and Sepulveda Boulevard. Staff recommends that the City Council award a construction contract to Ortiz per their total base bid amount of $7,608,634.20 as the award amount.
Construction is expected to begin in September 2021 and slated to be completed by January 2023. The existing Higuera Bridge will be demolished, and this route will be closed during the construction of the project. The existing Ballona Creek bicycle path will be closed within the construction zone. Detour route signs will be posted for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Also, all the business in the Hayden Tract will be notified of the project schedule and recommended alternate detour routes.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Bridge
The bids were divided into two separate bid schedules; one for the Higuera Street Bridge Replacement Project, and one for the Bicycle Ramp which will connect Higuera Street to the Ballona Creek Bicycle Path. The following is a breakdown of the anticipated construction costs for the bridge portion of the project.
Ortiz Enterprises Bid $6,397,244.20
Contingency (10%) $ 639,724.00
Construction Management/Inspection $1,218,396.00
Construction Design Support and Environmental Monitoring $ 426,901.00
Total Anticipated Bridge Construction Costs $8,682,265.20
The following list of funding sources shows the current available budget for bridge construction.
Construction (Caltrans Grant 423.730100.PZ553) $5,666,793.70
Construction Mgmt/Inspect (Caltrans Grant 423.730100.PZ553) $ 772,744.60
Gas Tax (418.730100.PZ553) $ 103,807.00
Former Redevelopment Funds (48580000.730100.PZ553) $ 619,229.33
*Gas Tax - 41880000.730100.PZ553 $1,149,846
*General Funds (Street Repaving) - 42080000.730100.PZ553 $ 360,000
*Measure R - 43180000.730100.PZ553 $ 9,845.27
Total Current Budget for Bridge Construction $8,682,265.20
*Staff has applied for additional funding from Caltrans to cover 88.53% of these funding sources (Federal Highway Bridge Program covers 88.53% of eligible funding, while local agency is required to provide 11.47% of the local match). However, Caltrans has stated that due to the current high demand for Federal Highway Bridge Program Funds, those additional funds may not be available until after March 2022. Funding from PS005 will be reallocated to PZ553. These proposed funding sources will not be used to pay construction progress invoices until it is necessary.
Bicycle Ramp
Below is a breakdown of the anticipated construction costs for the new bicycle ramp.
Ortiz Enterprises Bid Amount $1,211,390
Contingency (10%) $ 121,139
Total Anticipated Bicycle Ramp Construction Cost $1,332,529
The following list of funding sources shows the current available budget for bicycle ramp construction.
Metro Grant (42380000.730100.PZ964) $615,625
Gas Tax (41880000.730100.PZ964) $ 20,000
General Fund (42080000.730100.PZ964) $206,000
**Measure R - 43180000.730100.PZ964 $240,904
**Cumulus Traffic Mitigation Funds - 42080000.730100.PZ964 $250,000
Total Current Budget for Bicycle Ramp Construction $1,332,529
**Staff is proposing reallocating $240,904 of Measure R Funds from PS005 funds to PZ964 as well Cumulus Traffic Mitigation Funds.
Summary of Expected Construction Expenses:
Construction (Bridge and Bicycle Ramp) $ 7,608,634
Construction Contingency (10%) $ 760,863
Construction Management/Inspection $ 1,218,396
Construction Design Support and Environmental Monitoring $ 426,901
Total Expected Construction Costs $10,014,904
It should be noted that in both cases (for the Bridge and the Bicycle Ramp projects), there remains the small possibility that the City will not receive from Caltrans and/or Metro any of the aforementioned budget shortfall. However, Caltrans Local Assistance staff have stated that once the City provides evidence that it has “fronted” the money, the City will be moved to the top of the priority list to receive additional federal highway bridge funding.
IDC Consulting, Inc., Contract Amendment
IDC Consulting, Inc. (IDC) is the structural engineering firm that designed the new bridge and bicycle ramp. The cost for their final design services was $1,098,734.
Staff is recommending the City Council approve an amendment to increase IDC’s contract in an amount not-to-exceed $426,901, expanding the scope of service to address engineering support required during the project including providing responses to the Contractor’s requests for information on geotechnical, structural, and civil engineering items. Fees will be paid on an as-needed basis. Also included as part of this fee is environmental monitoring which is required as a mitigation measure for this project.
Biggs Cardosa Associates Contract Amendment
On November 9, 2020, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Biggs Cardosa Associates (BCA) to perform construction management and construction inspection services, in a not-to-exceed amount of $880,361, for this project. Based on the available Federal Funds for the project, staff negotiated with BCA to lower their total original fee amount of $1,194,273 to $880,361. The reduction in the total fee amount was accomplished by reducing BCA’s proposed construction management hours on the project. Due to the reduction of these consultant hours, the City’s project manager/engineer would have to increase his participation in the construction management of the project.
However, staff recommends that BCA now fully manage the construction of the project. The City’s project manager/engineer can therefore spend more time on other priority City work. Therefore, staff is requesting BCA’s contract be amended to include the needed construction management hours and the total agreement amount be increased in an amount not-to-exceed $338,035 to account for the additional consultant hours to fully manage the construction of the project.
ATTACHMENTS
None
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Award a construction contract to Ortiz Enterprises, Inc. in the amount of $7,608,634.20 for the Higuera Street Bridge Replacement Project, PZ553, BHLS 5240(026) and the Ballona Creek Bicycle Path Connectivity Project at Higuera Street, PZ964, F7507 as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder; and,
2. Authorize the Public Works Director/City Engineer to approve change orders in an amount not to exceed $760,863; and,
3. Approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with IDC Consulting, Inc. in an additional amount not-to-exceed $426,901 for construction support and environmental monitoring services; and,
4. Approve an amendment to the existing professional services agreement with Biggs Cardosa Associates in an additional amount not-to-exceed $338,035 for construction management/inspection services; and,
5. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and,
6. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.