TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jonathan R. Lewis, ICMA-CM, City Manager
TITLE: Approve Contract No. 2017-08 between the City of North Port and C-Squared Certified General Contractor, Inc. to construct curbing around the South Biscayne Drive medians in the amount of $412,912.60, plus $15,000.00 for contingencies.
Recommended Action
Approve Contract No. 2017-08 between the City of North Port and C-Squared Certified General Contractor, Inc. to construct curbing around the South Biscayne Drive medians in the amount of $412,912.60 plus $15,000.00 for contingencies.
Background Information
The design of the medians on South Biscayne Drive from Safford Terrace to Elyton Drive originally consisted of Sabal Palm trees and grass. Residents in the South Biscayne Drive neighborhood expressed a desire for a higher intensity and quality of landscaping to beautify the roadway. In fiscal year 2013, the Department of Public Works developed the South Biscayne Drive Median Capital Improvements Project which was subsequently approved by the City Commission. The competitive bidding process was then utilized to acquire a contractor to construct the project. However, construction bids submitted by contractors exceeded the funded amount. The following options were discussed:
Ø Reevaluate design and types of plants and trees to be used in medians and revise landscaping plan.
Ø Change irrigation to pop up heads spray irrigation to simplify and standardize design and maintenance.
Ø Obtain additional funding for the redesign and addition of concrete curbing.
Concrete curbing was added around the perimeter of the medians to contain the landscaping mulch and serve as a protective barrier for the landscaping and irrigation. Construction of the concrete curbing and installation of the irrigation and landscaping were each bid separately to attract bidders qualified in the respective areas of work.
The City only received one bid for the concrete curbing for this project which may have resulted from the following contributing factors:
Ø The active economy has generated a significant amount of private development both within the City of North Port and in the surrounding cities and counties.
Ø The increased workload and bonding requirements of contractors has limited the bidding activity for smaller sized projects.
Staff renegotiated the proposed scope of services with C-Squared Certified General Contractors in an effort to reduce the proposed bid amount for the concrete curbing to be within the budgeted amount. This is permissible when only one bid is received. At the conclusion of the renegotiation discussion, there was a consensus to make the following changes to the contractor’s bid:
1. Subsequent to a recalculation by the Engineer-of-Record to correct the volume of soil needed by the calculated volume of mulch, the quantity of embankment soil to be added in the curbed medians was reduced from 3,410 cubic yards to 2,500 cubic yards.
2. Public Works staff will provide the Maintenance of Traffic on the project.
These two changes will reduce the contractor’s bid for the project to be within funding limits.
Another potential cost savings to the project is if the City of North Port Department of Public Works can supply the embankment soil if testing results are within established parameters. C-Squared Certified General Contractors, Inc. has agreed to reduce the unit price of embankment from $36.50 per cubic yard to $26.45 per cubic yard, if the City provided soil meets the specifications. This credit would be administered through a deductive change order to the contract with C-Squared Certified General Contractors, Inc.
C-Squared Certified General Contractor, Inc. is determined to be a qualified and responsive bidder and staff recommends award of Contract No. 2017-08 to C-Squared Certified General Contractor, Inc. in the amount of $412,912.60, plus $15,000.00 for contingencies.
Strategic Plan
Maintained/Upgraded/Expanded City Infrastructure
Financial Impact
$127,637.42 is available in account number 115-2750-524.46-10
$300,275.18 is available in account number 306-5000-541.46-06
Procurement
C-Squared Certified General Contractor, Inc.
3547 53rd Avenue West #327
Bradenton, FL 34210
(941) 345-3093
Attachments:
1. Contract No. 2017-08
2. Notice of Intent to Award
3. Bid Tabulation Sheet
4. C-Squared Certified General Contractor, Inc. Bid Submittal
5. RFB No. 2017-08 with Addendum
6. RFB No 2017-08 with Addendum Red-lined with Negotiated Changes
7. Florida Division of Corporations Document
8. Biscayne Drive Median Curbing Contract Plans
9. Biscayne Drive Median Improvements Overall
10. Biscayne Drive Median Improvements Aerial View
11. South Biscayne Drive Median Improvements Project Power Point
Prepared by: Benjamin Newman
Department Director: Juliana B. Bellia