TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Jonathan R. Lewis, ICMA-CM, City Manager
TITLE: Contract No. 2017-09 between the City of North Port and MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc. to construct irrigation and landscaping in the South Biscayne Drive medians in the amount of $335,447.94, plus $15,000 for contingencies.
Recommended Action
Approve Contract No. 2017-09 between the City of North Port and MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc. of Venice, Florida to construct irrigation and landscaping in the South Biscayne Drive medians in the amount of $335,447.94, plus $15,000.00 for contingencies.
Background Information
The medians on South Biscayne Drive, from Safford Terrace to Elyton Drive, originally consisted of Sabal Palm Trees and grass. Residents expressed a desire for a higher intensity and quality of landscaping to beautify the roadway. A capital improvement project was developed and approved by the City Commission in fiscal year 2013. A project was developed, however, construction bids exceeded the funded amount. Options were discussed, a revised landscaping plan was devised, and the redesign proceeded with more emphasis on long term maintenance. Funds were added for the redesign and curbing.
The project irrigation and landscaping was separated from the curbing to attract qualified bidders to these appreciably different fields of construction to obtain better pricing. The curbing project is being awarded under a separate contract to coincide with the irrigation and landscaping project
Two bids were received for the irrigation and landscaping project. The active economy generating much more private work negatively influenced interest in public projects. Several companies indicated their workload and/or bonding capacity prevented them from bidding this project.
During their meeting on November 22, 2016, the City Commission gave staff the following direction with respect to the landscaping plan:
• Eliminate the Pygmy Date Palms - (Two included in the original design)
• Include more shade trees, especially near residential homes
The Public Works Department Director and Project Manager, Neighborhood Development Services Department Arborist and Property Maintenance Manager and Landscaped Architect Consultant worked cooperatively to develop and a revised landscaping plan specific to the trees prepared. The following changes were incorporated into the revised landscaping plan:
1. Removed two Pygmy Date Palm trees;
2. Exchanged ornamental trees for shade trees which increased the number of shade trees from 8 to 14;
3. Revised the species of ornamental trees to accommodate the additional shade trees with respect to line of sight and overhead power lines;
4. Exchanged 3 Ribbon Palm Trees for 6 Sylvester Palms (Silver Date Palms) to address requests from several residents during the neighborhood meeting on November 1, 2016;
5. Exchanged individual Perennial Peanut plants for rolled Perennial Peanut ground cover to reduce landscaping costs; and,
6. Increased the total number of trees from 25 to 48 to address concerns about the limited number of trees in the project from residents during the neighborhood meeting on November 1, 2016, as well as the City Commission meeting on November 22, 2016.
The following provides a listing of the trees on the original landscaping plans and the trees on the revised landscaping plan incorporating the changes referenced above:
Original Plans:
Ø 3 Japanese Blueberry - ornamental
Ø 4 Crape Myrtle - ornamental
Ø 1 Japanese Privet - ornamental
Ø 4 Sweet Gum - ornamental
Ø 3 Ribbon Palms
Ø 2 Pygmy Date Palms - ornamental
Ø 4 Cathedral Live Oak
Ø 4 American Elms
25 trees
Revised Plans
12 Purple Trumpet - ornamental
Ø 16 Loquat - ornamental
Ø 6 Sylvester Palms (Silver Date Palms)
Ø 8 Cathedral Live Oak
Ø 6 American Elm
48 trees
MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc. have agreed to revise the species of trees as listed above for no additional cost to the original bid amount. However, no changes to the bid are permitted subsequent to submittal to the City. As such, if the City Commission authorizes the changes noted in the revised Landscaping Plans, a change order identifying the changes would be required after Commission approval of the Award of Contract No. 2017-09.
MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc. was deemed the lowest qualified and responsive bidder. Therefore, staff recommends award of Contract 2017-09 to MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc. in the amount of $335,447.94, plus $15,000.00 for contingencies.
Strategic Plan
Maintained/Upgraded/Expanded City Infrastructure
Financial Impact
$221,500.00 is available in account number 115-2750-524.46-10, Project R13NHI
$ 59,059.82 is available in account number 306-5000-541.46-06, Project R13NHI
$ 69,888.12 is available in account number 107-5000-541.63-00, Project R13NHI
Procurement
MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc.
5175 Englewood Road
Venice, FL 34293
(941) 493-1293
Attachments:
1. Contract 2017-09
2. Notice of Intent to Award
3. Bid Tabulation Sheet
4. MRT Lawn and Garden Center, Inc. Bid Submittal
5. RFB 2017-09 Solicitation and addendum
6. Biscayne Drive Median Improvements Aerial View
7. Biscayne Drive Median Improvements Overview
8. Biscayne Drive Median Improvements Landscaping Plans (Original design)
9. Biscayne Drive Median Improvements Landscaping Plans (Includes strikethrough/underlined changes)
10. Biscayne Drive Median Improvements Landscape Plan (Clean Format includes changes discussed at November 22, 2016, Commission Meeting)
11. PowerPoint Presentation
12. Florida Division of Corporations Document
Prepared by: Benjamin Newman and Juliana B. Bellia
Department Director: Juliana B. Bellia