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ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THE EL DORADO STREET PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST SAFETY CONNECTIVITY PROJECT
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Transfer funds in the amount of $35,000 from the Grant Match, Project No. WT21016, to the El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity, Project No. WT23039/Federal Project No. HSIPL-5008(210).
2. Approve findings pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070 in support of an exception to the competitive bidding process.
3. Award a Professional Services Contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. of Oakland, CA, in the amount of $348,775.95 for design of the El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity, Project No. WT23039/Federal Project No. HSIPL-5008(210).
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a federal-aid program administered by Caltrans and established to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. Caltrans, Division of Local Assistance, manages California's local agency share of HSIP funds.
The El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity project will add bicycle improvements and safety features along the corridor including rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB), crosswalks, bulb outs, bicycle video detection, Class II buffered bicycle lanes and cycle track, median refuge islands, and sidewalks. El Dorado Street is currently two lanes in each direction. The project will remove one lane in each direction in order to facilitate the addition of bicycle facilities along the corridor (Attachment A).
On February 26, 2025, the City advertised a Request for Proposals (RFP) for design of the El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity, Project No. WT23039/Federal Project No. HSIPL-5008(210). On March 26, 2025, four firms submitted proposals for this project. The Selection Committee evaluated the proposals. The highest ranked firm was BKF Engineers. However, staff was unable to negotiate a mutually agreeable fee for the scope of services needed for this project. Staff successfully negotiated a fee and scope of services with the second highest ranked firm, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. of Oakland, CA.
It is recommended that Council adopt a resolution transferring funds and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Contract in the amount of $348,775.95 with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for design services. It is anticipated that the design will be completed by fall 2027.
This project is federally funded and subject to federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirements.
DISCUSSION
Background
HSIP is a federal-aid program administered by Caltrans and established to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. Caltrans, Division of Local Assistance, manages California's local agency share of HSIP funds.
In March 2023, the El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity, Project No. WT23039/Federal Project No. HSIPL-5008(210), was approved for HSIP funding in the amount of $2,350,000 for design and construction. This project is 90 percent federally funded and a 10 percent local match is required as part of the grant. In November 2023, the City received authorization from the State to begin design work. The project was included in the 2024-29 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
The project limits are along South El Dorado Street between Clayton Avenue and 3rd Street. The project will add bicycle improvements and safety features along the corridor including RRFBs, crosswalks, bulb outs, bicycle video detection, Class II buffered bicycle lanes and cycle track, median refuge islands, and sidewalks. El Dorado Street is currently two lanes in each direction. The project will remove one lane in each direction in order to facilitate the addition of bicycle facilities along the corridor (Attachment A).
Since the project is funded with federal transportation dollars, DBE program rules apply. DBE rules require that the consultant either meet a calculated project specific DBE participation goal or undertake and document good faith efforts to do so. If the apparent low bidder does not meet the project goal, a Good Faith Efforts Evaluation must be made examining several specific factors. Failure to meet the goal or make adequate good faith efforts are grounds for rejecting a consultant’s proposal.
A DBE is a socially and economically disadvantaged small business owned by a woman or by a specified ethnic group that has been properly certified by Caltrans. These groups include:
• African American
• Asian Pacific American
• Native American
• Women
• Hispanic American
• Subcontinent Asian American
A DBE goal of 23 percent was established for this project. The goal was calculated by examining the breakdown of the types of work to be performed and the availability of certified DBE companies in our market area to perform the work.
The federal funding restrictions prohibit the use of the Local Employment Ordinance (Stockton Municipal Code (SMC) section 3.68.095), and the Local Business Preference Ordinance (SMC section 3.68.090).
Present Situation
On February 26, 2025, the City advertised an RFP for design of the El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity, Project No. WT23039/Federal Project No. HSIPL-5008(210). On March 26, 2025, four proposals were received from the following firms:
• BKF Engineers (Sacramento, CA)
• CSG Consultants (Sacramento, CA)
• Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (Oakland, CA)
• Sandis Civil Engineers Surveyors and Planners (Modesto, CA)
The Selection Committee evaluated and ranked all proposals based on each firm’s understanding of work, experience with similar kinds of projects, staff qualifications and technical ability, project approach, and familiarity of federal transportation funding procedures.
The highest ranked firm was BKF Engineers. However, staff was unable to negotiate a mutually agreeable fee for the scope of services needed for this project. Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. received the second highest ranking, based on the noted criteria, and was determined to be qualified for this project. Staff negotiated a fee in the amount of $348,775.95 with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for design services. The fee is approximately 14 percent of the total estimated cost, which is reasonable for a project of this type and complexity. Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. has proposed a 28 percent DBE participation, which exceeds the DBE goal of 23 percent.
It is recommended that Council adopt a resolution transferring funds and authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $348,775.95 for design services for the El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity, Project No. WT23039/Federal Project No. HSIPL-5008(210). It is anticipated that the design will be completed by fall 2027.
Findings
Pursuant to SMC section 3.68.070, Council may approve findings which support an exception to the competitive bidding process. These findings include:
1. The City does not have sufficient staff and expertise to design this project.
2. Use of the RFP process is appropriate for this Professional Services Contract because it relies on the evaluation of professional qualifications and performance as the basis for selection of a vendor. Use of the criteria helps ensure selection of a vendor that will provide the highest quality professional service, which is in the public interest.
3. The City negotiated a contract following solicitation of competitive proposals in accordance with SMC section 3.68.070.A.3.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
With the transfer of funds in the amount of $35,000 from the Grant Match, Project No. WT21016, to the El Dorado Street Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Connectivity, Project No. WT23039/Federal Project No. HSIPL-5008(210), there will be sufficient funding to award a Professional Services Contract in the amount of $348,775.95 to Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the project.
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended actions.
Attachment A - Vicinity Map