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APPROVE MOTION TO AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THE ALPINE AND ALVARADO CONVERSION TO 3-WAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a motion to:
1. Award a Professional Services Contract to Advanced Mobility Group, of Walnut Creek, CA, in the amount of $72,351.69, for design of the Alpine and Alvarado Conversion to 3-Way Traffic Signal, Project No. WT21012/Federal Project No. CML-5008(193).
2. Approve findings pursuant to Stockton Municipal Code section 3.68.070 in support of an exception to the competitive bidding process.
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 motion.
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Summary
The Alpine and Alvarado Conversion to 3-Way Traffic Signal project will install a new traffic signal at the intersections of Alpine and Alvarado Avenue. Alvarado Avenue (two lanes) currently intersects with Alpine Avenue (four lanes) to form a T-intersection. Alvarado Avenue is controlled at the T-intersection by a stop sign. The project will install a traffic signal at this intersection to increase safety, improve traffic flow, and reduce congestion (Attachment A - Vicinity Map). The intersection of Alpine Avenue and Alvarado Avenue is on the City’s 2019 Signal Priority List. The project was included in the 2020-25 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The project was granted a total amount of $1,040,000 of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds.
On December 15, 2020, the City advertised a Request for Proposals (RFP) for design of the Alpine and Alvarado Conversion to 3-Way Traffic Signal project. Two firms submitted proposals for this project. The Selection Committee evaluated the proposals and found Advanced Mobility Group, of Walnut Creek, CA, to be the most qualified and highest-ranked firm.
It is recommended that Council approve a motion authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Contract in the amount of $72,351.69 with Advanced Mobility Group. It is anticipated that the design will be completed by early 2022.
This project is subject to federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirements.
DISCUSSION
Background
In October 2019, the City applied for CMAQ improvement program funds for the Alpine and Alvarado Conversion to 3-Way Traffic Signal project. CMAQ funds are available for transportation projects and programs that contribute to the attainment or maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The project was granted a total amount of $1,040,000 of CMAQ funds. The project was included in the 2020-25 Five-Year CIP.
The project will install a new traffic signal at the intersections of Alpine and Alvarado Avenue. Alvarado Avenue (two lanes) currently intersects with Alpine Avenue (four lanes) to form a T-intersection. Alvarado Avenue is controlled at the T-intersection by a stop sign. The installation of a traffic signal at this intersection will increase safety, improve traffic flow, and reduce congestion (Attachment A - Vicinity Map). The intersection of Alpine Avenue and Alvarado Avenue is on the City’s 2019 Signal Priority List.
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 the 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 10 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 December 15, 2020, the City advertised an RFP for design services of the Alpine and Alvarado Conversion to 3-Way Traffic Signal project. On January 11, 2021, two proposals were received from the following firms:
• Advanced Mobility Group (Walnut Creek, CA)
• TJKM Transportation Consultants (Pleasanton, CA)
A Selection Committee evaluated and ranked all proposals based on each firm’s understanding of work, experience with similar kinds of projects, staff qualifications, technical ability, project approach, and familiarity of federal transportation funding procedures.
Advanced Mobility Group received the highest ranking, based on the noted criteria, and was determined to be the most qualified firm for this project. Staff negotiated a fee in the amount of $72,351.69 with Advanced Mobility Group for design services. This fee is approximately 6.3 percent of the estimated project cost, which is reasonable for a project of this type and complexity. Advanced Mobility Group has proposed an 11.3 percent DBE participation, which exceeds the DBE goal of 10 percent.
Staff recommends that Council approve a motion to award a Professional Services Contract in the amount of $72,351.69 to Advanced Mobility Group for design services of the Alpine and Alvarado Conversion to 3-Way Traffic Signal project (Attachment B). It is anticipated that the design will be completed early 2022.
Findings
Pursuant to SMC section 3.68.070, Council may approve findings which support an exception to the competitive bidding process. Although the proposed contract is less than $75,000, Public Works recommends the approval of findings in the event there are potential scope changes that may increase the project cost. These findings include:
1. The City does not have sufficient staff and expertise to design this project.
2. The scope of design services requires an engineering firm experienced in traffic signal design.
3. 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.
4. The City negotiated a contract following solicitation of competitive proposals in accordance with SMC section 3.68.070.A.3.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There are sufficient funds available in Alpine and Alvarado Conversion to 3-Way Traffic Signal, Project No. WT21012 (formerly Project No. PW2112)/Federal Project No. CML-5008(193), Account No. 4570:300-000, to award a Professional Services Contract in the amount of $72,351.69 to Advanced Mobility Group.
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended action.
Attachment A - Vicinity Map
Attachment B - Professional Services Contract with Advanced Mobility Group