Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Matt Bond, P.E., Stormwater Engineer
CC:	Charles Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works Shoeb Uddin, P.E., City Engineer
Date:	May 2, 2012
RE:	Project PW1133 - Maple Street Pump Station Stormwater Improvements Consultant Selection - Engineering Design Services

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the May 8, 2012 meeting.

Project Background.  The North Lawrence Drainage Study (NLDS) was received by the Lawrence City Commission in January 2006.  One of the recommendations of the NLDS was the upgrade of the pump station on Maple Street in North Lawrence.  It also detailed the upgrading of the storm sewer infrastructure both up and downstream of the pump station.  In November 2008 the community overwhelmingly supported a 0.3% sales tax for infrastructure improvements.  The City began collecting sales tax funds in April 2009.  The Maple Street Pump Station was specifically designated to use this revenue source.  In preparation for the construction of the pump station, the parcels adjacent to the existing pump station were purchased in July 2010.

Project Description.  The existing pump station is a converted sanitary sewer lift station with a maximum capacity of approximately 38 cfs (cubic feet per second) and is grossly undersized for the amount of stormwater it handles.  The NLDS recommends a pump station with a capacity of 305 cfs.  The area designated as "System 6", in the NLDS, contains roughly 192 acres and experiences localized flooding during significant rainfall events (see Attachment A).  The parcels to construct both the pump station and the wet well have already been acquired (see Attachment B). The corresponding piping leading south from the pump station will include involvement from the US Army Corps of Engineers since it will pass through the Kansas River Levee.  The construction of this project will involve the temporary disruption of traffic in areas adjacent to storm sewer pipe installation. 

Consultant Selection Process

A 4-member selection committee reviewed the Qualification Statements and selected three firms (Bartlett & West, GBA and PEC) for in-person interview. The committee members were: Chuck Soules, Public Works Director; Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer; Matt Bond, Stormwater Engineer; and Ted Boyle, President of the North Lawrence Neighborhood Improvement Association.

Firms were evaluated on the following criteria:

1.	Commitment of staff, equipment and facilities
2.	Ability to perform the desired services within the time prescribed
3.	Past performance of firm
4.	Staff’s training schools attendance
5.	Previous experience with similar work
6.	Work commitment which could limit performance
7.	Accessibility of firm’s office
8.	Firm’s familiarity with project area
9.	Firm’s knowledge of project procedures
10.	Firm’s consideration of project problems/issues
11.	Thoroughness of presentation
12.	Communication issues
13.	Ability to work with public
14.	Professionalism, comfort level with firm

Based on a thorough evaluation using the above mentioned criteria, the selection committee is recommending that the city negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Bartlett & West. They demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the drainage basin, strong relationships with the Union Pacific Railroad and US Army Corps of Engineers as well as a strong communication plan.

Project Funding & Schedule

The NLDS estimated the construction cost for this project at $4.279 million.  Due to the complexity of the hydrologic and hydraulic computer models necessary to accurately model the watershed, design is estimated to take nine months to a year to complete.  This would result in the completion of design plans between the end of 2012 and spring 2013.   The bid date would be set within a few months of the completion of the construction plans. This project is being funded with the Sales Tax Revenue. 

Action Request

Authorize staff to negotiate an agreement with Bartlett & West for engineering services for the Maple Street Pump Station Stormwater Improvement project.  The agreement will be presented at a later date to the City Commission for approval.