Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David L. Corliss – City Manager Cynthia Wagner - Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard - Assistant City Manager
FROM:	John Shutak – Utilities Engineer
CC:	Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities Mike Lawless – Deputy Director of Utilities Philip Ciesielski – Asst. Director of Utilities Beth Krishtalka – Assistant to Director Dave King - Utilities Maintenance Superintendent Mark Hegeman – Utilities Operations Superintendent
Date:	October 30, 2013
RE:	November 05, 2013 Agenda Item – Negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with HDR Engineering for Design Phase Engineering Services for project UT1310, Booster Pumping Improvements.

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the November 05, 2013 meeting:

Authorize Staff to negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with HDR Engineering for Design Phase Engineering Services for project UT1310, Booster Pumping Improvements.

Project Description:

The 2012 Integrated Water Utilities Plan and adopted scenario 5 Capital Improvement Plan identified and provided funding for the replacement of the booster pumping facility at the Kasold water tower, located at 1800 Kasold Drive, and the design and construction of a new booster pumping station at the Harper water tower, located at 2100 Harper Street. Both facilities are shown on the attached maps for reference.

Project Details:

Booster pumping facilities are currently in service and installed below grade at the Kasold water tower. Since the original installation was completed in 2001, department staff have had significant issues performing routine maintenance on the pumps as they are installed below grade within a 13 foot diameter steel cylinder with limited access through a manway in the steel lid. Access to the below grade steel cylinder requires a confined space entry, and all maintenance on the pumps must be performed in place. The original design also provided for the acquisition and installation of a single variable frequency (VFD) drive to control both pumps; with a single VFD installed, there is no redundancy to allow the station to operate when the VFD must be taken out of service for routine or emergency maintenance. This project will include relocation of the booster pumping facility to an above ground location within a free-standing structure as well as the installation of new variable frequency drives (VFD’s) providing control for each pump as well as operational redundancy, modifications to the electrical service, and installation of appurtenant monitoring and communications/control equipment.

Booster pumping facilities do not currently exist at the Harper tower and are necessary to construct to facilitate water turnover within the Harper tower as well as to provide consistent water pressure in this portion of the Central Service area. The project will include the design and construction of a ground level booster pump station at the Harper water tower as well as the installation of variable frequency drives (VFD’s), modifications to the electrical service, and installation of appurtenant monitoring and communications/control equipment.

Project History:

On September 10, 2013 City Commission authorized staff to advertise a Request for Proposals for Design Phase Engineering Services.

On September 11, 2013 staff advertised the RFP via demand star online service and direct mailing.

On October 11, 2013 in response to the Request for Proposals, staff received proposals from two (2) groups. Proposals were received from the project teams of BG Consultants and Burns & McDonnell and HDR Engineering and Professional Engineering Consultants.

A review committee consisting of Department of Utilities staff evaluated the proposals. The project team of HDR Engineering and Professional Engineering Consultants was judged to be the highest qualified respondent for the requested services.

Respondents were evaluated in the following categories:

Project Knowledge and Approach
Project Qualifications and Experience
Key Project Staff and Experience
Related Local Experience with Department of Utilities Staff
Project Schedule

The team of HDR Engineering and Professional Engineering Consultants consistently outscored the team of BG Consultants and Burns & McDonnell in the areas of project knowledge and approach, key project staff and experience, and project schedule. The team of HDR Engineering and Professional Engineering Consultants provided a well-detailed project approach that included a thorough discussion of the limitations of the existing system and potential solutions for each project site. Also discussed in the response were the advantages that could be realized in water system modeling, operational considerations, and design and construction by combining the booster pumping project with the replacement of the Oread ground storage tanks. The team of HDR Engineering and Professional Engineering Consultants also provided a thorough discussion of the anticipated project schedule and the availability of staff to meet the City’s project specific needs.

Project Funding:

The program is included in the Department of Utilities 2013/2014 Capital Improvement Plan and adopted Rate Plans.

Action Request:

Authorize Staff to negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with HDR Engineering for Design Phase Engineering Services for project UT1310, Booster Pumping Improvements.

Thank you for your assistance. Please advise if you have any questions.