SUBJECT: Amendment to the Professional Engineering Services Contract between the City and Gupta & Associates, Inc. for Work Order Engineering Services for Various Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the First Amendment to the Professional Engineering Services contract between the City and Gupta & Associates, Inc. and appropriate funds.
PROJECT NOTICE/JUSTIFICATION: This project is part of the City’s ongoing program to improve inefficient components of existing wastewater treatment plants and sewer collection system. The work to be performed under this contract is necessary to maintain compliance with Houston’s wastewater consent decree with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
DESCRIPTION/SCOPE: This project consists of preparation of complete design packages for improvements to the various Wastewater Treatment Plants located throughout the City of Houston. The design packages will be based on individual Work Orders issued by the Houston Public Works, Houston Water, engineering project manager. Under the scope of the professional engineering services contract, the consultant will perform work on any specific problem at any wastewater treatment plant which may require an accelerated response in preparation of construction bid documents that will include project manual with plans and specifications.
LOCATION: The projects are located throughout the City of Houston.
PREVIOUS HISTORY AND SCOPE: City Council approved the original contract on April 14, 2021, under Ordinance No. 2021-0261. The scope of services under the original contract consisted of staff augmentation and/or perform Phase I - Preliminary Design, Phase II - Final Design, Phase III Construction Phase Services and Additional Services as applicable to each assignment (work order). Under this Contract, the Consultant has been authorized to perform five (5) work orders covering a wide range or duties from staff augmentation to design and planning for projects tied to the Consent Decree.
SCOPE OF THIS AMENDMENT AND FEE: Under the scope of the First Amendment, the Consultant will accomplish the following: Provide responsive support for critical WWTP related programs and issues, including those that require immediate/emergency action. Tasks include:
- Operation and Maintenance Performance Evaluations of Wastewater Treatment Plants for Consent Decree
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Claim Documentation Submittal Support
- Urgent - Response Design Services for Critical Wastewater Treatment Plant Processes and Systems
- Development of Design Guidelines for Wastewater Treatment Plants
The total requested appropriation is $3,150,000.00 to be appropriated as follows: $3,000,000.00 for Contract services and $150,000.00 for CIP Cost Recovery.
PAY OR PLAY PROGRAM: The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s ‘Pay or Play’ ordinance regarding health benefits for employees of City contractors. In this case, the Contractor provides benefits for some employees but will pay into the Contractor Responsibility Fund for others, in compliance with City policy.
M/WBE PARTICIPATION: The M/WBE goal established for this project is 24%. The original contract amount totals $3,000,000.00. The Consultant has been paid $1,571,677.00 (52.39%) to date. Of this amount, $530,322.00 (33.74%) has been paid to M/WBE sub-consultants to date. Assuming approval of the requested additional appropriation, the contract amount will increase to $6,000,000.00. The Consultant proposes the following plan to meet the M/WBE goal.
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Name of Firms
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Work Description
|
Amount
|
% of Total Contract
|
|
Paid Prior M/WBE Commitment
|
|
$ 530,322.00
|
8.84%
|
|
Unpaid Prior M/WBE Commitment
|
|
$ 591,941.00
|
9.87%
|
|
1. K Friese and Associates, Inc.
|
Civil Engineering
|
$ 200,000.00
|
3.33%
|
|
2. Trilogy Engineering Services LLC.
|
Program/Project Management
and Business General Consulting
|
$ 75,000.00
|
1.25%
|
|
3. WJ International Environmental
Services, Inc.
|
Engineering Consulting
|
$ 200,000.00
____________
|
3.33%
______
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
$1,597,263.00
|
26.62%
|
FISCAL NOTE: No significant Fiscal Operating impact is anticipated as a result of this project.
____________________________________
Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E., Director
Houston Public Works
WBS No. R-000265-0155-3