SPECIFIC EXPLANATION: The General Services Department (GSD) recommends that City Council award a construction contract to Gadberry Construction Company, Inc. on the low bid amount of $2,387,000.00 to provide construction services for Brays Bayou TIGER #6 Trail Improvements (MLK-OST) for the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. The TIGER grant consists of six separate projects. This fifth project is in partnership with the Houston Parks Board. Council will be requested to approve each construction project under a separate Council action.
BACKGROUND: In June 2012, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded the City of Houston a $15 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant for the Regional Bike/Ped Connections to Transit. The grant agreement administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was executed on March 15, 2013. The TIGER grant program provides infrastructure investment in surface transportation projects, which includes road, rail, transit and port projects. Houston’s project focuses on eliminating gaps in the hike and bike grid and providing direct pedestrian transportation connections to local bus stops and rail stations.
PROJECT LOCATION: Along Brays Bayou from Martin Luther King Blvd. to Old Spanish Trail (534 E-G)
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project will construct 1.6 miles of new 10’ wide concrete trail along a segment of Brays Bayou from Martin Luther King Blvd. to Old Spanish Trail. The scope of work also includes associated grading and drainage work, retaining wall, protective canopy under RR crossing, trail signage, shared use trail segment and cart path to connect to the University of Houston Energy Campus with the main campus, cart crossing at center median of Wheeler Rd., trail head, chain-link fencing, bollards, guard railing, landscaping and irrigation.
The contract duration for this project is 270 calendar days from the date of the Notice to Proceed. AIA Engineers, Inc. is the design consultant for this project.
BIDS: The following single bid was received on August 6, 2015:
BIDDER BID AMOUNT
1. Gadberry Construction Company, Inc. $2,387,000.00*
*Although it is a single bid, GSD reviewed the price and confirmed that it is reasonable for the work.
AWARD: It is recommended that City Council award the construction contract to Gadberry Construction Company, Inc.
FUNDING SUMMARY:
$ 2,387,000.00 Construction Contract Services
$ 238,700.00 10% Contingency
$ 2,625,700.00 Total Funding
DBE GOAL: The USDOT requires the City to establish a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program as a condition of receiving federal funds. In compliance with the federal requirements, the Office of Business Opportunity has established a 12% DBE goal for this contract. The contractor has submitted the following certified firm to achieve the goal:
| Firm Work |
Work Description |
Amount |
% of Contract |
| Miranda Trucking & Services, Inc. |
Earthwork and Concrete |
$1,107,306.00 |
46.38% |
PAY OR PLAY PROGRAM: The Office of Business Opportunity has approved a waiver of the City’s “Pay or Play” Ordinance for the proposed contract based on the determination that it will have an adverse financial impact, as described in the attached correspondence. Additionally, FHWA has determined that the City’s “Pay or Play” Ordinance does not comply with the terms of the TIGER Grant.
HIRE HOUSTON FIRST: Hire Houston First does not apply to this expenditure, because it involves the use of federal funds and is subject to specific procurement rules of the federal government.