ORDINANCE appropriating $14,905,900.00 out of Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund, awarding contract to HARPER BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION, LLC. for 60-inch water line along Monroe and Rockhill from Airport to Glen Valley; setting a deadline for the bidder’s execution of the contract and delivery of all bonds, insurance, and other required contract documents to the City; holding the bidder in default if it fails to meet the deadlines; providing funding for engineering, testing, CIP Cost Recovery, construction management, Construction Phase Engineering Services, and contingencies relating to construction of facilities financed by the Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund - DISTRICT I - GALLEGOS

SUBJECT:  Contract Award for 60-inch Water Line along Monroe and Rockhill from Airport to Glen Valley, WBS Nos. S-000900-0129-3 & S-000900-0129-4.

RECOMMENDATION:  (Summary)  Reject first and second low bids, return bid bonds, award construction contract to the third low bidder and appropriate funds.

PROJECT NOTICE/JUSTIFICATION:  This project is part of the City’s Surface Water Transmission Program. This program is required to improve existing water distribution systems and to meet Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District’s Legislative mandate to regulate the withdrawal of groundwater.

DESCRIPTION/SCOPE:  This project consists of the construction of approximately 7,400 linear feet of 60-inch transmission water line, approximately 6,500 linear feet of distribution water line and associated drainage and pavement improvements. The contract duration for this project is 500 calendar days. This project was designed by Kuo & Associates, Inc.

LOCATION:  The project is located along Rockhill from Glen Valley to Monroe and along Monroe from Rockhill to Airport. The project is located in Key Map Grids 535X, 535Y & 575C.

BIDS:  This project was advertised for bidding on December 4, 2015. Bids were received on January 21, 2016. The thirteen (13) bids are as follows:

AWARD:  The low bid of $12,387,519.00 was submitted by Meritt Group Construction, Inc. The second low bid of $12,595,835.00 was submitted by CYMI Industrial, Inc. The low bidder, Meritt Group Construction, Inc., was considered non-responsible as per City of Houston Document 00200, Section 14.0B(not presenting satisfactory evidence that the bidder has regularly engaged in performing construction work as proposed, and has the capital, labor, equipment, and material to perform the work).  The second low bidder, CYMI Industrial, Inc., was not a certified “Hire Houston First” bidder at the time of the bid.  It is recommended that this construction contract be awarded to the third low bidder, Harper Brothers Construction, LLC., with a bid of $12,716,644.97 and that Addenda No. 1 and 2 be made a part of the contract.

PROJECT COST:  The total cost of this project is $14,905,900.00  to be appropriated as follows: 

Engineering and Testing Services will be provided by Associated Testing Laboratories, Inc. under a previously approved contract.

Construction Management Services will be provided by Sowells Construction Management & Inspection, Inc. under a previously approved contract.

Construction Phase Engineering Services will be provided by Lockwood, Andrews, & Newnam, Inc. under a previously approved contract.

HIRE HOUSTON FIRST:  The proposed contract requires compliance with the City’s ‘Hire Houston First’ (HHF) ordinance that promotes economic opportunity for Houston businesses and supports job creation. In this case Harper Brothers Construction, LLC. is HHF designated and was awarded the contract based on their designation.

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 health benefits to eligible employees in compliance with City policy.

MWBE PARTICIPATION:  The contractor has submitted the following proposed program to satisfy the 12% MBE goal and 7% WBE goal for this project.

All known rights-of-way, easements and/or right-of-entry required for the project have been acquired.

$14,905,900.00

Water and Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund No. 8500. 

Ravi Kaleyatodi, P.E., CPM

Phone: (832) 395-2326