ORDINANCE appropriating $1,502,000.00 out of Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund, awarding contract to BLASTCO TEXAS, INC for Rehabilitation of Above Grade Crossings; 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, design services during construction, Construction Phase Engineering Services and contingencies relating to construction of facilities financed by the Water and Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund - DISTRICTS A - STARDIG; B - DAVIS; C - COHEN; E - MARTIN; F - LE; I - GALLEGOS and K - GREEN

SUBJECT:  Contract Award for Rehabilitation of Above Grade Crossings; WBS No. S-000701-0018-3 and S-000701-0018-4.

RECOMMENDATION:  (Summary)  Accept low bid, award construction contract and appropriate funds.

PROJECT NOTICE/JUSTIFICATION: This project is part of the City’s Surface Water Transmission Program and

is required to maintain, improve and increase longevity of the existing large diameter water line aerial crossings.

DESCRIPTION/SCOPE: This project consists of rehabilitation of fourteen (14) existing large diameter water line aerial crossings at various locations within the City of Houston. The Contract duration for this project is 210 calendar days. This project was designed by Martinez, Guy & Maybik, Inc. The Program Manager is Lockwood, Andrews, and Newnam, Inc.

LOCATION: The project is located in various locations within the City of Houston as listed below:

BIDS:  This project was advertised for bidding on March 18, 2016. Bids were received on April 14, 2016. The two (2) bids are as follows:

AWARD:  It is recommended that this construction contract be awarded to Blastco Texas, Inc. with a low bid of $1,198,132.00 and that Addendum Number 1 be made a part of this contract.

PROJECT COST:  The total cost of this project is $1,502,000.00 to be appropriated as follows:

Engineering and Testing Services will be provided by JRB Engineering, LLC under a previously approved contract.

Design Services during Construction will be provided by Lockwood, Andrews, & Newnam, 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 business and supports job creation. In this case, company Blastco Texas, Inc. is a designated HHF company, but they were the successful awardee without application of the HHF preference.

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.

M/WBE PARTICIPATION:      The contract was advertised with an MBE Goal of 9% and a WBE Goal of 4%. The contractor submitted a Good Faith Effort which the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) approved.

ESTIMATED FISCAL OPERATING IMPACT: 

No significant Fiscal Operating impact is anticipated as a result of this project.

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

$1,502,000.00 Total Cost

$1,502,000.00 from Fund No. 8500 - Water and Sewer System Consolidated Construction

Ravi Kaleyatodi, P.E., CPM

Phone:  (832) 395-2326