RiprowValleyArcheologicalConsulCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
May 2, 2001
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Consultant Recommendation for Riprow Valley Archeological Study
Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens is recommending selection of Mississippi
Valley Archeology Center for a phase I archeological survey for the Riprow Valley
Recreation Area project.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
MCVM/jh
Attachment
CC:
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
May 1, 2001
TO:
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: Consultant Recommendation for Riprow Valley Archeological Study
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request the City Council select a consultant for the Riprow
Valley Recreation Area archeological survey and authorize negotiation of a contract with that
consultant.
BACKGROUND
This project involves a phase I archeologicel survey for the Riprow Valley area that must be
completed before any work on the Dubuque Girls Independent League (DGIL) softball fields
can begin. In addifion, completion of this survey must be completed before the City can
receive its $49,578 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and the $100,000 Recreation
Infrastructure grant awarded to the DGIL. A map showing the Riprow Valley is attached.
City staff solicited proposals from ten qualified consulting firms to provide a phase I
archeological survey for this project. Two firms responded to the Request for Proposal
(RFP): HDR Engineering, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Mississippi Valley Archeology
Center, La Crosse, Wisconsin.
CONSULTANT SELECTION PROCESS
A proposal review committee composed of Mike Felderman, Civil Engineer; Gil Spence,
Leisure Services Manager; Ken TeKippe, Finance Director; Wayne Buchholz, Mines of
Spain State Recreation Area; Tacie Campbell, Dubuque County Historical Society; Marilyn
Michels, Dubuque Girls Independent League; Regina Thibeau, Riprow Valley Committee;
Lisa Sesterhenn, Assistant Planner and myself reviewed the proposals received for this
project.
Memo to Michael C. Van Milligen
May 1, 2001
Page 2
The committee evaluated the proposals using the following criteria:
a) Ability to devote the necessary staff to the project.
b) Local economic impact - proximity of firm(s) to Dubuque, ability to incorporate local
firms.
c) Project design team qualifications and experience of the principal consulting staff
proposed to work on the project, variety in application of vadous disciplines within the
team and availability and qualifications of the subcontracting staff.
d) Grasp of project requirements - the firm's analysis, preparation and level of interest.
e) Responsiveness - compatibility between consultants and the City of Dubuque, general
attitude and ability to communicate.
f) Qualifications and experience of the firm, reference checks, achievements and
completion of similar projects within the past five years.
g) Schedule evaluation - time required to complete the project, ability to deliver the products
in a timely manner.
h) Cost of proposal.
RECOMMENDATION
The proposal review committee recommends that City staff proceed with contract
negotiations with the archeology team from Mississippi Valley Archeology Center. MVAC is
part of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. MVAC is the recommended choice of the
review committee because of the following factors:
Significant experience with prehistoric and historic archeological sites.
Nearly equal rankings with HDR on all evaluation factors.
Reference checks for MVAC were very positive.
Competitive cost of the proposal - MVAC's proposal was significantly Tess costly than
HDR: $33,700 versus $10,803. City staff has verified that MVAC's proposal does meet
the scope of work specified in the RFP.
ACTION STEP
The requested action step is for the City Council to concur with the selection of Mississippi
Valley Archeology Center and to authorize City staff to negotiate a contract with MVAC for a
phase I archeological survey for the Riprow Valley Recreation Area project.
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