Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force Main Project, Engineering ServicesCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 23.
Copyrighted
December 20, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force Main Project, Engineering Services
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval to negotiate a contract with Strand
Associates with an estimated cost between $700,000 and $900,000 for
engineering services related to the Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force
Main Project.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force Main Project-MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
DUB TEE1.
All -America City
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force Main Project, Engineering Services
[CIP #1001050]
DATE: December 14, 2021
The City of Dubuque received two responses to a Request for Proposals to provide
engineering design services for the Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force Main Project.
After review of the proposals, the Project Review Committee selected Strand
Associates as the top choice, demonstrating the highest level of professional
competence and a proven track record in the design of wastewater lift station facilities.
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos and the Project Review Committee recommend City
Council approval to negotiate a contract with Strand Associates with an estimated cost
between $700,000 and $900,000 for engineering services related to the Old Mill Road
Lift Station and Force Main Project.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
THE C
DUUB*TEE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
DATE: December 13, 2021
Dubuque
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2007-2012.2013
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SUBJECT: Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force Main Project, Engineering Services
[CI P#1001050]
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to seek authorization to negotiate and enter into a contract
with Strand Associates to provide engineering design services for the Old Mill Road Lift
Station and Force Main Project.
BACKGROUND
Over 60 years ago the City of Dubuque started to invest in sanitary sewer infrastructure
to protect the health of its citizens and to serve the growth that had occurred and was
occurring along its western City limits. The Catfish Creek Interceptor Sewer (CCIS) was
constructed in 1956, which allowed the City to extend sanitary sewers to property
owners within the sewer shed. The Catfish Creek Pump Station (CCPS) and Water
Pollution Control Plant, now referred to as Water Recourse Recovery Center (WRRC),
were constructed in the late 1960's. Since the late 1960's, the community has grown
and expanded to the west. All branches of the Catfish Creek interceptor sewer system
have had multiple extensions since they were first constructed in the late 1950's and
early 1960's. The catfish Creek interceptor and the branch interceptor sewers are
capable of conveying the average dry weather flow with the flow depth remaining at or
below 75% of the pipe diameter. Peak flows do exceed the maximum design depth of
75% of the pipe diameter. During wet weather events, surcharging of the pipes does
occur. The surcharging of the system is reflected in the sewer modeling reports.
The City of Dubuque submitted a facility plan to Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(IDNR), in May of this year (2021), for the construction of a 20 MGD sanitary sewer lift
station and 30" dual force mans. The facility plan is based on the results of an intensive
evaluation of the existing interceptor collection and pumping systems that transport
sewage to the Water Resource Recovery Center (WRRC). Several options were
considered and the City chose to proceed with the design and construction of the Old
Mill Road Lift Station and Force Main Project, recommended option.
On November 15, 2021, the City Council approved the release of a Request for
Proposals (RFP) for the Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force Mains Project. Proposals
were to include two separate components: project understanding and qualifications and
an estimated fee. Each was to be provided in a separate sealed envelope.
DISCUSSION
The City received two proposals by the December 2, 2021 deadline: one from Strand
Associates (Madison, WI) and one from Fehr Graham (Manchester, IA).
The proposal review committee (Committee) consisted of Engineering Technician Todd
Irwin, Water & Resource Recovery Center Manager William O'brien, Civil Engineer
Deron Muehring, Project Manager Steve Sampson Brown, and Water Department
Manager Christopher Lester.
Having reviewed the proposals individually, the Committee met on December 8, 2021,
to discuss both RFP responses. The Committee's evaluation and subsequent scoring
was based on each firm's qualifications, experience with projects of similar scope,
interest in the project, and availability. The estimated fee component of the submittal
was not revealed to the committee prior to the initial evaluation and scoring. The
consensus of the Committee was that Strand Associates (Strand) demonstrated:
• The highest level of professional competence and a proven track record in the
design of wastewater lift station facilities.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the project scope.
• Experience of the team working with the City on similar projects.
• High level of interest in the project along with creativity and problem -solving
ability.
• Best understanding of the City's overall objectives, for the project, and the
sanitary sewer system.
After identifying Strand as the top choice, the estimated fees were reviewed and
discussed. Strand's estimated fee is $800,000 based on 5,330 staff hours
($150.09/hour). Fehr Graham's estimated fee is $647,500 based on 3,000 staff hours
($215.83/hour). While the scope of work has yet to be negotiated, the hours anticipated
by Strand more closely matches the effort required as understood by the Committee.
RECOMMENDATION
The proposal review committee recommends that the City negotiate and enter into a
contract with Strand Associates for the engineering design of the Old Mill Road Lift
Station and Force Main Project.
BUDGETIMPACT
The engineering design will be funded through a Fiscal Year 2022 appropriation in the
amount of $1,200,000 in ARPA funding [CIP#1001050] for engineering costs associated
with the Catfish Creek Lift Stations Force Main Project. A State Revolving Fund (SRF)
loan was used to develop the facility plan (preliminary design) of the improvements and
the project is on the State SRF Intended Use Plan (IUP) to utilize an SRF loan to
construct the improvements. Therefore, engineering and design services could be
funded using an SRF loan in lieu of ARPA funding.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I respectfully request City Council authorization for the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a contract with Strand Associates for engineering services, with an estimated
cost between $700,000 and $900,000, for the Old Mill Road Lift Station and Force Main
Project.
cc: Jenny Larson, Budget Director
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
William O'brien, Water & Resource Recovery Center Manager
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer
Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
Christopher Lester, Water Department Manager
Todd Irwin, Engineering Technician
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