Eagle Pt Bluff Study Consultant Recommendation
April 26, 2005
TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Eagle Point Bluff Study Consultant Recommendation
A Request for Proposals was issued by the City of Dubuque to solicit proposals from
qualified consulting/engineering firms for the Eagle Point Bluff Study. After a careful
review of the proposals, presentation, a review of fees, and reference checks, City
Engineer Gus Psihoyos recommends City Council approval of the selection of
Kleinfelder as the consultant on this project. Kleinfelder's proposed fee is $62,868,
which includes a Light Protection and Ranging (L1DAR) Surveying test that can
determine terrain features on the bluff face. If, after further investigation it is determined
a L1DAR test is not needed, the reduced fee will be $49,668.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
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MEMORANDUM
April 26, 2005
TO:
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM:
Gus Psi hoyos, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Eagle Point Bluff Study Consultant Recommendation
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to recommend a consultant for the Eagle Point Bluff Study.
BACKGROUND
On August 2, 2004, the City Council authorized the solicitation of proposals from
qualified consulting/engineering firms for the Eagle Point Bluff Study. A cost estimate for
all three phases of the project, including engineering and construction, was estimated to
be $75,000. The estimate was based on information provided by McGie & Betts, the
only firm that has performed a detailed study of the bluff.
During the preparation of the RFP, City staff spoke with additional consultants about the
project. Based on the additional input, an RFP was presented to and approved by the
City Council in December of 2004.
DISCUSSION
The City received eight proposals by the February 8, 2005 deadline. The consulting
firms that responded are:
Golder & Associates
Kleinfelder
MFG, Inc.
Patrick Engineering
Penta Engineering Corp.
STS Consultants
Team Services
URS Corporation
(Lansing, MI)
(Omaha, NE)
(Fort Collins, CO)
(Lisle, IL)
(St. Louis, MO)
(Vernon Hills, IL)
(Des Moines, IA)
(Minneapolis, MN)
Consultant proposals were distributed to Cindy Steinhauser, Ken TeKippe, Gil Spence,
John Hail, Bob Schiesl, Deron Muehring, and myself. As stated in the RFP, evaluations
were based upon the following criteria (not necessarily listed in order of importance):
8.1 Qualifications and experience of the firm-reference checks, achievements and
completion of similar projects;
8.2 Project team-qualifications and experience with similar projects of the principal
Consultant staff proposed to work on the project, variety and application of
various disciplines within the team, and availability and qualifications of any
subcontracting staff;
8.3 Grasp of the project requirements-the firm's understanding of the scope,
preparation and level of interest;
8.4 Design approach/methodology in completing the scope of work and services-
technical alternatives, creativity and problem solving ability;
8.5 Responsiveness-general attitude and ability to communicate to audiences with
varying technical backgrounds;
8.6 Local economic impact-ability to incorporate local firms;
8.7 Schedule evaluation-time required to complete the project; and
The committee convened on March 2. It was the committee's goal to identify the top two
or three firms "which, based on abilitv and fee, appears to be best able to serve the
City" for the study. After discussing the proposals, the fees were revealed. Table 1
shows the estimated fees presented by each firm for all three phases of the project.
FIRM PHASE I PHASE II PHASE III "'OTAL
Team Services $ 36,975.00 $ 15,500.00 $ 36,000.00 $ 88,475.00
Penta EngineerinQ Corp. $ 51,600.00 $ 18,040.00 $ 53,350.00 $122,990.00
Patrick EngineerinQ $ 80,000.00 $ 27,000.00 $ 31,000.00 $138,000.00
MFG, Inc. $ 58,172.00 $ 39,244.00 $ 69,656.00 $167,072.00
STS Consultants $ 86,465.00 $ 24,815.00 $ 63,015.00 $174,295.00
Kleinfelder $ 80,000.00 $ 40,000.00 $110,000.00 $230,000.00
URS Corporation $107,558.42 $ 37,736.81 $ 93,723.21 $239,018.44
Golder & Associates $ 88,000.00 $102,000.00 $134,000.00 $324,000.00
Table 1. Fee breakdown presented with proposals for the eight consulting firms.
According to the RFP, the project is broken into three phases. During Phase I the
Consultant must determine the stability of a rock bluff that has been excavated within
the past eighteen months; estimate the rock bluff stability at present. If the bluff is found
to be unstable beyond the level to be expected from a fractured limestone bluff, the
Consultant shall report on the likely cause of instability and identify measures to
stabilize the rock bluff face such as rock removal, grouting, bolting, etc., and produce an
estimate of probable cost to stabilize the bluff. If necessary, Phase /I may require the
Consultant to produce detailed plans, specifications, and contract documents for the
stabilization of the rock bluff. For Phase III, if necessary, the Consultant may be asked
to act as project engineer for the construction phase of a stabilization project.
The Phase I estimates shown in Table 1 are from responses to the RFP. Costs for
Phase II and Phase III are rough estimates provided by each of the firms that are
subject to the results found during Phase I.
Because of the quality of firms that responded and because of the higher than
anticipated engineering fees, the committee felt it appropriate to invest the time to invite
all eight firms for an interview. Both Penta Engineering Corp. and URS Corporation
respectfully declined our invitation.
Based on the discussions during the interview and on-site visits, the Committee asked
each consultant if there was anything that would lead them to believe that their fees
would be any different than previously proposed for the scope outlined in the RFP.
Their responses were as follows:
REVISED FEE ORIGINAL FEE
FIRM I/PHASE I) PHASE I)
MFG, Inc. $31,539 $58,172
Team Services $36,975 $36,975
Kleinfelder $49,668 to $62,868 $80,000
Patrick EnQineerinQ $80,000 $80,000
STS Consultants $15,000 to $86,000 $86,465
Golder & Associates $88,000 $88.000
Table 2. Fee breakdown presented following interviews.
After careful review of the proposals, presentation, a review of fees, and reference
checks, Kleinfelder has the best combination of project experience, project
understanding, and project approach to best serve the City for the Eagle Point Bluff
Study.
Kleinfelder has been doing unstable rock engineering for 90% of the State Department
of Transportations in the west, many of them similar to the unstable slope condition that
the City is dealing with at Eagle Point Park. In 2004, the same Kleinfelder team
assembled for the Eagle Point Bluff Study was awarded a 2-year contract with the
Washington Department of Transportation to provide on-call rock slope engineering
services for over 300 unstable slopes. Project Manager Dr. William Gates holds a PhD
in geology and is registered as a Professional Engineer and Professional Geologist. He
has over 38 years of practical, hands-on experience dealing with engineering geology
problems across the world.
RECOMMENDATION
By consensus, the committee recommends that the City retain Kleinfelder, Inc. to
provide engineering services for Phase I of the Eagle Point Bluff Study. Kleinfelder's
proposed fee is $62,868 which includes a Light Protection and Ranging (L1DAR)
Surveying test. L1DAR Surveying is one of the engineering tools that are currently being
used by geologists to obtain terrain features on the bluff face. This digital terrain model
could be useful to facilitate the evaluation of the three-dimensional surface features of
the Eagle Point Bluff. L1DAR could also facilitate possible artist rendition of the final
bluff if mitigation is necessary.
If, after further investigation it is determined a L1DAR test is not needed, the reduced fee
will be $49,668. The entire stabilization project, both engineering and construction, was
originally estimated to be $75,000. The recommended course of action is to utilize the
$75,000 for Phase I of the project. Then, depending on the results of Phase I, future
funding may be sought for Phase II and III.
BUDGET IMPACT
The project will be funded from the General Fund. Depending on the results of Phase I,
future funding may be sought for Phase II (stabilization design) and III (construction
observation ).
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
I respectfully request City Council approval to the select Kleinfelder, Inc. to provide
professional consulting services for the Eagle Point Bluff Study and to authorize the City
Manager to enter into an agreement with Kleinfelder, Inc. for the project.
Prepared by Deron Muehring
Cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Dawn Lang, Budget Director
Ken TeKippe, Finance Director
Gil Spence, Leisure Services Manager
John Hail, Park Division Manager
Bob Schiesl, Civil Engineer II
Deron Muehring, Civil Engineer II