Signed Contract_Water Trail Project_PresentationsMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque Water Trail — Vendor Selection
DATE: March 22, 2012
Dubuque
All - Amenca City
i
2007
Introduction
This memorandum recommends a vendor and forwards the contract to design and
fabricate interpretive signs for the Dubuque Water Trail project.
Background
The Dubuque Water Trail is a 9 -mile on -water route with five access points. The access
points are located at A.Y. McDonald Park Boat Ramp, Schmitt Island Boat Ramp,
Rivers Edge Plaza, the Catfish Creek Canoe Launch in the Mines of Spain and the
Massey Marina Boat Ramp. Signs interpreting wildlife and commerce on the river will be
located at the access points.
The project is supported by the City of Dubuque Leisure Services Department, Planning
Services Department, the Dubuque County Conservation Board and the Friends of the
Mines of Spain. The project is being funded with a Water Trails Development Grant
from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). City Council approved the
grant agreement for the project in 2010.
Discussion
The Planning Services Department issued a request for proposals (RFP) to design and
fabricate the signs. Signs that will be located in the City of Dubuque will be installed by
the Public Works Department. Signs located in the Mines of Spain and Massey Marina
will be installed by IDNR staff.
The City received 5 bids. The bids received were all under budget. The following is a
summary of the bids:
1. Fossil Industries
2. Interpretive Graphics
3. Presentations
$3,141.00
$3,917.00
$4,405.00
4. asi Signage Innovations $4,893.00
5. McCullough Creative $5,350.00
McCollugh Creative's proposal was the highest bid and offered no products or services
above and beyond the other bids. The proposal also did not give any indication as to
their depth of experience in developing interpretive signage which was requested in the
RFP. For these reasons, it was excluded from consideration.
Fossil Industries proposal was the lowest; however they estimated their design fees and
indicated all files provided to them must conform to Fossil File Prep Guidelines.
Converting the files to approved Fossil file guidelines is time consuming for City Staff
and will result in additional unknown design fees charged by the vendor. For these
reasons Fossil Industries was excluded from consideration. ASI Signage also required
designs to be provided in a different file format that would result in additional staff time
and expenses not indicated in their bid and therefore they were excluded from
consideration.
Interpretive Graphics of Salt lake City, Utah, and Presentations; Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
were the two firms given greatest consideration. Both companies indicated a clear
understanding of the project and offered firm costs to complete the project. Both
companies were also close in price. Ultimately, staff is recommending Presentations as
the firm to design and fabricate the panels. Presentations has successfully developed
interpretive signage for the City of Dubuque for the last 12 years. They are an Iowa
company with a dedication to service. They have developed high - quality interpretive
signs on -time and on- budget without issue.
Requested Action
If you agree with this recommendation, please sign and date the enclosed contract with
Presentations. The bids from the firms are located in the Planning Services Department
if you would like to review them. Once the contract is signed, work will commence
immediately.
Enclosure
cc: David Johnson, Assistant Planner
2
Pee tato
833 Shaver Road NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402
www.presentationsgraphics.com p 319-396-8101
CONTRACT FOR SERVICES
March 22, 2012
RE: Dubuque Water Trail Interpretive Sign Project
The contract is based on the exhibit specifications as outlined in the RFP. Presentations will
design and produce 5- 24" x 36" x %2" interpretive folia panels to match existing Mississippi
Riverwalk panels. Presentations will produce 4 posts and 1 wall mount to support the signs.
All hardware will be provided by Presentations and the signs will be delivered ready to install.
Installation will be completed by the City of Dubuque.
The contract includes the following:
Interpretive Sign 24" x 36" x %2" exterior grade panel [5] $1,765.00
Sign Posts - 2 black and 2 brown powder coated $1,272.00
Wall mount bracket powder coated black $318.00
Design based on your files $750.00
Shipping /Delivery $300.00
Total $4,405.00
Presentations will work within the scope of the time line stated for the RFP.
The project will commence upon signature of approval. Payment is due upon delivery.
Michael Van Milligen, City Manager Date -
Todd Burgess, Presentations Inc Date