Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David Corliss Debbie Van Saun
FROM:	Chris Stewart
CC:	Philip Ciesielski
Date:	September 26, 2005
RE:	October 4 , 2005 Agenda Item

Please include the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at the October 4, 2005 meeting:

Kaw Water Supply and Transmission Improvements - Engineer Services:

Project Description

The 2003 Master Plan identifies several projects for the Kaw Water Treatment Plant.  The projects require improvements to the water supply facilities (intake system and pumping units) as well as transmission lines leaving the water treatment plant.  The first phase of the engineering work will include a Preliminary Design report that will identify project improvements to the water supply system (review intake crib, parallel siphon, pumping station, groundwater alternatives) and transmission line improvements.  The report will review several alternatives for the supply improvements and routing of a transmission main along with estimated costs and a construction phasing sequence to coincide with financing requirements in the Master Plan. 

Project Status / Details

The Utilities Department received engineering proposals for the Kaw Water Supply and Transmission Improvements from the following engineering teams:  BG Consultants/ CDM; Burns and McDonnell/PEC; and Bartlett and West/Black and Veatch.  A five-member review committee within the Department of Utilities reviewed the proposals and   interviewed the three firms. Burns and McDonnell/PEC is recommended by the review committee as the firm to begin negotiations for an engineering services agreement. 

The criteria for the selected recommendation included:

ü Work Team Qualifications and Experience

ü Project Organization and Approach

ü Project Schedule for completion

ü Client References

Each firm submitted a Level of Effort with the proposal providing an estimated projection for consultant hours and rates.  BG Consultants and Bartlett and West provided similar work scope and estimated hours. The Burns and McDonnell team provided additional scope and tasks related to field investigation of alternative water supply from groundwater and a higher level of effort with respect to public participation in the transmission main preliminary design. A detailed review of the scope and associated tasks will be included with the contract negotiation process.

The initial contract as requested in this memo will include the preliminary design report detailing all work requirements for the expansion.  The preliminary design report will be submitted to KDHE for approval before final design begins.  The preliminary report will be used to negotiate a supplemental engineering services agreement for final design and construction phase services. The supplemental agreement will be submitted to the City Commission for approval at a later date.

Project Funding: 

Funding for the engineering work will come from the non-bonded construction fund for 2005.  The construction phase funding will be completed in several phases.  The initial construction phase in 2006 will be funded from the recent approved bond sale completed by the Finance Department. The Master Plan provides an opinion of probable cost of approximately $5,350,000 over the next five years for these improvements.

Action Request:  Utility Department staff requests approval from the City Commission to authorize negotiations with Burns and McDonnell for an engineering services contract to complete the preliminary design report for the Kaw Water Supply and Transmission Improvements.

Thank you for your assistance.  Please advise if you have any questions.