Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	Mike Wildgen City Manager
FROM:	Dave Wagner Asst. Utilities Director
CC:	Dave Corliss, Asst. City Manager Debbie Van Saun, Asst. City Manager Alan Landis, Purchasing Agent
Date:	November 9, 2005
RE:	Agenda item

Please place the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at their November 15, 2005 meeting:

Request for Proposals for Pump Station Improvement Project

Project Description:  The project involves improvements to the pump station located at 6^th & Kentucky.  This is a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) project that was recommended as part of the 2003 Wastewater Master Plan.  

Project History.  Originally scheduled for design/construction in 2007, staff has analyzed the current performance of this pump station and it appears to be operating at a level below the design capacity.  Two of the pumps are nearing fifty years old, and despite ongoing maintenance and refurbishment of these pumps, replacing just these pumps will not gain the capacity or reliability of the station that the CIP project envisioned.  Additionally, the current status of development being served by this station and increased hydraulic demands indicate that an accelerated approach would be prudent for the completion of this project.

Project Status:  Staff is recommending that we accelerate this project in two ways:

· Move the design/construction date forward one year to 2006

· Utilize the design/build approach rather than the more traditional design/bid/build method that most of our projects follow.

A draft of a Request for Proposals (RFP) is attached.  Please note that the selection criteria focus on the experience and qualifications of the design/build team, the quality of work they’ve produced, the schedule they propose, their approach to the project, and their ability to stay on schedule, along with other important considerations.  We are not requesting cost estimates as part of the proposal, since it would be difficult to determine the construction cost piece of this design/build approach without the design being completed.  We anticipate that contract costs will be developed and negotiated as phases of the project are undertaken.

Project Funding.  This project will be funded from the Water/Sewer non-bonded construction fund.

Commission Action.  Staff is recommending that the City Commission approve the issuance of the attached Request for Proposals for the 6^th and Kentucky Pump Station Improvement Project.  Responses to the RFP will be accepted until 5:00 on Monday, December 12, 2005.