Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David L. Corliss – City Manager Cynthia Wagner - Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard - Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Mike Lawless – Assistant Director of Utilities
CC:	Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities Philip Ciesielski – Assistant Director of Utilities Beth Krishtalka – Assistant to Director Mark Hegeman – Utilities Operations Superintendent Dave King – Utilities Maintenance Superintendent
Date:	June  7 , 2013
RE:	Agenda Item –Negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement for Project UT1304 Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant and UT1306CS Conveyance Corridor Facilities

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the June 18, 2013 meeting:

Authorize staff to negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation for Project UT1304 Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant and Project UT1306 Wakarusa Conveyance Corridor Facilities.

Project Description 

The 2012 Wastewater Utilities Master Plan and Capital Improvements Program recommend the construction of the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and Conveyance Corridor facilities to be online in 2018. These improvements are required to mitigate wet weather surcharging of sanitary sewers along the 31^st Street Corridor, provide for relief of wet weather overloading at the existing WWTP, and provide additional organic treatment capacity to provide for future growth of the community.

The recommended Wakarusa WWTP improvements include 2 MGD of organic treatment and 6 MGD of wet weather treatment. The Conveyance Corridor improvements include an 11 MGD pump station facility in the area of 31^st and Louisiana and required forcemains and gravity sewers to convey sewerage from this point to the Wakarusa WWTP.

Project Status

On March 12, 2013, the City Commission authorized staff to advertise a Request for Proposals for Engineering Services for the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance Corridor Facilities. 

On April 19, 2013, in response to the Request for Proposals, staff received proposals from three (3) firms interested in both projects and three (3) firms interested in only the pump station and corridor facilities. The proposals received for both projects were from the team of Black & Veatch, PEC, Bartlett & West, and Treanor Architects, the team of Burns & McDonnell and BG Consultants, and HDR Engineering. The proposals received for the pump station project were from Wilson & Company, Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers, and George Butler Associates, Inc. (GBA).   

A review committee consisting of staff from Utilities, Public Works, and City Manager’s Office evaluated the proposals and on May 15, 2013, held interviews with five of the six firms. GBA chose not to participate in the interviews. At the completion of the interviews and after evaluating all materials, staff unanimously selected the Black & Veatch team for both projects.

The Black & Veatch proposal and interview covered all aspects of the project; pump station and conveyance, site fill, plant and process, roads and utilities, and construction phase services; more thoroughly than the other respondents. Their project approach presented unique and cost saving ideas that will be explored during contract negotiations and the preliminary design report. Key project staff on the Black & Veatch team has the background knowledge from the previous Wakarusa preliminary design work to begin the project quickly. The Black & Veatch team provides integration and coordination on both projects that will benefit the City.

Each firm also provided a schedule of hourly rates with their proposal for reference. Hourly rates provided by the Black & Veatch team were consistent with rates provided by other respondents.

Project Funding

The project is included in the Department of Utilities 2013 Rate Plan and Capital Improvement Program.

Action Request

Authorize staff to negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Black & Veatch Corporation for Project UT1304 Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant and Project UT1306 Wakarusa Conveyance Corridor Facilities.

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