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CONTRACT K-1819-80: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND PROGRESSIVE BIKE RAMPS (PBR) IN THE AMOUNT OF $229,732.70; PERFORMANCE BOND B-1819-48, STATUTORY BOND B-1819-49; AND MAINTENANCE BOND MB-1819-39 FOR THE BICYCLE SKILLS PARK CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND RESOLUTION R-1819-50 GRANTING TAX EXEMPT STATUS.
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BACKGROUND: During the Fiscal Year Ending 2018 budget process, City Council approved a Room Tax project for the development of a Bicycle Skills Park in Norman. The project has been researched and planned for the past two years by the Norman Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) and presented to and approved by the Board of Park Commissioners in 2017. After looking at several possible locations, the undeveloped voluntary public park land site located behind the businesses at the northwest corner of Lindsey Street and 24th Avenue SE was selected as the best site for the project. It is a 12-acre tract of rolling terrain that has good paved access via the concrete alley built when the commercial properties on that corner were developed (see map). The project is a highly desirable addition to the Norman bike community, as it will provide an in-town location for mountain bike riders to safely ride off-road without needing to travel out to the trails around Lake Thunderbird. This will be a “ride-to” park that will be easily accessed from the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as via the newly constructed 24th Avenue widening project, which includes on-street bike lanes.
DISCUSSION: The design services for the project were provided by Progressive Bike Ramps, based on their pricing provided in the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) contract. The NJPA is a procurement source for governmental agencies, of which The City of Norman is a participant, since we are a subdivision of the lead agent for the service through the State of Oklahoma. All vendors contracted with NJPA are those offering the best prices to governmental entities and who meet the criteria required of competitive bidding. For the Recreation and Playground Equipment, Accessories, and Supplies section, one of the vendors offered specifically for bike park construction industry under the NJPA contract (Contract #030117-ARC) is with American Ramp Company, and its subsidiaries-in this case, Progressive Bike Ramps (PBR, of Joplin, Missouri). Their contract is valid through 2021. The City’s Purchasing Department has confirmed that the City of Norman is able to waive competitive bid processes, pursuant to the City Code, Section 8-204.b.4, by participating in NJPA pricing.
City staff has met with representatives from PBR at the site and at several BAC meetings in 2017 and 2018 to discuss design concepts. There was a public design discussion in May, 2018; and a presentation of the final design concept in October, 2018. Staff has reviewed best options for parking, accessibility, age/skill-specific design features, and construction material options, along with construction schedules and site access during the proposed construction.
City staff intends to proceed with a schedule that will allow the park to be built during the winter months of 2018-19; and be opened in spring, 2019. Most of the park is a trail system, with earthen jumps/landings, roll-overs, drops and track; however, some of the bank ramps, stream crossings and bicycle playground pieces will be built at PBR’s shop and delivered to the site and installed per specifications. All park feature drawings will be reviewed by the appropriate City offices prior to construction; and the park will be bonded for a year of maintenance after construction. The City also has had offers through the BAC to partner with local mountain bike clubs to perform regular trail maintenance, like is done by these groups at the Lake Thunderbird trails.
The total Progressive Bike Ramps proposal is for $229,732.70; including all the labor and materials necessary to manufacture, deliver and install all of the park obstacles, trail construction, bike playground features and site work in the proposed design (see plan and cost break-down, attached). The PBR contract does not include the engineered drawings and construction of the parking area along the alley access, which we plan to hire and construct via local firms while the manufactured pieces are being produced at PBR’s shop. Funding for all parts of this project is available from the Room Tax Fund, Bicycle Skills Park, Construction (account 023-9441-452.61-01; project RT0089).
RECOMMENDATION NO 1: It is recommended that City Council approve the Bicycle Skills Park contract with Progressive Bike Ramps in the amount of $229,732.70, for the Parks and Recreation Department. The estimated budget for this project is $240,000 and funds are available in Project RT0089, Bicycle Skills Park, Construction (#023-9441-452.61-01)
RECOMMENDATION NO.2: It is further recommended upon approval of the project pricing from Progressive Bike Ramps that the following be approved:
Contract K-1819-80
Performance Bond B-1819-48
Statutory Bond B-1819-49
Maintenance Bond MB-1819-39
RECOMMENDATION NO.3: It is further recommended that Progressive Bike Ramps be authorized and appointed as project agent for the Bicycle Skills Park Construction Project by Resolution R-1819-50 which exempts the contractor from payment of sales tax on materials purchased for the project.