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CONTRACT K-1415-73: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND PLAYPOWER LT FARMINGTON, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,398, PERFORMANCE BOND B-1415-35, STATUTORY BOND B-1415-:36, AND MAINTENANCE BOND MB-1415-30 FOR THE CASTLEROCK PARK PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT PROJECT AND ADOPTION OF PROJECT AGENT RESOLUTION R-1415-46.
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BACKGROUND: On 1 March, 2011, voters in Norman approved a City Charter amendment providing for the expenditure of fees-in-lieu of park land that were collected between 1976 and 1994 for the purpose of making park improvements in areas where suitable land is not available to purchase as park land. This Charter amendment allowed the city to make use of over $642,000 of park land fees and interest earnings for capital improvements in twenty one neighborhood park sites. Since approval, projects have been funded in several neighborhood parks. Most significantly, a new park was created on land adjacent to Monroe Elementary School in 2012. Other projects were funded in Colonial Estates, Colonial Commons, Sunrise, Crestland, Rotary and Springbrook Parks. Currently, there is funding available from the Charter Amendment fund to use at Castlerock Park. The balance of funds for the improvements we are proposing herein to Castlerock Park will come from the Park Land Development Fees which have been collected in that neighborhood. These fees are collected with each building permit issued in the neighborhood surrounding any given park. The project includes the addition of new play equipment and safety surfacing to the existing play unit at Castlerock.
The existing play unit at Castlerock Park is in good condition. The new play equipment will take advantage of this by adding onto the existing equipment. The new components which will be added will include a spiral slide, three section climbing wall, ladder climber, track ride, and play panels. There will also be a new tot swing, spring rider, seated spinner, and maypole installed as individual components.
DISCUSSION: On 5 and 12 September, 2014, Request for Proposal RFP-1415-25 for the Park Playground Equipment Project was advertised in the Norman Transcript, Southwest Construction News, Bid News and Dodge Report. Requests for proposals were distributed to seven playground equipment vendors, all of whom responded with complete proposals. The RFP noted the City of Norman reserved the right to choose either one or separate vendors for each playground site.
Parks and Recreation staff carefully evaluated the playground proposals to determine which proposal was most advantageous to the City considering price, quality and other pertinent factors that helped identify which proposal provided the best "play value". "Play value" describes the Norman Parks and Recreation Department's assessment based on the number and diversity of play events, play area and age appropriateness of equipment for the neighborhood. Specifically, Staff examined the amount of actual play areas contained in each proposal (slides, swings and climbing equipment versus transition platforms, covers, etc.) and whether each proposal contained components that would appeal to a wider variety of ages. All responses to the RFP, which included pre-submittal meetings, were evaluated on this basis. Staff believes the proposal being recommended is the most advantageous to the City as provided under Section 8-205 of the Norman City Code will provide the best "play value" within the available funding.
Staff recommends awarding Contract K-1415-73 to Play Power LT Farmington Inc., in the total amount of $35,938 for the Castlerock Park Playground Project. The total budget for this project play equipment and site furnishings is $50,000. Staff received proposals for play equipment that ranged from $27,976 to $50,000. The design from Play Power LT Farmington, Inc., which is the same manufacturer of the existing play equipment at Castlerock Park, adds new equipment that attaches directly to the existing unit as well as adding new stand-alone equipment offering the best play value while meeting the specifications listed within the RFP. The remaining funds will be used to add new site furnishings (benches, picnic tables, trash cans, etc) to the park.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that RFP #1415-25 be approved as follows:
Castlerock Park Playground Equipment Project
Awarded to Playpower LT Farmington, Inc., in the amount of $35,398
Contract K-1415-73
Performance Bond B-1415-35
Statutory Bond B-1415-36
Maintenance Bond MB-1415-30
Project Agent Resolution R-1415-46
Account: Castlerock Park, Construction (account 052-9608-452.61-01; project PR0154)
Estimated Budget: $50,000
Also, it is recommended that the City Council approve the appropriation of $50,000 from the Neighborhood Park Land Fund Balance (052-0000-253.20-00) to Project PR0154, Castlerock Park Improvements, Construction (052-9608-452.61-01) for master plan improvements described above at Castlerock Park.