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CONTRACT K-1920-116: A CONTRACT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AND COWAN GROUP ENGINEERING IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $526,600 TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE JAMES GARNER AVENUE WIDENING 2019 BOND PROJECT FROM ACRES STREET TO DUFFY STREET AS PART OF THE 2019 BOND PROJECTS.
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BACKGROUND: On April 2, 2019, the citizens of Norman voted in favor of a $72 million transportation bond issue, which includes nineteen (19) projects. With the anticipated $67 million in federal dollars being leveraged for these projects, approximately $139 million is budgeted for the nineteen (19) projects.
On August 19, 2019, City staff advertised Request for Proposal RFP 1920-16 to solicit Consulting Engineering Services for the fourteen (14) bond projects still requiring design. This RFP was written to select a group of approximately five (5) consultants to complete the design on the remaining 2019 Transportation Bond Projects that will be completed over the next ten (10) years. Twenty-two (22) proposals were received by the 4:00 pm deadline on September 12, 2019. The selection committee consisting of three (3) City staff (Scott Sturtz- City Engineer, Tim Miles-Capital Projects Engineer and Paul D’Andrea- Capital Projects Engineer) and two (2) citizens (Luis Malave- ODOT Purcell Resident Engineer and Brent Everett- OU Assistant Director of Architectural & Engineering Services) short-listed nine (9) consultant teams for interviews held on October 2, 2019. The five (5) consultant teams selected after interviews to complete the design on these projects are:
• Cabbiness Engineering, Norman
• Cowan Group, Oklahoma City
• Freese and Nichols, Oklahoma City
• MacArthur Associated Consultants, Oklahoma City
• Olsson Associates, Oklahoma City
These consultants will be assigned the various projects by City staff based on capacity, performance on their current projects and capabilities of their firm to complete a specific project.
Tonight’s agenda item is to award the James Garner Avenue Widening from Acres Street to Duffy Street project to Cowan Group Engineering, which is a high priority project in this program. The James Garner Widening Bond Project presents unique issues and constraints to design. Cowan Group Engineering was chosen for the project because, during the selection process, they showed an excellent ability to generate innovative solutions to unique challenges within similar municipal design projects.
DISCUSSION: The James Garner Avenue Widening Project located from Acres Street to Duffy Street will be on an accelerated schedule, since no federal funds will be involved. City staff anticipates a spring 2022 bid opening with construction taking approximately 9 months to complete. This accelerated pre-construction schedule will require utility relocations to begin in the summer of 2021.
Phase 1 of the James Garner Avenue Project was completed in 2019 adjacent to the City’s new Central Library north of Acres Street. Phase 2, from Acres Street north to Flood Avenue is currently under design and will begin construction as early as 2021 depending on federal funds to match Norman Forward allocations for the local share of these phases. This project, James Garner Avenue - Acres Street to Duffy Street, is considered Phase 3 and will coincide with Phase 2 with construction anticipated in 2022.
Cowan Group Engineering’s Scope of Services includes:
• Detailed Topographic Survey
• Geotechnical Testing
• Traffic and Design Analysis
• Design Coordination with BNSF Railroad
• Preliminary Report Outlining Roadway Design Options
• Design Plan submittals at 30%, 60%, 90% and Final Plan stages
• Public Meetings and Stakeholder Involvement
• Construction support and record drawings
Funding for these design services in the amount of $526,600 will come from the James Garner Avenue Widening Bond Project Design Account (Org 50594019, Object 46201; project BP0419).
If approved, Cowan Group Engineering will begin work immediately on the critical path items.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Contract K-1920-116, between the City of Norman and Cowan Group Engineering, for the James Garner Avenue Widening Project in the amount of $526,600.