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CONSIDERATION OF AWARDING REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL RFP-1819-50, APPROVAL OF CONTRACT K-1819-120 BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN AND CUNNINGHAM ASSOCIATES, INC., D/B/A CUNNINGHAM RECREATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $174,281; PERFORMANCE BOND B-1819-75, STATUTORY BOND B-1819--76, AND MAINTENANCE BOND MB-1819-55 FOR THE CEDAR LANE PARK PLAYGROUND PROJECT AND THE ADOPTION OF PROJECT AGENT RESOLUTION R-1819-88.
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BACKGROUND: On October 13, 2015 Norman citizens passed the Norman Forward Initiative which will fund various projects through a ½ % sales tax increase over 15 years. Included in the Norman Forward Initiative is a project to develop new neighborhood parks which have been acquired through the Parkland Development Ordinance. The funds for this project are “pay-as-you-go”, meaning that we can only do a few park projects per year as the funds from the sales tax are collected. Knowing this, Park Planning staff worked to identify a set of criteria to determine which new parks would be developed.
The Cedar Lane Park site was selected to be the first Norman Forward new neighborhood park, due to its location in an area of town with fewer neighborhood parks although the neighborhood around the park site has a substantial number of residents. The City also has access to and ownership of the entire park site. The plan for the new park in the Cedar Lane Addition was developed after extensive feedback from residents, and will include a playground with synthetic grass safety surfacing and a shade structure, new park furnishings (picnic tables, benches and trash cans), a perimeter walking trail, soccer goals, basketball court, gazebo and fitness equipment.
On March 12, 2019, the Council approved contract K-1819-119 to Downey Construction Company for work that included construction of concrete walking trails, street-side sidewalks, and basketball courts at the Cedar Lane Park site. Under separate contracts, tree plantings and furnishing were completed at the new park.
DISCUSSION: On 25 January and 1 February, 2019, RFP-1819-50 for the Cedar Lane Park Playground Project was advertised in the Norman Transcript, Southwest Construction News, e-Plan, i-Square Foot, Bid News and Dodge Report. Requests for proposals were distributed to five playground equipment vendors, all of whom responded with complete proposals.
Parks and Recreation staff carefully evaluated the playground proposals based on their providing the optimum of diverse play events, overall play area and age-appropriateness for the neighborhood. All bidders were asked to maximize the $175,000 playground budget. When the different projects were compared, it was determined that the playground being offered by Cunningham Recreation presented the greatest number and variation of play features versus the total price. The modular play unit offered by Cunningham maximized the play value for all ages by incorporating multi-level play decks, climbing components and slides, with heights that range from 3 feet to 7 feet tall. All of this allows children of all ages to enjoy the equipment in a variety of ways. The additional stand-alone play components in the playground will include items specifically geared towards those with disabilities, which set it apart from other bids and makes the playground even more innovative and able to accommodate a larger range of ages and abilities. Remaining project funds will be used to make the other park improvements listed above at the new park.
Staff recommends awarding Contract K-1819-120 to Cunningham Recreation, in the total amount of $174,281 for the Cedar Lane Park Playground Project.
RECOMMENDATION NO. 1: It is recommended that RFP #1819-50 be awarded to Cunningham Recreation in the amount of $174,281. The budgeted amount of $175,000 is available in New Neighborhood Park Development, Construction (account 051-9830-452.61-01; project NFP104).
RECOMMENDATION NO.2: It is further recommended that the following contract and bonds be approved:
Contract K-1819-120
Maintenance Bond MB-1819-55
Performance Bond B-1819-75
Statutory Bond B-1819-76
RECOMMENDATION NO.3: It is further recommended that Cunningham Recreation be authorized and appointed as project agent for the Cedar Lane Park Playground Project by Resolution R-1819-88 to avoid the payment of sales tax on purchase of the playground equipment.