Body
Department of Utilities
Reference: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRIGHTON, COLORADO, ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS WATER ACTIVITY ENTERPRISE, TO FIND AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOOD CAUSE EXISTS AND THAT IT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY TO WAIVE THE FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCEDURES FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR ELECTRICAL AND CONTROLS ENGINEERING SERVICES AND APPROVE AN EXTENSION OF THE CURRENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR ELECTRICAL AND CONTROLS ENGINEERING SERVICES WITH BROWNS HILL ENGINEERING & CONTROLS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS ($250.00) PER HOUR FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2018; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE WATER ACTIVITY ENTERPRISE; AND SETTING FORTH OTHER DETAILS RELATED THERETO.
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Philip Rodriguez, City Manager
Prepared By: Curtis Bauers, Director of Utilities
Date Prepared: December 7, 2017
PURPOSE
To request from Council, an extension of the noted Professional Services Agreements for 2018.
BACKGROUND
Utilities utilizes a variety of consultants in order to preserve and protect its existing facilities and assets as well as to strengthen the system with new assets. Through the water, wastewater, and storm discharge master planning activities of the department over the past 12 months, along with the significant infrastructure upgrades we have undertaken, the Department has continued to access the services of a team of professionals that are comfortable working together, provide an outstanding product, and are competitively priced. This team has, with their individual expertise and long-standing understanding of Brighton’s systems, assisted the City with improving the reliability and sustainability of service provided to our customers.
This team includes:
• White Sands Water Engineers, Inc. (Water Resources Engineering)
• Fischer, Brown, Bartlett, and Gunn, P.C. (Water Resources Attorneys)
• HRS Water Consultants, Inc. (Groundwater Engineering)
• RJH Consultants, Inc. (Geotechnical Engineers)
• Enginuity Engineering Solutions, LLC (Stormwater Engineers)
• Browns Hill Engineering & Controls (Electrical & Controls Engineers and Technicians)
White Sand Water Engineers, Inc.: White Sands staff has been a part of Brighton’s team for more than a decade. They have represented the City in various water court capacities and current water court applications, with specialization in Colorado Water Law and surface water. Their expertise is respected regionally and they have provided excellent service during their tenure.
Fischer, Brown, Bartlett, and Gunn, P.C.: Fischer, Brown, Bartlett, and Gunn have been the City’s water attorneys since the 1980s. They have in-depth knowledge of Brighton’s systems and the ongoing water court cases that the City is involved in. Their knowledge and expertise of Brighton’s system and of Colorado Water Law are indispensable.
HRS Water Consultants, Inc: HRS has, through their extensive time spent working on the City’s water master planning efforts to identify new groundwater sources of water supply, filled a gap left as long-time groundwater experts, Leonard Rice, entered retirement. HRS has provided excellent service at a competitive cost. They have gained extensive knowledge of Brighton’s existing infrastructure as well as needs for the future and potential solutions to fill remaining gaps.
RJH Consultants, Inc.: RJH has been essential in the design and protection of the City’s reservoir infrastructure. They are knowledgeable of the geology and topology of the City’s existing reservoirs and are familiar with the multiple areas of concern about and damage within our reservoir complexes. Their continued involvement in reservoir infrastructure protection will help lessen the cost of future damage remediation at these large facilities. Their expertise will also be helpful in evaluation of new and existing infrastructure and development sites.
Enginuity Engineering Solutions, LLC.: Enginuity is a leader in stormwater engineering design and worked with City staff to create the stormwater master plan. They have detailed knowledge of the City’s stormwater issues and were involved with products as far reaching as 2015 flood damage at our reservoirs. In addition to their Brighton-specific knowledge, they are able to provide stormwater modeling services that most other engineering firms cannot provide for the costs Enginuity can provide.
Browns Hill Engineering & Controls: Browns Hill has been responsible for most of the programming and controls that operate our water treatment plants and many of the satellite facilities related to these operations. They are experts at control system integration and have years of hands-on experience with these complex control systems (SCADA) that are vital to the continued safe operation of our most important facilities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Continuation of these contracts will not set specific contract amount limits, as the services provided will be on an as-needed basis dependent on need and contingent on adequate funding being available through the City Council-adopted 2018 Budget.
These proposed contracts are an extension of the annual Professional Services Agreements that were approved by Council for 2017.
Sections 3-8-10 and 3-08-20 of the Brighton Municipal Code recognize “professional services contracts” as not susceptible to formal sealed-bid procedures, and authorize the City to enter into said contracts, when it is deemed in the best interest of the City to do so.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
A cohesive, knowledgeable, and dedicated team of engineering consultants will help ensure continued success in providing for the increasingly complex and changing needs and requirements of the utilities systems. This team has proven their expertise and dedication to assist Brighton in providing excellent service to our customers at rates that are competitive with their respective industries.
Staff recommends approval to waive formal procurement processes for contracts with these professionals followed by approval of individual contracts for each company.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
• Approve the resolutions as presented
• Deny the resolutions as presented
• Request clarification on the resolutions as presented
ATTACHMENTS
• Resolution waiving formal procurement processes and approving Professional Services Agreement with Browns Hill Engineering and Controls, Inc. (Electrical and Controls Engineers)