ITEM TITLE:
Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with DOWL, Inc., for Lowe River Maintenance and Dike Improvements in the Amount of $440,730.00.
SUBMITTED BY: Scott Benda, Senior Project Manager
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: $440,730.00
Unencumbered Balance: $0.00
Funding Source: 350-0750-55000.409
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve a Professional Services Agreement with DOWL, Inc. for Lowe River Maintenance and Dike Improvements in the Amount of $440,730.00.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Lowe River Maintenance and Dike Improvements project consists of both short and long term plans to address the flood threat to the subdivision and routine erosion damage repairs. The short term plan is to obtain permission from the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) and Alaska Fish and Game to use heavy equipment to create a diversion channel to draw water away from the existing dike infrastructure and subdivision. This work is planned to occur in late spring of this year. Permits have already been filed for this work.
The long term plan is to use the Alaska state statute AS 38.05.872 to create a 10 year flood mitigation plan that will allow the City of Valdez to extract gravel from the Lowe River to raise the height of the dikes, maintain the diversion channel(s), and make repairs and upgrades to the existing dike infrastructure. The work will be done to USACE standards so as to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements for acceptance.
In addition to the permitting and design work, DOWL will create a maintenance and inspection manual for all of our dike infrastructure, provide community outreach, host public meetings, create a project website, monitor ground water levels, provide bidding, construction administration and inspection services, provide guidance, cost estimates and review of different flood mitigation options brought forth by the Flood Task Force and Alpine Woods residents.
A request for qualifications was solicited by the department and advertised for nineteen days. DOWL, inc was the only respondent to the solicitation. The department directly contacted other qualified firms regarding the lack of response. Based on the feedback received, and following a conversation with the Flood Mitigation Task Force the City decided to proceed forward with negotiations with DOWL as a qualified firm. The scope of work was presented to the Flood Mitigation Task Force for comment and adjustment.
The attached fee proposal is based on best estimates and reflects an all-encompassing project utilizing numerous reports and studies previously conducted by the City and DOWL. A budget resolution is presented later on the agenda to fully fund an approved DOWL contract.
Estimated cost for the construction work is between $10-15 Million and is scaleable if desired. Additionally, annual construction maintenance would equate to $300,000-$1,400,000.