STAFF REPORT

Operations Committee, October 2, 2008

Bid Award – Jenks Road Waterline Taps (EN09-033)
Consideration of awarding the Jenks Road Waterline Taps Project to Pipeline Utilities, Inc.

Speaker:  Mr. Tim Bailey
 

From:  Tim Bailey, P.E., Engineering Director
Prepared by:  Robert Hirt, P.E., Utility Engineer
Approved by:  William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager
Approved by:  Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager

The Engineering Department received bids for the Jenks Road Waterline Tap Project on September 18, 2008.  The Engineering Department prepared the design plans and contract specifications for the project and will conduct construction administration and inspections throughout construction.

This project is part of the larger NC-540 Western Wake Parkway Water Conflict Project.  Since the finished waterlines leaving the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility along Jenks Road are of critical importance to the overall water distribution system, this project was developed to allow for direct administration and oversight of these significant modifications to the waterlines.  This project includes two waterline taps in both the 42” and 30” waterlines.  Once the project is complete, the NC Turnpike Authority will construct new waterlines (at an elevation below the proposed roadway) that will connect to the taps that were made as part of this project. 

The tabulation of bids received has been included in Table 1.

Table 1:  Bids Received

Fiscal Impact

There is currently $3,441,460 appropriated to the Construction/General Account of WT-1171, NC-540 Western Wake Parkway Water Conflicts.  This amount is adequate to cover the $364,370.00 required for the Jenks Road portion of the overall project.

The additional conflicts throughout the NC-540 corridor are proposed to be constructed by the NC Turnpike Authority.  It is anticipated that the Town will enter into a utility relocation agreement with the Turnpike Authority for the modification of the remaining conflicts.  The work being performed as part of the Jenks Road Waterline Tap project could have been included in that agreement, but the Town would have had less control over the project costs and could not have selected the contractor.

Short-term personnel operating impacts include providing construction administration and inspections of the utility installation by the Engineering Department.  It is expected that the project will be complete by February 2009.  Long-term operating impacts by Public Works and Utilities staff will differ only marginally from current conditions.  All of the construction administration, inspection, and operation and maintenance requirements associated with this project can be provided by current Town staff with no additional staffing or funding required.

Staff Recommendation:  Staff recommends awarding the project in the total amount of $364,370 to Pipeline Utilities, Inc.  The recommendation of an award would represent a preliminary determination as to the qualification of the bidder and no legally binding acceptance of the bid or offer would occur until the Town has executed a written agreement.