It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission approve the award of a contract to Quality Enterprises USA, Inc., the lowest, responsive, responsible Bidder to Invitation to Bid (ITB) No. 2024-018-DF for the Venetian Causeway water main and sewer force main aerial crossing replacements (Phase 2), and authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute a contract.

This solicitation is currently under the cone of silence.

The City receives potable water from the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (MDWASD) by means of four (4) transmission mains. One (1) of the transmission mains that supplies water to the City is located along the Venetian Causeway. These mains travel mostly aerially along the Venetian bridges on each bridge's north and south faces, except they are subaqueous beneath the drawbridge between Rivo Alto Island and Belle Isle.

Further, sewage from MDWASD is transported from the Venetian Islands to the City through a series of sewer main aerial crossings that cross eight (8) of the historic bridges and are subaqueous between Rivo Alto Island and Belle Isle.

The overall condition of both water and sewer main aerial crossings along Venetian Way is poor due to age and the saltwater exposure they sustain. Both the water and sewer main aerial crossings replacements in this area are prioritized for replacement due to the high probability of failure and the corresponding consequence.

The scope for the water mains includes replacing the two (2) 16-inch water mains bridge-aerial crossings from San Marco to Rivo Alto Island and the 16-inch and 20-inch bridge-aerial crossings from Belle Isle to Miami Beach along the Venetian Causeway. The scope for the sewer mains includes replacing the existing 8-inch sewer force main bridge-aerial crossings from San Marino to Rivo Alto Islands.

Plans and specifications for the work have been completed; therefore, to engage a contractor to perform the work, ITB 2024-018-DF was issued.

On October 27, 2023, the ITB was issued. The Procurement Department issued bid notices to approximately 51,000 companies utilizing the City's e-procurement system, with 87 prospective bidders accessing the solicitation. A non-mandatory site visit and pre-bid conference to provide information to proposers was held on November 9, 2023. ITB responses were due and received on December 18, 2023. See Attachment A for a tabulation of bids received. The City received six (6) bids from the following firms:

·         Amici Engineering Contractors LLC

·         David Mancini & Sons, Inc. 

·         D.B.E Management, LLC

·         Lanzo Construction Co., Florida

·         Quality Enterprises USA, Inc.

·         Ric-Man International, Inc.

The ITB stated that the lowest responsive and responsible Bidder meeting all ITB terms, conditions, and specifications would be recommended for award. The Procurement and Public Works departments found the lowest bid submitted by Quality Enterprises USA, Inc. meets the requirements of the ITB, including:

1.    Licensing Requirements. Bidder shall be a State of Florida Certified General Contractor with a State of Florida Certified Underground Utility Contractor as a subcontractor OR a Miami Dade County Certified General Contractor with a State of Florida Certified Underground Utility Contractor as a subcontractor OR a State of Florida Certified Underground Utility and Excavation Contractor.

Quality Enterprises USA. Inc. is certified as an Underground Utility and Excavation Contractor. The state license number is CUC057398, expiring on August 31, 2024.

2.   Previous Experience of Bidder (Firm and/or its principal). Bidder and/or its principal must have been awarded a minimum of three (3) projects of similar scope and budget within the last ten (10) years, two (2) of which must be completed and the third may be ongoing. Projects of similar scope shall be defined as a water and sewer mains replacements via horizontal directional drill (HDD) and open cut methods with a construction cost of at least $10 million dollars.

Quality Enterprises USA. Inc. provided three (3) positive and satisfactory references documenting the required experience.

3.    Previous Experience of Bidder (Firm) Project Manager. Bidder's Project Manager must have completed (with current or previous firm) at least three (3) projects with similar scope and budget. A project of similar scope shall be defined as water and sewer main replacement via horizontal directional drill (HDD) and open cut methods with a hard construction cost of at least $10 million dollars.

Quality Enterprises USA. Inc. submitted proof of the required experience for its personnel.

4.    Previous Experience of Bidder (Firm) Superintendent. Bidder's Superintendent must have completed (with current or previous firm) at least three (3) projects with similar scope and budget. A project of similar scope shall be defined as water and sewer main replacement via horizontal directional drill (HDD) and open cut methods with a hard construction cost of at least $10 million dollars.

Quality Enterprises USA. Inc. submitted proof of the required experience for its personnel.

Accordingly, Quality Enterprises USA, Inc. has been deemed the lowest responsive and responsible Bidder, meeting all ITB terms, conditions, and specifications.

Quality Enterprises USA, Inc. (“Quality Enterprises”) started as a family business focused solely on gas station electrical work. However, decades later, its services include a wide range of services from utilities to road construction, bridges, and airfields. Ranging from small local projects to larger, more complex design-build projects to improve critical infrastructure, Quality Enterprises approaches every project as an opportunity for growth. Other clients include Collier County, the City of Melbourne, FL, and the State of Florida. All references provided positive feedback. The firm has recently been awarded work by the City.

The bid submitted by Quality Enterprises USA. Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible Bidder, was for the grand total amount of $15,110,322.00. The contract total with the City's contingency is $18,132,386.40. The independent cost estimate for the project, inclusive of the 20% contingency, is $20,554,254.00. Therefore, the City is realizing a savings of $2,421,867.60 

Quality Enterprises USA. Inc.'s Grand Total:                         $15,110,322.00

Total:                                                                                       $18,132,386.40

It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, approve the award of a contract to Quality Enterprises USA, Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible Bidder to ITB No. 2024-018-DF for Venetian Causeway water main and sewer force main serial crossing replacements (Phase 2), and authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute a contract.

Was agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No.