The City needs to install one (1) emergency generator at the Public Works Department (the Project). The Capital Renewal and Replacement project consists of one (1) 600 kW Kohler generator, as well as a number of ancillary items such as the automatic transfer switch, enclosure, fuel system and concrete base. The Project procured via the Gordian Indefinite Quantity Contract (IQC) was awarded to Lee Construction Group, Inc.
Administration rescinds Resolution No. 2018-30626 to Solares Electric, Inc. through the NJPA process, as Solares Electric, Inc., previously approved for this project is no longer an authorized vendor under the NJPA.
On February 21, 2014 the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee (the Committee) endorsed a recommendation by the Administration to reintroduce this efficient process of project delivery to the City, to begin utilizing the Gordian Group's indefinite quantity contract (IQC), alternatively known as JOC, for construction services to expedite the delivery of construction or maintenance projects under $250,000, or for emergency projects, as approved by the City Manager. Sourcewell, formally known as National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA), a national cooperative that bids contracts aggregating the spend volume of agencies across the country, has awarded Contract No. #071415-GGI for IQC construction services to the Gordian Group. The NJPA contract with the Gordian Group includes a number of contractors prequalified to provide services to the City pursuant to the contract under an IQC pre-priced methodology. The contract also has a provision for non-pre-priced items which requires the contractor to secure three quotes for every item that does not correspond to a pre-priced contract line item.
In the interest of time, the City has chosen to expedite the Project, which is crucial to keep Public Works operational in the event of a storm or other catastrophe that results in loss of power to the facility; and utilize the IQC process. Through the IQC process, Lee Construction Group, Inc. (“Contractor”) was identified as the most qualified and experienced contractor to complete the identified scope. The City and the Gordian Group met with the Contractor to review the scope for the Project. On February 13, 2019, after negotiations, the Contractor submitted a bid proposal, utilizing the Catalog in the amount of $325,242.84 for the Project including an owner’s project contingency of $29,593.09.
However, the original scope of work included to provide automatic transfer switch and generator including all conduit and wiring, excavation, surfacing repairs, testing, permits, and concrete slab as depicted in the approved construction documents. Of these items the 600 kW Kohler Generator and Kohler automatic transfer switch are a Non-Pre-Priced (NPP) items in the Catalog in the amount of $198,044.16. Kohler generators are preferred, as this brand of generator is in service at a majority of the City's facilities and in efforts of standardization, ease of maintenance, expeditious repairs and cost efficiency it is in the best interest of the City. In such cases, the Administration is requesting the acceptance by the Mayor and City Commission of the written recommendation of the City Manager and waiving, by a 5/7ths vote, the formal competitive bidding requirement, finding such waiver to be in the City’s best interest.
The IQC proposal received does exceed the $250,000 threshold limit approved by the City Commission for projects through the NJPA IQC contract award and the value of the NPP items exceeds the $50,000 authority of the City Manager, the approval of the City Commission is required to award the Project through the IQC process.
The cost proposal was reviewed and analyzed by the engineer of record, staff, and the Gordian Group and was found to be fair and reasonable. Therefore, the Administration believes that it is in the City’s best interest to award the Project to Lee Construction Group, Inc., through the IQC process, in the not to exceed amount of $325,242.84, for completing the Public Works Operations Emergency Generator, with previously appropriated funds.