CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approve the award of RFP 25-226, Fox River Commons Retaining Wall Improvements - Engineering Services, to Larson Engineering, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $129,590 and for a 12-month term
body
DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: Jennifer Louden, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
La Fox Avenue is an approximately quarter-mile stretch of road that serves as the primary access to the Naper West and Fox River Commons shopping centers from Route 59. Beyond the frontage of the shopping centers, La Fox Ave. is a very low-volume road that primarily serves delivery vehicles to Fox River Commons.
There is a steep elevation change between the north and south properties with a retaining wall north of La Fox Ave. The retaining wall was built in 1991 and is 500 feet in length with varying heights. The wall exhibits full-height and full-width cracking, widespread spalling, and areas where sections have sheared and rotated between four and 12 inches. This movement has caused rotation of the guardrail and curb above, as well as pavement failure in the westbound (north) lane of La Fox Ave. Most of the drains in the wall are non-functional.
Bracing has been put in place on an approximately 75-foot stretch of the wall to prevent further rotation. In 2023, a feasibility study was conducted to identify options for correcting the issues. There is a significant dip in the eastbound (south) lane around a segment of storm sewer. The dip has necessitated a temporary closure of the easternmost 400 ft of La Fox Ave. in both directions directly north of the stormwater basin serving Fox River Commons. The westbound lane of La Fox Ave. has been closed through the intersection of La Fox Ave. and the shopping center frontage drive.
In September 2025, the TED Business Group issued RFP 25-226 to solicit proposals from qualified consulting engineering firms. The selected firm was to prepare a preliminary site assessment, conduct an options analysis for the partial or full removal of the failing wall, including reconfiguration of the inbound and outbound lanes, and prepare design engineering plans and specifications based on the option chosen by the City.
Construction of the chosen option is scheduled for 2026.
DISCUSSION:
|
Advertisement Date: |
9/05/2025 |
Notices Sent: |
452 |
|
Closing Date and Time: |
10/07/2025 |
Planholders: |
36 |
|
|
|
Proposals Received: |
2 |
Proposals were received from the following vendors:
|
GSG Consultants, Inc. |
|
Larson Engineering, Inc. |
A selection team comprised of staff from the TED Business Group and Water Utilities evaluated the proposals, which were scored based upon the criteria set forth in the RFP:
1. Capability, Capacity and Qualifications of the Proposer (40%)
2. Suitability and Quality of the Approach (30%)
3. Milestones and Deliverables (20%)
4. Pricing Proposal (10%)
After reviewing and scoring the proposals, the vendor with the highest qualification score, Larson Engineering Consultants, Inc., is recommended for award. The table below provides a summary of the final qualification scores:
|
Vendor |
Qualification Score |
|
Larson Engineering, Inc. |
86.7 |
|
GSG Consultants, Inc. |
68.5 |
Staff subsequently negotiated the scope of work and fee for the outlined work.
The anticipated term of the agreement is 12 months from the date of execution of the Consultant Services Agreement; however, Section 4 of the CSA states that the agreement remains valid until the City determines that the consultant has completed the work required under the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP #: MP021 Fox River Commons Retaining Wall Improvements
Engineering services for the Fox River Commons retaining wall improvements are expensed to the Architect and Engineering Services account listed below. The 2026 budget included a total of $380,000 for expenses related to MP021, Fox River Commons Retaining Wall Improvements. Of this amount, $80,000 was budgeted for engineering services. Although this award does exceed the budget for this portion of the project, it is still currently within the total project budget. Staff does anticipate this project will be able to be accommodated within the 2026 budget; however, spending will continue to be monitored and adjusted as needed.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
|
30282200-531301 |
Capital Projects Fund |
$3,028,000 |