CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approve the award of Bid 24-003, Bridge and Retaining Wall Railing Maintenance, to Midwest Fence Corporation for an amount not to exceed $107,984 plus a 5% contingency
body
DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: William J. Novack, P.E., Director of Transportation, Engineering and Development/City Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Transportation, Engineering and Development (TED) Business Group maintains handrails at 43 locations throughout the city. Handrails are found on bridges, retaining walls, culverts, and bicycle paths and are composed of various materials such as steel, aluminum, chain link fence, and wood. Additionally, these have various coatings of paint, powder coating, and galvanizing applied. The conditions of the handrails vary from very poor to very good per the system-wide inspection completed in 2019.
In 2020, the City started the Handrail Maintenance Program and has since improved 21 locations. Many of these improvements have been through in-place repair and repainting of the existing rails. Staff has reviewed the condition of those rails and found many are already showing signs of deterioration.
In September 2024, TED issued Bid 24-003, Bridge and Retaining Wall Railing Maintenance, to improve handrails at three locations. These locations include the Gartner Road Bridge, the Washington Street retaining wall north of Diehl Road, and the Washington Street retaining wall south of 75th Street. In all three cases, the existing railing or portions of the railing will be removed and replaced with newly constructed railings.
The bid included a base and an alternative option. Both bid options replaced the same locations and limits of railing but the alternative requires the installation of painted stainless steel railing at the Washington south of 75th location. In discussions with fabricators, this material type is seen as an improvement over galvanized steel.
TED staff recommends award of the alternative bid to include this stainless steel option. The other two locations will be constructed with bare galvanized steel.
DISCUSSION:
|
Advertisement Date: |
09/11/2024 |
Notices Sent: |
274 |
|
Opening Date: |
10/2/2024 |
Planholders: |
30 |
|
|
|
Proposals Received: |
2 |
Bids were received from the following vendors:
|
Vendor Name |
Proposed Cost |
|
Engineer’s Estimate |
$104,066.50 |
|
Midwest Fence Corporation |
$107,984.00 |
|
Crossroad Construction |
$205,082.50 |
The handrail maintenance industry is small and a very specialized field. In the previous three advertisements for this project, the City has only received a single bid.
The completion date of this project is June 2, 2025. The City recommends award at this time to allow for field measurements, rail design, staff review, and fabrication of the railings for anticipated installation in Spring 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP #: BR032
Bridge and handrail maintenance work is expensed to the Infrastructure account listed below. This work is done under BR032, Bridge and Retaining Wall Railing Maintenance Program. In 2024, TED included $150,000 in the budget for work related to BR032. This work will take place across 2024 and 2025 and as a result, expenses associated with this award will be realized in both years. TED included $300,000 in their 2025 proposed budget for BR032. While the 2025 budget is still being developed staff will ensure there is proper funding in 2025 for any carryforward expenses associated with this award. The overall request is within the amount budgeted for this expense.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
|
30282200-551502 |
Capital Projects Fund |
$29,448,000 |
*Per Council directive, contingency on construction projects is set at 3% on projects over $500,000 and 5% on projects under $500,000.