CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Approve the award of Change Order #1 to Contract 21-354, Grant Application Assessment - Preparation and Submittal Services, to West Monroe Partners for an additional 12 months
body
DEPARTMENT: Electric Utility
SUBMITTED BY: Brian Groth, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
On November 5, 2021, the U.S. Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Act). This bipartisan legislation is designed to invest in the nation's infrastructure, including funding for roads and bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, electric grid, water systems, and broadband, among other priorities.
The City Council awarded Contract 21-354, Grant Application Assessment - Preparation and Submittal Services, to West Monroe Partners in November 2021 for a 13-month term through December 31, 2022. The purpose of this contract is to partner with a consultant to vet the Electric Utility's shovel-ready projects for grant applicability, review the grant submission requirements and prepare the grant submissions.
DISCUSSION:
When the West Monroe contract was developed, the City had identified seven Electric Utility projects to be included in the five grant applications:
1. Distribution automation upgrades
2. Substation communications upgrades
3. Fiber upgrades
4. DERMS system
5. Battery installation
6. Distribution asset hardening and undergrounding
7. EV charging infrastructure
Each of the seven projects was refined by the West Monroe team based on eligibility and scoring criteria guidance provided by the Department of Energy (DOE) over the last 12 months. Six projects will be included in grant applications that will be prepared by West Monroe per the contract.
The purpose of this change order is to modify the scope of services within the contract and extend the contract for an additional 12 months through December 31, 2023.
The "five grant applications" deliverable within the contract will be modified to "th...
Click here for full text