TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Allison Swisher, Director of Public Utilities
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement for Engineering Design Services for the Des Plaines River Tunnel Crossing Rehabilitation Project for the Water Main Replacement Program to Jacobs Associates dba Delve Underground in the Amount of $268,630.00
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BACKGROUND:
The City owns, operates, and maintains two water mains installed in a rock tunnel beneath the Des Plaines River. These water mains are critical to providing water to the neighborhoods just west of the Des Plaines River and the Downtown business district. In recent years these water mains have experienced water main breaks resulting in loss of service. They were previously identified for replacement in 2027 as part of the City’s water main replacement program. However, due to their criticality and the recent failures it was recommended in 2024 that their replacement be accelerated. Due to the complexities of the design, the need to increase the water main capacity at this location, and the unknown conditions of the tunnel it was necessary to perform preliminary engineering. On June 4, 2024, the Mayor and City Council approved the award of contract for preliminary design engineering, in the amount of $142,356.00, to Delve Underground. The scope of that project consisted of a structural assessment of the tunnel, surveying, soil borings, and preliminary design. The preliminary design work is nearing completion, and the next step is detailed design.
The Public Service Committee will review this matter.
CONCLUSION:
Delve Underground provided a proposal to complete detailed design services including preparation of bidding documents for the tunnel rehabilitation and watermain replacement project. The City’s water main replacement engineering firm, Baxter & Woodman Inc., will be a subcontractor to Delve Underground and will prepare the contract documents for the rehabilitation and removal work. City Staff is familiar with Delve Underground’s qualifications for tunnel rehabilitation projects through the work they have performed on the Alternative Water Source Program.
Section 2-438 of the City of Joliet Code of Ordinances states that purchases whose estimated cost is in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be awarded without written specifications under certain circumstances. Two (2) of these circumstances apply:
(f) Purchases when authorized by a concurring vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Mayor and City Council;
(g) Purchases of professional services.
Funds will be charged to the Water Main Replacement Fund / Professional Services (Org 53880000, Object 557200, $268,630.00).
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Council approve Amendment No. 1 to the Professional Services Agreement for Engineering Design Services for the Des Plaines River Tunnel Crossing Rehabilitation Project for the Water Main Replacement Program, in the amount of $268,630.00, on behalf of Jacobs Associates dba Delve Underground.
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