TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Rod Tonelli, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT:
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Award of Contract for the Construction of Chicago Connection Facilities - Preconstruction Services to Walsh Construction Company II, LLC as Construction Manager At-Risk in the amount of $1,975,000.00
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BACKGROUND:
On February 7, 2023 the Mayor and City Council approved utilizing the construction manager at risk (CMAR) delivery method for the facilities to be constructed for the Alternative Water Source Program (AWSP) to allow for connection to the Chicago water system at the Southwest Pumping Station/Durkin Park site (tunnel extension, reservoir, high service pumping station and low service pumping station).
Following the decision to proceed with implementation of the Chicago Connection Facilities work using a CMAR, the Program Team implemented a process for the solicitation and evaluation of qualifications and proposals from potential contractors. Key elements of that process included:
- Issuance of a request for qualifications (March 27, 2023)
- Evaluation of statements of qualifications and designation of qualified contractors (June 2, 2023)
- Issuance of a request for proposals to qualified contractors (July 7, 2023)
- Participation in individual pre-proposal meetings with qualified contractors (August 2-3, 2023)
- Evaluation of written proposals and in-person contractor interviews (September 26-27, 2023)
- Follow-up communications with proposers regarding proposal elements and agreement comments (October 2023)
- Final evaluation and presentation of findings to the Technical Advisory Working Group (October 25, 2023)
Following release of the RFQ, Statements of Qualifications were received from Kiewit Infrastructure Company and Walsh Construction Company II. The qualifications documents were reviewed against evaluation criteria defined in the RFQ, and on June 2, 2023 both firms were notified that they were deemed qualified to perform the work and would be receiving a copy of the request for proposals.
Proposals submitted in September were reviewed by an Evaluation Committee including a total of fifteen individuals from the City, Grand Prairie Water Commission communities, and the Program Team. The Public Service Committee will review this memo at the November 20, 2023 meeting.
CONCLUSION:
The Evaluation Committee unanimously recommends selection of Walsh for this contract. Key evaluation factors which contributed to the decision to recommend Walsh for this work include:
• Walsh’s significant Chicago presence, resources, and history of complex project delivery,
• Walsh’s plan for engagement of a consistent team for the delivery of both Preconstruction and Construction phase services,
• Walsh’s strategy for integrated engagement of staff from both its Water and Heavy Civil groups as key members of the project team, and
• Walsh’s lower proposed Preconstruction Phase Fee and Construction Phase General Conditions Fee %.
Services under the CMAR agreement will be delivered in two phases.
Preconstruction Phase - During the Preconstruction phase of the project, the Walsh Team will collaborate with the Program Team in the review of the designs in progress, evaluation of construction approaches, formulation of strategies for managing the impacts of the construction on the adjacent neighborhood, and development of a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for construction of the needed improvements. Per the Preliminary Agreement Regarding Formation of a Regional Water Commission (RWC), Joliet will contract for engineering and other professional services for the AWSP and advance funds for development costs and the RWC will reimburse the City for those advanced costs. Therefore, the City of Joliet will execute and manage the services under this phase of the agreement. Walsh’s proposal price for delivery of the Preconstruction Services is $1,975,000.
Construction Phase - Once the Grand Prairie Water Commission (GPWC) is formally created and a GMP for the construction services is agreed to, the CMAR contract will be assigned and transferred to the GPWC and Walsh will be provided with a Notice-to-Proceed with construction of the improvements. Costs for construction of the facilities under the GMP will be financed by GPWC and allocated to GPWC members for payment in accordance with the overall Program Funding Strategy and Preliminary Agreement Regarding Water Commission Formation.
On November 9, 2023, the selection of Walsh as the CMAR for the Chicago Connection Facilities was discussed with the Mayors and Managers Working Group for the GPWC and that group supports Joliet entering into a contract with Walsh.
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Based on the above, it is recommended that the City Council approve a Contract for the preconstruction services phase for Construction Management at Risk Services for the Alternative Water Source Program Chicago Connection Facilities Project, in the amount of $1,975,000.00, on behalf of Walsh Construction Company II, LLC.
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