FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Kathy Millea, Director of Engineering
SUBJECT:
title
REDHILL RELIEF SEWER RELOCATION AT STATE ROUTE 55, PROJECT NO. FE18-13
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
A. Receive and file Bid Tabulation and Recommendation for Redhill Relief Sewer Relocation at State Route 55, Project No. FE18-13;
B. Award a Construction Contract to SRK Engineering, Inc. for Redhill Relief Sewer Relocation at State Route 55, Project No. FE18-13 for an amount not to exceed $2,213,000; and
C. Approve a contingency of $331,950 (15%).
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BACKGROUND
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is implementing the State Route 55 (SR-55) Improvement Project to widen SR-55 between Interstate 5 and Interstate 405. The Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) owns a sewer running under SR-55 immediately south of Warner Avenue in the City of Santa Ana.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Comply with California Public Contract Code Section 20103.8, award construction contract to lowest responsive, responsible bidder
• Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and neighboring communities
• Protect OC San assets
PROBLEM
The SR-55 Improvement Project will widen the freeway over an existing OC San sewer. To protect the sewer, OC San must encase the sewer in the newly widened right-of-way and move an interfering manhole outside the freeway limits.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Award a contract for Redhill Relief Sewer Relocation at State Route 55 to SRK Engineering, Inc. This project will extend a protective casing for the portions of the sewer to remain under the widened freeway and relocate a manhole out of the widened right-of-way. Moving the manhole requires a sewer realignment and the addition of three new manholes to avoid a retaining wall along Warner Avenue.
OCTA has agreed to compensate OC San for the cost of this work, as documented in a March 2020 Utility Agreement between the agencies and later updated in a September 2021 Utility Agreement Amendment.
OC San’s sewer work must be performed before the freeway can be widened. Due to site constraints, OCTA acquired temporary construction easements from the impacted businesses. To minimize disruptions to the impacted businesses and avoid delaying OCTA’s freeway widening project, OC San must complete construction within a four-month window.
Although high change orders are not anticipated, the work is complex and if an unforeseen condition created significant problems, staff might be unable to resolve the issue without waiting for the next available Board meeting. For this reason, staff is requesting a higher-than-usual contingency of 15%. OCTA is funding the sewer work and supports the higher contingency.
TIMING CONCERNS
Construction delays would require the temporary construction easements to be extended at a significant cost impact to OCTA. OC San construction delays could also impact OCTA’s freeway schedule.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
OC San is obligated to relocate the sewer to accommodate the freeway widening project and OCTA is obligated to reimburse OC San’s costs.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
March 2020 - Approved Utility Agreement No. OCSD-1005 between Orange County Sanitation District and the Orange County Transportation Authority agreeing to specific terms, conditions, and funding obligations regarding the relocation and protection of the Redhill Relief Sewer at State Route 55 in the City of Santa Ana.
September 2021 - Approved the First Amendment to Utility Agreement No. OCSD-1005 between Orange County Sanitation District and the Orange County Transportation Authority agreeing to a funding increase for the relocation and protection of the Redhill Relief Sewer at State Route 55 in the City of Santa Ana.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The stretch of sewer under the freeway has a number of cracks. OC San, with the agreement of OCTA, has included in this contract repair of that pipe so that it can be done with no additional bypass pumping, saving significant costs and risks. The cost for this portion of the work will not be reimbursed by OCTA.
OC San advertised Project No. FE18-13 for bids on March 15, 2022 and two sealed bids were received on April 26, 2022. A summary of the bid opening follows:
|
Engineer’s Estimate |
$ 2,076,000 |
|
Bidder |
Amount of Bid |
|
SRK Engineering, Inc. |
$ 2,213,000 |
|
MMC, Inc. |
$ 2,479,551 |
The bids were evaluated in accordance with the OC San’s policies and procedures. A notice was sent to all bidders on May 6, 2022 informing them of the intent of OC San staff to recommend award of the Construction Contract to SRK Engineering, Inc.
Pre-bid surveys of plan holders indicated four contractors intended to bid this project. In a post-bid survey, staff learned that two of those contractors had a busy workload and another did not meet the experience requirements. SRK Engineering was not included in the pre-bid survey because they were not a plan holder when the surveys were conducted.
Staff recommends awarding a Construction Contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, SRK Engineering, Inc., for a total amount not to exceed $2,213,000.
CEQA
The Caltrans/OCTA SR-55 Improvement Project includes the relocation and protection of the Redhill Relief Sewer in their Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment.
This project also includes a sewer repair element. That portion of the work is exempt from CEQA under the Class 1 categorical exemptions set forth in California Code of Regulations section 15301. A Notice of Exemption will be filed with the OC Clerk-Recorder after the OC San's Board of Directors approval of the Construction Contract.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This request complies with the authority levels of OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance. This item has been budgeted (Budget Update, Fiscal Year 2021-2022, Appendix A, Page A-8, Small Construction Projects Program, Project No. M-FE) and the budget is sufficient for the recommended action.
OCTA will reimburse OC San for costs related to this construction project, with the exception of the lining work, which will be covered by operating funds.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
• Construction Contract
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