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Commissioner Keigher - Public Works - To Authorize the County Manager, or Her Designee, to Execute a Professional Services Contract with AME Consulting Engineers, PC for the Gaston College ARPA Project
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STAFF CONTACT
Daniel K Ziehm, PE - Public Works - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
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No additional County funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
In May 2021, Gaston County was awarded $43,612,126 in federal funds to meet urgent community needs in the wake of COVID-19. An internal committee has been meeting since April 2021 to discuss eligible uses of funds, potential projects, and financial reporting. On September 26, 2023, Resolution 2023-318 approved the Gaston College ARPA Project for authorized funds not to exceed $3,200,000. The County will manage steam boiler & HVAC system improvements and repairs for Gaston College. The County will require the services of a licensed mechanical engineering firm to assess and prioritize Gaston College’s needs and provide estimated costs.
North Carolina General Statute NCGS §143-64.31 requires the initial solicitation and evaluation of firms to perform architectural, engineering, surveying, construction management-at-risk services, and design-build services (collectively “design services”) to be based on qualifications and without regard to fee. NCGS §143-64.32 authorizes units of local government to exempt contracts for professional services from the qualifications-based selection requirements of NCGS §143-64.31 if the estimated fee is less than $50,000. However, the cost for engineering services for this project is expected to exceed the $50,000 cap for exemption, thereby requiring the engineer to be selected through the qualifications-based process. In addition, the qualification-based selection (QBS) process is required to comply with Uniform Guidance (UG) selection requirements. When federal funds are involved, waiver of QBS can only be considered when total cost is below $10,000 per Uniform Guidance.
Public Works staff developed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Gaston College ARPA Project in accordance with statutory requirements and publicly advertised this project on October 23, 2023. Statements of Qualification (SOQ) submittals were received on November 10, 2023, from five (5) firms:
• Labella Associates, P.C.
• Optima Engineering PA
• AME Consulting Engineers, PC
• CMTA, Inc.
• McKnight Smith Ward Griffin, Incorporated
After reviewing the SOQs submitted by the five (5) firms, AME Consulting Engineers, PC was deemed to be the best qualified for Gaston College Project.
Approval of this Board Action by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners officially selects AME Consulting Engineers, PC as the engineer of record for the project listed above. Further, approval of this Board Action authorizes the County Attorney to negotiate and draft the necessary contract documents for the work and authorizes the County Manager, or her designee, to execute said contract.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
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