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Commissioner Johnson - Public Works - To Approve the Qualifications Based Selection of Kimley-Horn and Associates, and Authorize the County Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement to Provide Planning and Design Services for the Rankin Lake Park to Gastonia Tech Parkway Greenway Extension (STIP# C-5606K)
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STAFF CONTACT
Dan Ziehm, PE - Public Works Director - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
budget
No Additional County Funds Required.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The Gaston County Board of Commissioners approved Board Action 2017-272 to accept and appropriate Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Grant funding for the Rankin Lake Park to Gastonia Technology Parkway Greenway Extension (STIP# C-5606K). The grant will provide funding for the design and construction of a greenway connection from Rankin Lake Park to Gastonia Technology Parkway.
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 design services from the qualifications-based selection (QBS) requirements of NCGS §143-64.31 if the estimated fee is less than $50,000. However, the design fees for this CMAQ project will 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 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.
Upon receiving authorization from NCDOT, Public Works staff developed a Request for Letters of Interest (LOI) for the project in accordance with the statutory requirements and publicly advertised the project beginning on January 30, 2019. Submittals were received on March 6, 2019, from nine (9) firms. Three (3) firms met all prerequisites and were scored for consideration:
• American Engineering, Charlotte, NC
• Alfred Benesch, Charlotte, NC
• Kimley-Horn, Charlotte, NC
The local selection committee comprised of four (4) Public Works staff reviewed each of the LOI submissions and selected Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. as the most qualified firm.
This project was posted on the Connect NCDOT Website which is an acceptable alternative per NCDOT to posting on HUB for MWBE affirmative steps. NCDOT reviewed the selection process and provided concurrence with the selection of Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. Approval of this Board Action officially selects Kimley-Horn & Associates as the designer of record for the project listed above. Further, approval of this Board Action authorizes the County Attorney to draft the necessary contract documents for the work and authorizes the County Manager, or her designee, to negotiate and execute said contract.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
NCDOT Concurrence in Selection