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Commissioner Keigher - Public Works - To Authorize the County Manager, or Her Designee, to Execute a Professional Services Contract with Stewart Cooper Newell Architects, P.A. for the Design of IT Data Center Renovation Project
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STAFF CONTACT
Dan Ziehm, PE - Public Works Director - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
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Professional services contract not to exceed $80,000 (already in current fiscal year budget).
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The Gaston County IT Datacenter, located in the basement of the Administration Building, 128 W. Main Ave., Gastonia, NC, needs to be consolidated and relocated into a smaller space next to the current data center. Preliminary plans call for removing the existing air handling unit and installing new self-contained cooling racks and power protection systems. New cubicles will be installed in the old space to be utilized by IT staff.
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 requirements of NCGS §143- 64.31 if the estimated fee is less than $50,000. However, the design fees for this project will exceed the $50,000 cap for exemption, thereby requiring the engineer to be selected through the qualifications-based process.
Public Works staff developed a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) packet for the design of the IT Data Center renovation project in accordance with the statutory requirements and publicly advertised these projects beginning on March 9, 2023. Statements of Qualification (SOQ) submittals were received on March 27, 2023. The two (2) firms submitting SOQs were:
• Stewart Cooper Newell Architects, P.A.
• Design Collaborative
After reviewing the SOQs submitted by the two firms, Stewart Cooper Newell Architects, P.A. was deemed to be the best qualified for the referenced project.
Approval of this Board Action by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners officially selects Stewart Cooper Newell Architects, P.A. as the designer 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 negotiate and execute said contracts. Fees for this design contract will not exceed $80,000.
POLICY IMPACT
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ATTACHMENTS
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