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Commissioner Keigher - Public Works - To Approve the Qualifications Based Selection of Ramey Kemp and Associates, Inc. and Authorize the County Manager to Execute a Professional Services Agreement to Provide Planning and Design Services for the Neal Hawkins Road Sidewalk (STIP# C-5606M)
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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 2019-125 to accept and appropriate Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Grant funding for the Neal Hawkins Road Sidewalk (C-5606M). The grant will provide funding for the design and construction of a sidewalk connection from Martha Rivers Park to Hawks Ridge Drive.
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. 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 (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.
Upon receiving authorization from NCDOT, a Request for Letters of Interest (LOI) for the project was publicly announced beginning on August 1, 2021. The RFLOI was added to NCDOT Connect page, HUBSCO and Gaston Gazette. Submittals were received on August 27, 2021 from eleven (11) firms. The local selection committee comprised of three (3) Public Works staff reviewed each of the LOI submissions and selected Ramey Kemp and Associates, Inc. (RKA) as the most qualified firm.
NCDOT reviewed the selection process and provided concurrence with the selection of Ramey Kemp and Associates, Inc. Approval of this Board Action by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners officially selects (RKA) 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.
Funding from the current Public Works budget will be transferred into the specific project account for the Neal Hawkins Road Sidewalk Project to meet the required guidelines for auditing and reporting. No appropriation of additional funds is required.
POLICY IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
NCDOT Concurrence in Selection