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Commissioner Johnson - Public Works - To Authorize the County Manager, or Her Designee, to Execute a Professional Services Contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas for the Design of the Gaston County Fueling Station Project
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STAFF CONTACT
Dan Ziehm, PE - Public Works Director - 704-862-6795
BUDGET IMPACT
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No additional County funds.
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BUDGET ORDINANCE IMPACT
N/A
BACKGROUND
Gaston County has historically depended on the City of Gastonia as a source for emergency fuel when there is a community wide fuel shortage. The County has identified a site that can accommodate two above ground 6,000-gallon gasoline and diesel fuel tanks and a smaller Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) tank. This will allow the County to have an independent source of fuel for emergency response vehicles in the event of a fuel shortage. The primary use of the fuel will be during emergencies when fuel shortages occur but will be used periodically by Public Safety in order to cycle fuel for optimal performance. This CIP project was approved in FY 23.
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 Gaston County Fueling Station project in accordance with the statutory requirements and publicly advertised these projects beginning on November 30, 2023. Statements of Qualification (SOQ) submittals were received on December 21, 2023. The three (3) firms submitting SOQs were:
- Robert and Company
- The Thrasher Group North Carolina
- HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas
After reviewing the SOQs submitted by the three firms, HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas was deemed to be the best qualified for the corresponding project.
Approval of this Board Action by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners officially selects HDR Engineering, Inc. of the Carolinas 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.
POLICY IMPACT
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ATTACHMENTS
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