|
BACKGROUND
<br />In June, 2004, the City Council authorized the development of a Master Plan for
<br />renovation of the Gingerbread Preschool play yard. The project would include a
<br />number of unique learning/play features, including a small watercourse, a "sampam"
<br />play structure with shade canopy, a paint wall and resilient play surface, as well as more
<br />typical play area components such as swings, slides and sand.
<br />In April 2007, following adoption of the Master Plan, the firm of Keller Mitchell &
<br />Company, Landscape Architects, was retained to further develop the Master Plan
<br />design in an effort to utilize the play space more efficiently, and reduce the probable
<br />construction cost of the improvements. Following this design development, Keller
<br />Mitchell & Company prepared construction documents suitable for competitive bidding.
<br />The consultant worked closely with staff of the preschool and the Parks Maintenance
<br />Division to ensure that the design followed the Master Plan objectives, met Americans
<br />with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, environmental conservation benchmarks,
<br />addressed the educational expectations of the preschool staff, and could be easily
<br />maintained.
<br />RECEIPT OF BIDS
<br />On May 20, 2008, a formal bid opening was held, and six (6) sealed bids were received.
<br />The low base bid of $323,806 was submitted by the firm of McNabb Construction, Inc.
<br />of Lafayette, California, and all bid documents were found to be in order. The six (6)
<br />bids received ranged from $323,806 to $480,651.
<br />The firm of McNabb Construction has previously worked for the City, and is known to be
<br />reliable and responsible. A relatively small firm with a permanent workforce of
<br />approximately eight (8) full time employees, McNabb Construction usually builds about
<br />six (6) projects per year in the $300,000 to $600,000 construction range, making
<br />Gingerbread Preschool a "good fit" and an ideal construction project for the company.
<br />Should the Council award this contract, it is anticipated that construction would begin in
<br />mid-June 2008, with tentative project completion expected in mid-September, 2008.
<br />At its meeting of January 15, 2008, the City Council reviewed and approved the Master
<br />Plan for the play area and reallocated $17,000 towards the renovation project. At that
<br />time, project construction was estimated to be $326,000; however, the exact amount
<br />could not be known until formal bids were received. The Council, therefore, directed
<br />staff to return for review of the project following the receipt of bids. Staff is
<br />recommending a 15% construction contingency ($58,571) to deal with any unforeseen
<br />field conditions. With the current fund balance of $17,000, this would require an
<br />additional allocation of $31,571. Should the Council wish to proceed with the project as
<br />proposed, total funding of $355,377 would need to be transferred from the Capital
<br />Improvement Program Reserve (CIPR). The Fund has a current balance of $5,120,835.
<br />Page 2 of 3
<br />
|