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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Mark Phipps, Engineering Coordinator
DATE: December 31, 2021
SUBJECT:
Resolution to award a contract to Strand Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,144,000 for the Rathbone CSO Preliminary Engineering Services. (Ward 4/Alderman Donnell)
PURPOSE:
Evaluate project alternatives for the proposed Rathbone Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Facility, which is an essential component of the City's CSO Long Term Control Plan.
BACKGROUND:
More than a century ago, cities across the United States, including Aurora and other communities up and down the Fox River, built combined sewers that took both sewage and stormwater away from homes and streets and discharged directly into the River. In 1927, decades before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) began requiring sewage treatment, forward-thinking Aurora residents supported the construction of a sewage treatment plant and new sewers. Those combined sewers are still in operation today and carry sewage and waste to the Fox Metro Water Reclamation treatment facility in Oswego, which cleans the water before returning it to the Fox River.
The combined sewer system can handle Aurora's typical volume of both sewage and runoff, but during heavy rainstorms and snow melt, too much water floods the sewers. When that happens, untreated sewage overflows into the Fox River or backs up into basements. Such occurrences are called a combined sewer overflow, or CSO.
As a first step toward solving this problem, Aurora and other cities across the country eventually began installing more modern storm sewer systems separate from the sewers that carry sewage from homes and businesses. The USEPA’s 1994 CSO Control Policy required communities like Aurora to further develop and implement a CSO Long Term Control Plan (LTCP). Aurora’s LTCP was submitted in 2010 and approved by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in 2015. The Plan relies on various strategies ranging from sewer separation and green infrastructure to the construction of storage and treatment facilities. The City has spent over $50 million so far, primarily on sewer separation and green infrastructure projects. The next phase involves the design and construction of a CSO storage and treatment facility near the intersection of Rathbone Avenue and Sard Avenue, as well as a new sewer crossing the Fox River, and a new pump station. A Project Location Map is included as Exhibit A. The estimated cost of these improvements is approximately $100 million.
The scope of services for this Preliminary Engineering contract includes: updating the City's sewer model to reflect sewer system improvements constructed since 2010 and to determine the storage capacity needed at the proposed facility; obtaining a topographic survey of the project area; taking soil borings at the site to determine soil bearing capacity, groundwater depth, depth of bedrock, and suitability of the soil for offsite disposal; evaluating construction methods for the proposed river crossing; evaluating alternative pump station locations; estimating the cost of project alternatives; and updating the City's Long Term Control Plan based on the preferred alternatives.
The City issued a Request for Qualifications on August 26, 2021 to over 300 vendors in the Professional Services category. Statements of Qualifications were received from five (5) firms on September 15, 2021. This was a qualifications-based selection process for professional services. Since it was qualifications-based, the Local Vendor Preference Ordinance does not apply.
DISCUSSION:
Strand Associates, Inc. was selected as the most qualified firm by a five (5) person review panel. Exhibit B shows how the Statements of Qualification were scored. After being notified of their selection, Strand Associates, Inc. prepared the proposal included as Exhibit C. This proposal includes a baseline scope of services with a not-to-exceed fee of $1,009,900 and additional tasks that may be added at the direction of City staff with a not-to-exceed fee of $134,100. Account 281-1856-512.73-09 has a balance of $1,300,000.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The services provided under this Purchase Order will have no impact on the public.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends adoption of the proposed resolution.
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to award a contract to Strand Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,144,000 for the Rathbone CSO Preliminary Engineering Services.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City's Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan was submitted in 2010 and approved by the IEPA in 2015 with a list of construction projects and a schedule for completing those projects by 2030; and
WHEREAS, the City has completed construction of the required sewer separation and green infrastructure projects; and
WHEREAS, the next step is Preliminary Engineering for the design and construction of a CSO storage and treatment facility near the intersection of Rathbone Avenue and Sard Avenue, as well as a new sewer crossing the Fox River, and a new pump station; and
WHEREAS, Strand Associates, Inc. of 1170 South Houbolt Road, Joliet, IL 60431 was selected as the most qualified out of five (5) firms submitting Statements of Qualifications; and
WHEREAS, account 281-1856-512.73-09 has sufficient funds for the project.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the award of a contract to Strand Associates, Inc. in the amount of $1,144,000 for the Rathbone CSO Preliminary Engineering Services is hereby approved, and the Director of Purchasing is hereby authorized to enter into such a contract on behalf of the City.