Council CommunicationOffice of the City Manager	Date	November 23, 2009
	Agenda Item No. 8 Roll Call No. 09- Communication No. 09-825 Submitted by: Jeb E. Brewer, P.E. City Engineer

AGENDA HEADING:

Approving contract and bond for construction of an improvement, of which the estimated cost is less than the Iowa Code competitive bid threshold, Blank Park Zoo Parking Lot Relighting, Baker Electric, Inc., Britt Baker, CEO, 111 Jackson Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50315, $50,390.

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend receive and file bids, designate lowest bidder and approve contract and bond for Blank Park Zoo Parking Lot Relighting, 11-2010-004. The work includes replacing the light poles on the west side of the main parking lot with new pole-mounted metal halide fixtures. Competitive quotations for construction of the repair work were received by the Engineering Department, in accordance with Chapter 26 of the Code of Iowa.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: $50,390 Construction Contract

Funding Source: 2009-2010 CIP, Page Park-4, Blank Park Zoo Improvements, PKS013, G. O. Bonds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Sections 26.3 and 26.12 of the Code of Iowa exempt the governing body from advertisement for sealed bids and holding a public hearing on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimated cost of the improvement when the Engineer's estimated cost for the improvement is less than the competitive bid threshold ($100,000) established in Section 314.1B.

On February 12, 2007, under Roll Call Number 07-291, the Des Moines City Council approved bidding and contracting process changes for construction of improvements, which included “Part II: New Competitive Quotation Process for Public Improvements,” which the City Engineer has utilized for this project. Engineering and Legal Department Staff have utilized this process to determine the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for construction of the following improvement. These bidding and contracting process changes were also approved by the Des Moines International Airport Board on March 6, 2007, under Resolution Number A07-51. The estimated cost of said improvement is $55,500, which is less than the competitive bid threshold established in Section 314.1B of the Code of Iowa.

The Engineering Department has prepared plans, specifications, form of contract documents and Jurisdictional Engineer’s estimate for the construction of the following improvement:

Blank Park Zoo Parking Lot Relighting, 11-2010-004

The improvement includes replacing the light poles on the west side of the main parking lot with new pole-mounted metal halide fixtures around the north, west and east sides, adding new low-voltage suspended lighting to the diagonal walkway bisecting the lot and at the southeast end of the walkway in the courtyard, and replacing existing wall mounted fixtures on the Service Building with new LED wall packs; all in accordance with the contract documents, including Plan File Nos. 484-124/126 at the Blank Park Zoo, 7401 SW 9th Street, Des Moines, Iowa.

Said plans and specifications were issued to contractors that normally bid on City of Des Moines projects of a similar nature, as part of a solicitation for proposals for said improvement, requesting the contractors to submit proposals to the Des Moines City Engineer on or before 11:00 a.m. on November 9, 2009.

Bids for said improvement were submitted by the following bidders:

Baker Electric, Inc., Des Moines, IA

Wolin Electric LLC, West Des Moines, IA

Stroh Corporation, Des Moines, IA

Biermann's University Electric Company, Inc., Des Moines, IA

The Waldinger Corporation, Des Moines, IA

Commonwealth Electric Company, Des Moines, IA

Premier Electric, Runnells, IA

The Des Moines City Engineer has determined that the lowest responsible, responsive bid was submitted by Baker Electric, Inc. and recommends that said bid be accepted.

The Des Moines City Engineer has secured execution of contract documents for said public improvements by the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for presentation to the City Council for approval and authorization for the Mayor to sign.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S): NONE

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S): NONE

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

Partial Payments to the Contractor and final acceptance of work.

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive. Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.