Staff recommends City Council award a professional engineering services contract for W.O. 26-25 44th Street West and Broadwater Avenue Storm Trunk Main to Performance Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $399,900.

The City of Billings plans to construct approximately 5,500 feet of stormwater trunk main along 44th Street West and Broadwater Avenue to support planned arterial roadway improvements and future development in West Billings, where existing stormwater infrastructure capacity is limited. The project will provide a primary stormwater outfall to the Shiloh Drain and ultimately, the Shiloh Conservation Area, and will also include analysis of the Shiloh Drain to improve storage capacity and hydraulic efficiency. Performance Engineering, Inc. was selected through a competitive RFP process to provide engineering design and construction administration services for $399,900, funded through the FY26 Stormwater budget. Construction of the trunk main is planned for winter 2026–2027 and is included in the FY27 Capital Improvement Program.

The City of Billings is planning to improve a number of arterial road corridors in West Billings in the coming years. Stormwater trunk mains are limited west of Shiloh Road, which limits the capacity to serve new roadways as well as new developments. Alternatives to improve drainage in West Billings were considered through the West Billings Stormwater Development Plan, and a preferred alignment for a trunk storm drain pipe was identified through that plan.

Work Order 26-25 will install approximately 5,500 feet of stormwater trunk main located within the undeveloped right-of-way within 44th Street West between Grand Avenue and Broadwater Avenue, and within Broadwater Avenue between 44th Street West and Shiloh Road in accordance with the West Billings Stormwater Development Plan. This trunk main will serve as the primary stormwater outfall for the expansion of Grand Avenue west of 44th Street West, future improvements to 54th Street West, and developments along those corridors. The trunk main will outfall into the Shiloh Drain, eventually draining to the Shiloh Conservation Area. The stormwater trunk main is planned to be installed during the winter of 2026-2027, ahead of the Grand Avenue and 54th Street West improvement projects. In addition to analysis and design of the trunk main, this contract includes an analysis of the Shiloh Drain to maximize storage capacity and hydraulic efficiency of the drain, as well as construction contract administration services. 

Performance Engineering was selected for the project based on City staff review of five proposals submitted by prequalified firms that have experience in stormwater design using the request for proposal process (RFP). The other proposals were received from Cushing Terrell, DOWL, IMEG, and Sanbell. The consultant selection was based on Project Team and Availability, Project Approach, and Firm Qualifications and Experience as related to the project needs. 

The project was budgeted in FY26 using Stormwater Funds in the amount of $400,000. There are adequate funds to award the contract. Construction of the project is included in the approved FY27 CIP in the amount of $3,500,000. 

City Council may:

• Approve awarding the Professional Services Contract to Performance Engineering, or
• Not approve awarding the Professional Engineering Services contract to Performance Engineering. If the project is not awarded, the storm drain trunk main will be delayed in design and installation.