Award Contract for Review and Monitoring of Wetland Mitigation Areas in the COR

The COR, formerly Ramsey Town Center, is a master planned development that was started in the early 2000's.  The site contained several wetlands that were filled to provide more developable space.  The plans for the project included creating several wetland mitigation areas to off set the loss of wetlands in other parts of the COR.  The wetland mitigation process requires monitoring and vegetation management of the mitigated areas for five (5) years, with submittal of a monitoring report each year.  The wetlands are reviewed by a Technical Evaluation Panel at the end of the 5 years to verify the mitigation is functioning as intended.

The mitigation areas, which are between East Ramsey Parkway North and East Ramsey Parkway South at Peridot Street and at the northeast corner of Bunker Lake Boulevard and Armstrong Boulevard, were created when the site was mass graded in the mid 2000's.  The City went out for proposals for the monitoring in 2009.  Monitoring and reporting was conducted for 2 years.  The selected consultant had staff changes, losing the expertise to provide this service.  The City also had staff changes during this time and the need for completing the reporting was forgotten.  The Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO), which ultimately approves the completed mitigation project, reminded the City in 2020 that the reporting needs to be completed.  

Staff identified six (6) consultants that provide this service and requested proposals for completing the reporting and vegetation management for the mitigated wetlands.  Staff received three (3) responses, one was shortly after the proposal was sent out, indicating their workload did not permit preparation of a proposal at this time. Staff received two (2) proposals which were evaluated.  Responses were not received from the other three (3) consultants.

The received proposals were evaluated on Project Team. Experience, Work Plan and Cost.  Three staff reviewed the proposals and all three judged one proposal to be the best.

The City needs to complete the monitoring and reporting on the mitigated wetlands, otherwise the LRRWMO could require creation of new wetland mitigation areas to replace the current areas that were not completed.

The request for proposals, the two received proposals and the scoring sheet are attached to this case.

 

The proposals were received from Houston Engineering and SEH, Inc.  Both firms have experience in this type of work.  The proposal from SEH, Inc. was determined to provide the best value to the City based on the project team, experience and work plan.  Their proposal was also the lowest cost.  Houston Engineering proposed completing the work for $22,500, while SEH, Inc. came in at $10,500. The proposals state they are hourly with a maximum not to exceed amount and the executed contract contain this requirement.

Obtaining approval of the mitigated wetlands will require submittal of the monitoring report to the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization.  They will review the report then convene a Technical Evaluation Panel (TEP) on site to compare the report with the vegetation onsite.  The TEP will issue a recommendation to accept the mitigated wetland or identify areas that must be corrected so the mitigation areas can be accepted.

The project could be completed in 2021 provided that the vegetation is consistent with the vegetation management plan and does not include a lot of invasive species.  The time for completion of the contract will be longer if there is remedial work that must be done. Either way, SEH, Inc. will be retained until all mitigation areas are approved by the TEP and LRRWMO board.

Funding for this project will come from the Stormwater Management Fund.

Staff recommends awarding a maximum not to exceed contract to SEH, Inc. for Review and Monitoring of Wetland Areas on the COR for the amount of $10,500.

Award an hourly not to exceed contract to SEH, Inc. for Review and Monitoring of Wetland Areas in the COR for the amount of $10,500.