Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for the creation of a strategic plan to protect Austin’s creeks and communities with Jodon Maclem Corporation, for up to three years for a total contract amount not to exceed $400,000.
[Note: This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) and subcontractor goals were applied to the solicitation. The subcontracting goals were met, and the resulting contract will include 25% MBE/WBE combined participation].
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Client Department(s)
Watershed Protection Department.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $88,888 is available in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget of the Watershed Protection Department.
Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Purchasing Language:
The Financial Services Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) 6300 PAT3006REBID for these services. The solicitation was issued on August 14, 2023, and closed on September 7, 2023. Of the five offers received, the recommended contractor submitted the best evaluated and responsive offer. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s Financial Services website, Austin Finance Online. This information can currently be found at: https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=139537.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation.
Additional Backup Information:
This contract is for the creation of a strategic plan for the Watershed Protection Department (WPD) referred to as Rain to River. This plan will prioritize community and department input, using it to develop a strategy that will protect the City’s creeks and communities. The plan will include a community vision, a summary of issues and strategies, and an implementation plan.
The current WPD strategic plan was originally adopted by Council in 2001 and has guided most of the programs, large-scale projects, and regulations implemented by WPD for the last 20 years. The 2001 plan does not address current major challenges such as climate change and racial inequities within the City and it did not prioritize engaging people of color, low-income communities, and other groups statistically more likely to experience negative quality of life outcomes. The proposed Rain to River strategic plan will update and replace the current strategic plan and will guide WPD operations for the next 20 years.
The authorization amounts for this contract were based on estimates of similar studies that have been conducted for WPD.
The scope of work was reviewed by staff in accordance with the Contact Labor Resolution to determine if outsourcing or hiring of staff would best meet the department’s needs and comply with the Resolution. Given the need of these services, staff determined that outsourcing the services to a contractor would be cost beneficial and meet department needs.
An evaluation team with expertise in this area evaluated the offers and scored Jodon Maclem Corporation as the best to provide these services based on evaluation criteria that included project concept and strategy, offerors experience and personnel qualifications, price, local preference, and service-disabled veteran business enterprise.
This request allows for the development of a contract with a qualified offeror selected by Council. If the City is unsuccessful in negotiating a satisfactory contract with the selected offeror, negotiations will cease with that provider. Staff will return to Council so that another qualified offeror may be selected, authorizing new contract negotiations.