Posting Language
Title
Authorize a contract for pavement data collection services for Austin Transportation and Public Works with Applied Research Associates, Inc. d/b/a Applied Research Associates, for a term of two years in an amount not to exceed $500,000. Funding: Funding in the amount of $187,500 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Transportation and Public Works. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Body
Lead Department
Austin Financial Services.
Client Department(s)
Austin Transportation and Public Works.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $187,500 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Transportation and Public Works.
Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Procurement Language:
Multiple contractors within this cooperative purchasing program were reviewed for these services. Austin Transportation and Public Works have determined this contractor best meets the needs of Austin Transportation and Public Works to provide these services required for the City.
MBE/WBE:
This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this solicitation, there were an insufficient number of certified M/WBEs; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to Austin Financial Services - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500.
Additional Backup Information:
The contract will provide pavement data collection services for the City’s Pavement Information System on City-maintained roads. These services will include gathering information on pavement condition, such as visible cracking and the smoothness of the roadway. The work will be performed by automated vehicles equipped with lasers to measure pavement roughness and cameras to capture roadway images. The data will be processed using software that identifies and summarizes pavement issues, with results recorded and reported each year. The City is responsible for maintaining more than 7,900 miles of roadway, and this information is essential for determining and prioritizing maintenance needs. By using this data, the City will extend the life of its streets, reduce long-term costs, and better plan and budget for future pavement maintenance and reconstruction.
This contract will replace an existing contract which expired on September 30, 2025. The requested authorization amount was determined using departmental estimates based on historical spend and anticipated future usage. The Contractor is not the current provider for these services.
The North Central Texas Council of Governments is a cooperative purchasing association recognized under Texas procurement statutes. Cooperative associations, themselves or using a lead government, competitively solicit and award contracts that are eligible for use by other qualified state and local governments. Due to their substantial volumes, larger than any one government could achieve independently, cooperative contracts routinely include superior terms, conditions, and pricing. Use of cooperative contracts also results in lower administrative costs and time savings.
Without these pavement data collection services, the City risks premature roadway failures and reduced safety for the traveling public.