Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of a contract for consulting services to develop the Austin Water 2028 Strategic Plan with Blue Sky Incubators LLC d/b/a Blue Sky Partners, for a term of two years in an amount not to exceed $150,000.
[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). For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established].
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Client Department(s)
Austin Water.
Fiscal Note
Funding for the full contract amount is available in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget of Austin Water.
Purchasing Language:
The Financial Services Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) 2200 BJT3012 for these services. The solicitation was issued on December 4, 2023, and closed on January 30, 2024. Of the nine offers received, the recommended contractor submitted the best evaluated responsive offer. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=139429.
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.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
June 12, 2024 - Recommended by the Water & Wastewater Commission on a vote of 8-0 with Commissioners Navarro, Angoori, and Pandurangi absent.
Additional Backup Information:
This contract will provide a consultant to facilitate, refresh, and develop a new strategic plan to guide Austin Water into the future. The contractor will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to conduct a ground-up strategic planning process, gathering comprehensive feedback from all levels of the organization, as well as multiple opportunities for community input.
The Austin Water 2028 Strategic Plan will align with the City’s Strategic Plan to provide secure, reliable, and resilient utility infrastructure that cost effectively serves customers. The contractor’s strategic planning expertise will enable staff to collaborate on plan developments and explore different industry trends and emerging risks.
An evaluation team with expertise in this area evaluated the offers and scored the plan with Blue Sky Incubators LLC d/b/a Blue Sky Partners as the best to provide these services based on work plan, schedule, and proposed project deadlines, workshop design proposal, staff qualifications/personnel, small business preference, local business preference, sample of previous similar projects, and price.
A delay in contract approval could impact Austin Water’s long-term strategic planning, stalling progress on important initiatives.