Posting Language
Title
Authorize execution of a contract for construction services for Austin Energy for the Decker Power Plant - Dam Upgrades Reissue project with MortMara Construction, Inc., d/b/a McMillen, Inc., in the amount of $12,198,059 plus a $1,801,941 contingency, for a total contract amount not to exceed $14,000,000. Funding: Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Operating Budget of Austin Energy.
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Managing Department
Austin Energy.
Amount and Source of Funding
Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2027 Operating Budget of the Austin Energy.
Purchasing Language:
The Financial Services Department issued a Competitive Sealed Proposal CSP 6100 CLMB345 for these services. The solicitation was issued on June 17, 2024 and closed on August 22, 2024. Of the three (3) 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
<https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=140674>.
MBE / WBE:
This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 6.79% MBE and 1.75% WBE participation.
Prior Council Action:
March 18, 2024 - Council authorized use of Competitive Seal Proposal Method, Item 29 - Resolution No. 20240418-029, approved on consent.
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:
Oct 21, 2024 - Recommended by the Electric Utility Commission on an 10-0 vote with one vacancy.
Additional Backup Information:
The Decker Dam was originally constructed in 1967 without taking into consideration operational loads. On June 1, 2019, Freese and Nichols performed preliminary analysis of the Decker Dam which indicated that the trunnion-anchors were likely loaded beyond their capacity and do not meet industry criteria for normal pool or 100-year storm event loadings.
Austin Energy’s primary goal is safety for all the business, surrounding communities and citizens downstream of the dam. Therefore, the Decker Dam repair shall include furnishing all tools, labor, materials, equipment, and miscellaneous items necessary for the complete construction of two new spillway tainter (radial) gates as well as the removal and disposal of the existing spillway gates. Additional items include fabrication and installation of new spillway tainter gate hoists, installation of new post-tensioning anchors and high-strength concrete panels, concrete slab repair, and stoplog seal replacement.
This contract will include the award of alternate bid items for stoplog recoating and hoist platform recoating. An alternate bid is a specified item of the construction work that is priced separately and may be awarded as part of the contract, if the bids come within the specified budget.
This item includes three allowances. The allowance of $200,000 will be used to address void, joint, and spall repairs. The allowance of $95,000 will be used to address stoplog seals and operational tests. The allowance of $750,000 will be used to address a crane pad. An allowance is an amount that is specified and included in the construction contract or specifications for a certain item(s) of work when details are not determined at the time of bidding.
Due to the potential for any additional work required to repair the gates or for encountering other unknown site conditions, a 14.8% contingency in funding has been included to allow for the expeditious processing of any change orders to cover any unforeseen construction costs associated with the project. By authorizing the additional contingency funding, Council is authorizing any change orders within the contingency amount.
The repair of the Decker Dam gates will require the lowering of Decker Lake to 550 feet. The lake will be kept at that level until work on the dam allows the gates to support a higher lake level and weather conditions allow that level to increase. As lake levels proceed below 554 feet, the park’s boat ramp will close until work is completed. Boat ramp operations will be updated at https://www.austintexas.gov/page/pard-facilities-closures. Lake access will remain available for shore-launched watercraft such as canoes and kayaks. Other Park amenities, such as volleyball courts, picnic sites, grills and walking trails, will remain available. Austin Energy and Parks and Recreation Department communications staff are working to notify stakeholders and answer questions about the closure of the boat ramp for the duration of the project.
If this item is not approved, the Decker Dam will not meet industry criteria for normal pool or 100-year storm event loadings per U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The current system does not guarantee sufficient function in normal or emergency operations.
Construction is expected to begin June 3, 2025, and the approximate project duration is 18 months, barring no weather delays or other unforeseen circumstances.
This project is located within zip code 78724 (District 1).