Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of a professional services agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc., (staff recommendation) or one of the other qualified responders for Request for Qualifications Solicitation No. CLMP321 to provide engineering services for the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative in an amount not to exceed $10,000,000.
[Note: This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 49 CFR Part 26 (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 14.8% DBE participation.]
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department
Managing Department
Public Works Department
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Capital Budget of the Austin Transportation Department.
Purchasing Language:
Staff recommendation is the most qualified firm out of three firms evaluated through the City’s qualification-based selection process.
For More Information:
Respondents to this solicitation, and their representatives, shall direct inquiries to Rolando Fernandez, 512-974-7749, Rick Wilson, 512-974-7261, or the Project Manager, Craig McColloch, 512-749-3412.
Additional Backup Information:
Improving Congress Avenue as the ‘Main Street of Texas’ was called for in the Council Adopted Downtown Plan. In partnership with the Downtown Austin Alliance and community stakeholders, the City contracted with an urban design consultant team to help refine and draft a vision for Congress Avenue from the Capitol to Riverside Drive, resulting in the Congress Avenue Urban Design Initiative (UDI). The draft UDI vision provided the basis for this design solicitation and funding was approved by the voters in the 2020 bond initiative to implement the final vision.
The selected consultant will complete the final Congress Avenue UDI vision, which will include public engagement, design, and potential bid, award, and construction phase services. Major goals for the Congress Avenue UDI include:
• Pedestrian Experience: Improve the pedestrian experience.
• Identity & Sense of Place: Create an identity that celebrates Austin’s history and culture.
• Connections and Gateways: Provide connections to other districts.
• Land Use & Development: Expand the diversity of land uses and enhance ground floor use and design.
• Green Infrastructure: Improved environment performance and support healthy natural systems.
• Resilience and Innovations: Ensure systems are ready for future changes in technology and resilient enough to withstand shocks and stressors.
• Underground Infrastructure: Provide for utilities infrastructure needs.
• Mobility: Provide comfortable mobility options.
• Event and Other Needs: Incorporate events needs and accommodate future changes in land use, activities and transportation systems.
• Management & Partnerships: Coordinate management functions, embrace partnerships and explore funding options.
Surveying and gathering of other essential information for design will require short-term and temporary lane closures.
This authorization provides for funding of the above listed services. This request allows for the development of an agreement with the qualified respondent that Council awards. If the City is unsuccessful in negotiating a satisfactory agreement with the awarded respondent, negotiations will cease with that provider and staff will return to Council so that Council may award another qualified respondent and authorize contract negotiations with that provider.
TOP RANKED FIRM: HDR Engineering, Inc. is located in Austin, Texas
SECOND RANKED FIRM: Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc. is located in Round Rock, Texas
Strategic Outcome(s)
Strategic Outcome(s):
Mobility.