Okaloosa County BOCC — May 20, 2014 — Action Item Printout — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: May 20, 2014 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Jeff Littrell SUBJECT: Approval To Authorize OCWS To Construct The East County Force Main And Repump Station Project DEPARTMENT: Water and Sewer BCC DISTRICT: ALL STATEMENT OF ISSUE: In accordance with Chapter 255, Public Property and Publicly Owned Buildings, Florida State Statues (F.S), Section 255.20, Local bids and contracts for public construction works; specification of state-produced lumber, the BCC must hold a public meeting to discuss the County’s proposal to construct a new 20 inch diameter force main and a new 4.2 million gallon per day repump station to serve the East County service area using Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department (OCWS) staff and equipment. Specifically, the statute states that a County government may “self-perform” public works projects valued at greater than $300,000... “When the governing board of the local government, after public notice, conducts a public meeting under s. 286.011 and finds by a majority vote of the governing board that it is in the public's best interest to perform the project using its own services, employees, and equipment.” BACKGROUND: In April of 2012, OCWS entered into an interlocal agreement with the City of Niceville and City of Valparaiso to transfer its ownership and treatment capacity at the NVOC Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. As part of this agreement, OCWS transferred its cost sharing responsibility of the NVOC facility, upon relocation of all of its flows from the East County/Bluewater Bay Service Area to the Arbennie Pritchett Water Reclamation Facility (APWRF). As part of this relocation, OCWS would need to construct a new sanitary sewer force main and repump station to convey its flows to the APWRF. The force main and repump station will convey all wastewater flows from the East County service area to the Eglin Main pump station being constructed on Eglin AFB Main Base then to the County’s APWRF. On the attached maps, this project is depicted as Phases 9 and 10. OCWS is proposing to self-perform the construction of the new force main and repump station. OCWS plans to use OCWS staff and equipment to expedite completion of the project. OCWS estimates that using their own forces and equipment to construct the project will shorten the construction schedule and will reduce the project costs over contracting with an outside construction company. OCWS has estimated the construction project to cost approximately $4,169,312.14. As stated in the attached Public Notice, a cost breakdown of the project was available for the public to view at our office anytime between the Public Notice and the Public Meeting. The cost includes material, labor (with fringe/insurance), equipment (with maintenance), and subcontracted work. OCWS has reviewed the construction requirements for the project and has determined that we have the necessary qualifications, labor and available time to complete the project. As presented earlier, Section 255.20 F.S., Local bids and contracts for public construction works; specification of state-produced lumber includes specific requirements for County governments that choose to construct projects valued at greater than $300,000 using their own forces and equipment. F.S. 255.20 states that before the project can be constructed using the County’s forces, the County must hold a properly advertised public meeting to discuss the project and then the BCC must vote to approve the County constructing the project using its own forces. The meeting has been advertised as required. OCWS will discuss the project, the estimated cost and timing of the project as well as issues regarding why it is in the public's best interest to perform the project using the County’s own services, employees and equipment. In short, by self-performing this project with in-house crews, staff believes we can get it done better, faster, and more economical than the alternatives. OPTIONS: Approve or deny. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff requests BCC approval to authorize OCWS to construct the East County Force Main and Repump Station Project using OCWS staff and equipment, as supplemented in accordance with County Ordinances and State Statutes. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator