Monday, January 21, 2013

DC Water: contractors selected to route stormwater to two existing underground basins at McMillan



DC Water's Alan Heymann has kindly supplied the link to a presentation made on Thursday, 01-17-2013, by the head of the DC Water engineering department to the Environmental Quality and Sewerage Services Committee of the DC Water Board.

One of the topics in the presentation is a briefing on stormwater storage at McMillan.  I have copied in the text below.  You can see the imbedded images and schedule here that accompany the presentation text. 

Briefing on:
Bloomingdale Flood Mitigation -
Stormwater Storage at McMillan Sand Filtration Site
Vicinity of Michigan Ave. and North Capitol St., NW

Briefing for:
Environmental Quality and Sewerage Services Committee

Background:
During Summer 2012, intense rainfall events caused flooding from sewer backups and/or overland flow in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park neighborhoods.

Mayor Vincent C. Gray established the Mayor’s Task Force on the Prevention of Flooding in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park to identify causes and provide recommendations.

December 2012 Report Recommendations
Engineering (short term, medium term, long term)
• Regulatory components
• Code changes
• Operation & maintenance components
• Public outreach components

Engineering Medium Term Recommendations
Temporary Stormwater Storage at McMillan (storage capacity of 6 million gallons)

ß First Street Tunnel (storage capacity of 6 million gallons of combined sewage)
ß Continuation of Rain Barrel Program
ß Expanded Green Infrastructure Program
ß Continuation of Engineering Consultations and Provide Rebates for Flood Proofing

Temporary Stormwater Storage at McMillan
Scope:

• Route stormwater to two existing underground basins on the McMillan site via two separate storm sewer lines east (on N. Capitol Street) and west (on 1st Street).
• Rehabilitate / reinforce the existing basins as necessary to provide stormwater storage
• Construct sewer diversion structures and interconnector pipes
• Inspect and strengthen existing stormwater pipes

ß Schedule: Complete by Spring 2014          
ß Procurement Method: Emergency Procurement
 
Authorization for Emergency Procurement  
“Emergency procurements may be made without competition. An emergency is a situation which creates an immediate need for goods or services, including construction, that cannot be met through normal procurement methods because the lack of goods or services or construction would seriously threaten any of the following:

(a) The health or safety of any person;
(b) The preservation or protection of property;
(c) The continuation of necessary governmental functions; or
(d) The Authority’s compliance with legal requirements.”

[DC Water Procurement Regulations Section 5332.5]

“The General Manager, or designee, may approve a non-competitive procurement on an emergency basis which does not otherwise comply with the requirements of the Regulations if the procurement is essential for:

(a) Preventing or avoiding an imminent emergency;

or

(b) Responding to, mitigating or resolving an existing emergency condition.”

[DC Water Procurement Regulations Section 5332.6]

“In case of an emergency procurement…a contractor may be given a verbal authorization by the Contracting Officer to proceed, provided that a written contract or modification is executed as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable.”

[DC Water Procurement Regulations Section 5332.7]

Selected Contractors

Progressive Design-Build: PC Construction

• Exceptional performance on three major contracts for DC Water (ENRF Contract 1, Biosolids Main Process Train, Final Dewatering Contract 2)
• Outstanding schedule adherence
• Extensive experience with progressive design-build contracts and with fast-track projects
• Ability to start work immediately with qualified staff

Construction Management: BOC Joint Venture

• Expansion of current scope of successful contract for CM oversight of DC Water’s water and sewer infrastructure program

Progressive Design-Build Delivery Method

In a typical DC Water Design-Build (DB) project, the design is progressed to approx. 30% prior to selecting a Design-Builder.

ß Progressive DB is used for fast track projects, where schedule does not permit 30% design prior to contractor selection.

ß In Progressive DB, the contractor initially provides professional services to develop scope and design through a cost plus fixed fee arrangement, with the option to establish a Guaranteed Maximum Price once scope/design has been defined.

ß This contract will include incentives to control costs and meet schedule requirements.

2 comments:

Kirby said...

I don't see that this project is to go before the HPRB or the Council at all. Are these all "emergency" measures which do not require either HPRB or final Council approval?

Unknown said...

I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not familiar with DC Water's procurement practices, but translating what I know from emergency federal procurements the CO can verbally direct to proceed and/or issue a Letter of Intent (LOI) which would make me believe that that an emergency procurement precludes review by HPRB.