TO: Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Cale Curtis, City Manager
DATE: September 18, 2024
Title
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MARGATE, FLORIDA, AWARDING CONTRACT ENTITLED “WATER MAINS IMPROVEMENTS PHASE 2B - US 441 & ROYAL PALM BLVD INTERSECTION” TO PABON ENGINEERING, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $650,000.00; PROVIDING FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BACKGROUND:
The Asbestos Concrete (AC) water mains in the City of Margate are at the end of their serviceable life. As a result, there have been a significant number of water main breaks which reduces the reliability of the distribution system. The Royal Palm Boulevard (RPB)/ US 441 intersection project was originally included with the replacement of water mains on Royal Palm Boulevard (Phase 2B), but was excised and accelerated as a result of FDOT plans to commence an improvement project at the intersection by the end of 2024. In addition to mast arms, FDOT plans on widening and milling and resurfacing the intersection. It is imperative that the aged water mains are replaced in this intersection before FDOT commences their project.
EVALUATION OF BIDS:
A public advertisement was placed in the Sun Sentinel on July 26, 2024, and after a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting on August 20, 2024, addendum # 1 was issued (see Background information), and three (3) construction bids were received on the bid due date of August 29, 2024. The bids ranged from a low of $650,000.00 (Pabon Engineering Inc. (Pabon)) to a high of $1,118,724.10 (Southern Underground Inc.), and a difference of $468,724.10 separated the low bid from the high. The signed bid from Pabon is included in the Background information. The second low bid was submitted by Mardan Inc., who is currently working on Water Mains Improvement Phase 2A. Marcdan Inc.’s price was about $100,000 higher than the low bid. The bid results are included in the Background information.
The Engineer of Record (EOR), Chen Moore & Associates (CMA) compared the construction bids, checked for bid anomalies and found no discernible cost discrepancies that would render the low bid unresponsive.
They also performed a bid comparison to illustrate the variation in the bid line items, that may suggest bidding errors. From this analysis the bid amounts from the lowest bidder appear reasonable.
CMA also contacted the three (3) references provided by the low bidder, Pabon Engineering, Inc., (Pabon) that included City of Coral Springs. From the responses received, CMA concluded that “All references expressed a positive experience working with Pabon and indicated their projects ended both on time and within budget”.
CMA submitted a letter that recommends Pabon Engineering Inc. for the contract award, provides the results of the reference enquiries, and includes the analysis that compared the bid line items. This letter is included in Background information.
DISCUSSION:
From my conversation with the reference from the City of Coral Springs, Mrs. Najla Zerrouki, Assistant Director of Public Works, I was independently assured that Pabon is a reliable, well experienced, and professional construction organization, who recently completed a project for Coral Springs, and whom Mrs. Zerrouki would hire again because of their superior work quality.
Pabon’s bid was lower than Marcdan Inc. Construction bids from Marcdan Inc. have been very competitive, and they have won the last two publicly advertised water main improvement projects (Phase 1A and Phase 2A). Therefore, the bid from Pabon is believed to be extremely competitive and based on the positive feedback from their references, Pabon’s bid appears to be the lowest responsive.
It is expected that once this contract recommendation is approved, an NTP will be issued to Pabon Engineering Inc. by September 26, 2024, and with a contract construction period of 60 days, the completed project is due on January 10, 2025. FDOT has indicated that this date will not affect their construction schedule.
RECOMMENDATION:
Award the contract for “Water Mains Improvement Phase 2B- RPB & US 441 Intersection” to Pabon Engineering Inc in the amount of $650,000.00.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Account # 461-6004-536.65-81 Water Line Replacement - Construction
CONTACT PERSON:
Assistant DEES Director - Engineering; Randy L. Daniel, P.E., PMP, CFM
Mobile # 954-767-7763