DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Russell J. Handy
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to make changes to subconsultants to the On-Call Environmental Consulting Agreements for the San Antonio Airport System
SUMMARY:
City Council consideration to authorize the City Manager or his designee to approve changes in subconsultants for three on-call environmental consulting professional services agreements with prime consultants RS&H, Inc.; AECOM Technical Services, Inc.; and Freese and Nichols, Inc. for the San Antonio Airport System. The current agreements require City Council approval for any changes to subconsultants.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In August 2018, City Council authorized three on-call professional services agreements with RS&H; AECOM Technical Services, Inc.; and Freese and Nichols through Ordinance No. 2018-08-02-0552 to provide on-call environmental consulting services for the San Antonio Airport System. The initial term for each agreement is three years with the option to extend for two additional one-year periods. Each agreement has a value up to $1,000,000.00 for the five-year period.
Each prime consultant is required to meet the Federal Aviation Administration’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) Good Faith Effort Plan as its services may be used on a federally-funded project. The goal set for the agreements participation from DBE certified firms of 13.77%.
ISSUE:
In 2019, RS&H was assigned to perform environmental services that required archeological services. RS&H’s list of subconsultants under its agreement with the City did not include a subconsultant with experience in that specialty. The firm requested to add a certified DBE firm to its list of subconsultants to perform the necessary archeological services. City staff at this time realized that the contract with RS&H, as well as the other contracts with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. and Freese and Nichols, each included language requiring City Council review and approval to any modifications to the a prime’s subconsultants. It is fairly common with consultants of these types to substitute subconsultants with particular subject expertise. These changes are generally approved by the City Manager or his designee provided that DBE representation is unaffected.
Authorizing the City Manager or his designee will allow for quicker additions and modifications to subconsultants without further City Council action, therefore, avoiding delays on ongoing projects. The firms will still be required to meet the Good Faith Effort Plan goal of 13.77%, which is monitored by City staff.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could chose to not approve the amendments to the on-call environmental consulting professional services agreements, which would result in City Council consideration for any changes, including additions, removals or adjustments of participation levels to the subconsultants. This action could potentially delay project delivery on federally-funded projects at the San Antonio Airport System.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact related to this action. City Council authorization is still required to approve any increase to the contract value to a professional services agreement that is more than $50,000.00.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends City Council provide the City Manager or designee with authority to make any changes or additions to the list of subconsultants for on-call environmental consulting professional services agreements with prime consultants RS&H, AECOM Technical Services, Inc., Freese and Nichols for the San Antonio Airport System.