DEPARTMENT: Aviation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Russell J. Handy
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Runway 13R Rehabilitation, Package 5 (formerly Runway 12R Rehabilitation)
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance will approve a construction change order in the amount of $897,281.80 to increase the contract value to $5,265,960.95 for Runway 13R Rehabilitation, Package 5 (formerly Runway 12R Rehabilitation), a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) project, to modify quantities and materials so SpawGlass Civil Construction, Inc. (SpawGlass) will be able to remove additional municipal solid waste (MSW) that was found under Taxiway R. This action will also appropriate an additional $630,000.00 into the project from the Airport Improvement and Contingency Fund to partially fund the change order and associated soft costs including project contingency and amend the FY 2018 - FY 2023 Capital Budget.
When the FAA awarded the grant, the runway was number 12 and the Aviation Capital Budget refers to the project as Runway 12R Rehabilitation. The Runway has since been renumbered to 13R in March of 2017 due to changes in the Earth’s magnetic shifts and will be referred to as Runway 13R moving forward.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In June 2017, City Council authorized the grant application and acceptance of funds for the Runway 13R Rehabilitation, Package 5 for the first phase of the rehabilitation of Taxiway R. In the following October, City Council authorized a construction contract with SpawGlass in the amount of $4,368,679.15. This FAA AIP grant was in the amount of $5,656,278.00 with the City’s match in the amount of $1,885,427.00.
The scope of work in this project includes the closure of Taxiway R from the corner of Taxiway R to the west of the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting building (ARFF) to allow SpawGlass to remove the in-ground taxiway bridge parallel to Runway 13L/31R; remove the underlying MSW and construction debris waste; and, reconstruct Taxiway R at grade. The work includes grading, drainage, lighting, electrical, and markings. This area of the airfield has MSW buried in a quarry over 50 years ago and the settlement of this material has led to pavement failures and the closure of this taxiway to large aircraft.
Change Order
The project limits of MSW removal for Package 5 was developed through investigative soil borings and the design plans were developed based on those results. The removal of MSW began in April 2018 and, as of August 17, 2018, over 17,000 cubic years (CY) of MSW were removed. While the original soil borings in the proposed area did not indicate the presence of MSW, it was known that the area of MSW could be larger than estimated and so $817,932.00 (19% of the contract value) in project contingency had been identified for this project when the construction contract was awarded. While the removal was underway, MSW was identified in the proposed area at a deeper level than previously estimated. The city and Kimley-Horn, the design engineers, considered several options for the area but recommended moving forward with this change order to ensure that the pavement area has been cleared of MSW to mitigate the risk of future pavement failures.
ISSUE:
This Ordinance will approve a construction change order in the amount of $897,281.80 for Package 5, increasing the total contract value to $5,265,960.95, to modify quantities and materials to allow SpawGlass to be able to remove additional municipal solid waste that was found under Taxiway R. It will appropriate $630,000.00 into the project from the Airport Contingency and Improvement Fund to partially fund the change order and associated soft costs including project contingency.
This action continues the City Council’s policy of utilizing federal funds for airport projects when available, enhancing airfield capacity and safety, and improving land uses at the San Antonio International Airport.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could elect to not approve this change order. However, this decision would result in allowing the unsuitable subsurface materials to remain under the taxiway. Any future pavement failures as a result of the subsurface conditions would not be eligible for federal funding.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This action will authorize a change order in the amount of $897,281.80 and appropriate funding in the amount of $630,000.00 from the Airport Improvement and Contingency Fund into the project.
The change order will be funded from previously authorized funding in the amount of $465,585.90 with the remaining $431,695.90 coming from the new appropriation. The remaining portion of the $630,000 appropriation, $198,304.10, will be used for project soft costs. This action will amend the FY 2018 - FY 2023 Aviation Capital Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the authorization of a change order with SpawGlass for the Runway 13R Rehabilitation, Package 5 project and appropriating funds.