Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council award the Cabin John Creek Watershed Study Bid Award to KCI Technologies, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $158,695.70 via the Master Order Contract # 08-08 (Category E, Environmental Engineering Services). This award is for environmental engineering services in accordance with the pricing structure, terms and conditions of Contract #08-08. Category E.

Discussion
The Department of Public Works is updating the 1994 Cabin John Creek Watershed Study. The 3.6 square mile watershed, which covers the south-central part of the city, includes downtown Rockville office areas, residential neighborhoods, parts of the I-270 and Rte. 355 commercial corridors, and the Woodmont Country Club. This study has several purposes. First, it will document the overall health of the watershed and the stream within the City of Rockville. Second, it will evaluate the effectiveness of the City's stormwater management efforts in the watershed. Third, it will assess options for stabilizing and improving the water resources, and recommend priority improvements for future CIP projects and operational efforts. The study will also recommend further performance measures and monitoring to assess these improvements as they are implemented over the next ten years. The watershed study’s final recommendations will be presented to the Mayor and Council for adoption at the conclusion of the process. These recommendations will become part of the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements for addressing federal and state stormwater management goals.

The watershed study's specific objectives are:

1. Describe the current condition of Cabin John Creek using stream assessment tools and limited water quality sampling. Evaluate changes in watershed conditions compared to those found in the City’s previous 1994 study.
2. Analyze changes in the watershed’s land use, natural resources and stormwater management features, and their effects on Cabin John Creek’s stream quality, through GIS mapping and a watershed pollutant load model.
3. Identify opportunities for watershed improvements. These may be new or retrofit regional-scale SWM facilities, new or retrofit onsite SWM treatment for significant drainage areas, stream restoration, small-scale or neighborhood Environmental Site Design or operational improvements, and management of other specific issues affecting water resources in the watershed.
4. Develop a protocol for quantifiable long-term assessment measures that highlight changes in stream stability and water quality, effective stormwater treatment systems, and land use conditions.
5. Involve stakeholders from City Department of Public Works and Department of Recreation and Parks, the Environment Commission, residents and community associations in the watershed, and the general public through informational sessions and discussions at key points in the study.

The project schedule is as follows:

Initiate Study - February 2010
Complete Watershed Condition Assessments - April 2010
Complete Evaluations for Watershed Improvements - September 2010
Complete Long-term Assessment Measures and Final Report - January 2011
Present Watershed Study Recommendations to Mayor and Council - February 2011

Mayor and Council History
This is the first time this item has been brought before the Mayor and Council. The Mayor and Council awarded Master Contract #08-08 (Category E) at its October 22, 2007 meeting.

Public Notification and Engagement
Upon the Mayor and Council's award for this study, staff will send a neighborhood advisory to community associations and residents in the watershed with information about the study's purpose, schedule and outreach opportunities. The advisory will also explain that a City consultant will conduct stream walks, neighborhood windshield surveys, and site visits between February and April to gather data about watershed conditions.

The study's results and recommendations will be discussed with the Watershed Committee of the Environment Commission at three stages: after the initial watershed assessments; after evaluation of potential watershed improvements; and after a development of a draft long-term monitoring protocol. Two informational meetings and a field walk are planned for the general public.

Procurement Information
In order to assure competition and selection of best value services, Requests for Quotes/Proposals were requested on September 11, 2009 amongst the seven firms that received awards under Master Contract # 08-08 related to environmental services. A pre-quote/proposal meeting was conducted on September 28, 2009 so that firms could ask questions and obtain a clear and full understanding of the work required. On October 9, 2009 the following firms elected to respond. The listed prices are for the base scope of the project plus one round of comprehensive stream monitoring at six locations:

Firm	Location	Amount
KCI Technologies, Inc.	Sparks, Maryland	$136,701
URS Corporation	Gaithersburg, Maryland	$151,856
A. Morton Thomas, Inc.	Rockville, Maryland	$176,094
Charles P. Johnson & Associates	Gaithersburg, Maryland	$180,901
Biohabitats, Inc.	Baltimore, Maryland	$197,201

Staff selected KCI Technologies as the best value bidder based on the proposed price quote, technical soundness of the approach, and experience of the team. Staff then negotiated for additional items in the scope, including pollutant load modeling, additional chemical monitoring, and contingent items for soil infiltration testing and runoff reduction modeling. The final agreed-upon scope, including contingency items, is in the amount not to exceed $158,695.70.

At its October 22, 2007, meeting, the Mayor and Council awarded Master Contract #08-08 to various firms for architectural and engineering services in the aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 through June 30, 2008 with the option to extend for four additional one-year periods. At the September 22, 2008 meeting, the Mayor and Council approved a modification to Master Contract #08-08, increasing the aggregate limit to $3,000,0000. All firms under Master Contract #08-08 have been renewed through June 30, 2010. Consistent with that contract award, any individual task that exceeds $100,000 is to be presented to the Mayor and Council for approval prior to the Purchasing Department issuing a Purchase Order.

Fiscal Impact
Adequate funding for the Cabin John Creek Watershed Study is provided through the Environmental Management Division's Fiscal Year 2010 Operating Budget (330-850-9401-0201).

Next Steps
Upon Mayor and Council approval, the Purchasing Division will review and ensure that KCI Technologies' Quote/Proposal mirrors the pricing structure, terms and conditions of Contract #08-08, and then will create a purchase order to KCI Technologies, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $158,695.70. KCI has committed to complete the work under this contract within twelve months after receipt of the purchase order. Work is anticipated to begin in February 2010 and conclude by February 2011.

Attachments

Department Head:



Craig Simoneau, P.E.; , Director of Public Works
Approved on: 01/04/2010

City Manager:

Scott Ullery, City Manager
Approved on: 01/04/2010