BROWARD COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTIONS.
This item is in furtherance of the Board's Value of "Cooperatively delivering an efficient and accessible regional intermodal transportation system" and the attendant Goal to, "Seek local, state, federal funding and public support for rail projects that connect to existing rail corridors, balancing ridership with community redevelopment demands."
On October 23, 2017, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), as Project sponsor, opened the bids of four firms, the results of which were transmitted to the Board of County Commissioners via email that day. After conferring with the Project partners and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), FDOT and the project partners made the decision to reject all bids and re-solicit.
FDOT revised the procurement schedule in consultation with the FTA to assure federal funds are spent per the requirements of the full funding grant agreement. A draft RFP was released by FDOT on December 1, 2017 and letters of interest (LOIs) were requested.
Technical experts have been evaluating the previous solicitation documents and making recommendations for opportunities to bring the Project back into cost-feasible status. On December 19, 2017, County staff responded to scope reduction recommendations proffered by the project design team and FDOT, as project sponsor. The County's Director of Rail and members of the Office of the County Attorney have also cross-referenced previously-agreed upon project elements, partially funded by the County for advanced communications and sectionalized-ready vehicles, with recommended scope adjustments, to ensure those elements remain in the Project.
On December 20, 2017, FDOT notified the County that two LOIs were received. The County has also been advised by FDOT that the current cost estimate and funding commitments previously agreed to remain unchanged and do not require amendments to our Project Agreement at this time. A Joint Participation Agreement between the County and FDOT transferring funds to the County for the acquisition of the Wave vehicles, tools, the fare collection system, and other Project elements that result in overall cost savings, subject to any required approvals by the FTA, along with any additional amendments required to the Project Agreement based on the final cost estimate, are expected to be before the Board for approval by March 2018. All contracts entered into directly by the County, related to the Project, must meet FTA requirements.
Based on the decision to provide available FTA funds to the County to directly procure the vehicles and tools, the Design-Build Estimate in the previous solicitation was reduced from $146.6M (June 2017 Agenda Item No. 73) to $114M. The Design-Build Estimate for the re-solicitation should be finalized over the next months, but is expected to decrease below $114M.
The County is seeking Board action prior to the FDOT's planned shortlisting of the firms January 10, 2017. The draft third amendment to the Project Agreement was received on December 21, 2017 and is under legal review. Once finalized, it will be released as Additional Material.
This action effectuates necessary changes to milestone dates, Anticipated Project Schedule (Exhibit F) and Project Description (Exhibit A). The current action is not requesting any additional capital contribution from the County; however, the County has requested FDOT include a full build-out of the Vehicle Maintenance Facility, including automated switches, in the finalized RFP as a bid alternate. Should the County choose to pursue the bid alternate (late April 2018), Board action will be required, as the County would be responsible for the delta between the Project's budget for the facility ($17.5M) and the bid amount.
The third amendment has been reviewed and approved as to form by the Office of the County Attorney. FDOT will sign last.
|