STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Government Performance & Financial Management
AGENDA DATE: November 13, 2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Procurement Services
EXECUTIVE: Donzell Gipson
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize a two-year professional services contract for the Dallas Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Study for the Department of Transportation and Public Works - Gresham Smith, most highly qualified firm of two - Not to exceed $626,494.58 - Financing: DART Public Transportation System Projects Fund (subject to annual appropriations)
Body
BACKGROUND
This professional services contract will be used to complete the Dallas Streetcar Operations and Maintenance Study for the Department of Transportation and Public Works. The Dallas Streetcar is a City-owned facility that links the downtown Central Business District to the Methodist Hospital in Oak Cliff and the Bishop Arts District. The system was constructed using State and Federal grant funds and began operating in 2015. Initially a 1.5-mile route through downtown, the Streetcar network has been expanded to include a total of six stops on 2.45 miles of track all within the City street network. Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) operates the Streetcar on behalf of the City and contributes approximately $600,000.00 a year towards the $2.5M operations and maintenance (“O&M”) costs with an expiry date of 2040. The City provides the majority of the Streetcar’s O&M in addition to periodic capital maintenance funds through its General Fund.
The City has worked with DART and other stakeholders to examine the economic impact of the Streetcar including the necessity of expansion routes, such as the Central Link, and sustainable funding mechanisms to support ongoing O&M of the Streetcar. In 2020, LDR Advisory Partners completed an initial Streetcar O&M funding analysis overview which noted areas of additional evaluation needed to develop a sustainable funding model. In the same year, DART completed the 2020 Service Area Streetcar Feasibility Study which provided a high-level assessment of feasibility, costs, and benefits for different Streetcar expansion routes. Both studies identified the need to conduct a financial assessment of operation and maintenance funding options for the Streetcar.
The goal of this study is to provide revenue-generating transit funding models based on existing and potential future expansion routes to offset the annual O&M costs and periodic capital maintenance costs of the Streetcar in addition to evaluation of the feasibility of an alternative third-party operator.
A five-member committee from the following departments reviewed and evaluated the qualifications:
• Department of Planning and Development (1)
• Department of Sanitation (1)
• Department of Transportation and Public Works (1)
• Office of Economic Development (1)
• Business Enterprise Hub (1)
The committee selected the successful respondents on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications under the following criteria:
• Project understanding, approach and scope of services 35 points
• Project manager/staff professional qualifications 25 points
• MWBE participation 15 points
• Firm experience and past performance 15 points
• Schedule 10 points
As part of the solicitation process and in an effort to increase competition, the Office of Procurement Services used its procurement system to send out email notifications to vendors registered under relevant commodity codes. To further increase competition, the Office of Procurement Services uses historical solicitation information, the Internet, and vendor contact information obtained from user departments to contact additional vendors.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Dallas Streetcar Operations and Maintenance” on August 17, 2020.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Dallas Streetcar Funding” on February 23, 2021.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Dallas Streetcar Funding Strategy” on March 23, 2021.
On June 14, 2023, the City Council authorized an interlocal agreement with DART for distribution of up to $80,000,000.00 in funding from DART which consists of the City’s portion of (i) excess sales tax funds from DART of $72,000,000.00 and (ii) additional RTC funds of approximately $8,000,000.00, all to be used to complete projects eligible for this funding that will benefit DART’s Public Transportation System or provide Complementary Transportation Services located in Dallas by Resolution No. 23-0822.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on September 19, 2023. <https://cityofdallas.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12301746&GUID=D81427D8-308A-4EB9-A2BC-FDDD0E9BCF5C>
The City Council was briefed on the “Dallas Streetcar Update” on October 18, 2023.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed on the “Downtown Transportation Hub and High-Speed Rail Vision” on January 16, 2024.
The City Council was briefed on the “Discussion of Major Downtown Transportation Initiatives: Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station, High-Speed Rail, and Streetcar Expansion” on March 6, 2024.
The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on March 26, 2024. <https://cityofdallas.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12780924&GUID=344482BF-4630-4B2D-B9CD-F8E38AFE71A5>
The City Council was briefed by memorandum regarding this matter on October 18, 2024. <https://dallascityhall.com/government/citymanager/Documents/FY24-25%20Memos/Dallas%20Streetcar%20Operations%20and%20Maintenance%20Funding%20for%20FY24-25.pdf>
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2025 |
FY 2026 |
Future Years |
|
DART Public Transportation System Projects Fund |
$438,546.58 |
$187,948.00 |
$0.00 |
M/WBE INFORMATION
In accordance with the City’s Business Inclusion and Development Policy adopted on September 23, 2020, by Resolution No. 20-1430, as amended, the M/WBE participation on this contract is as follows:
|
Contract Amount |
Procurement Category |
M/WBE Goal |
|
$626,494.58 |
Professional Services |
38.00% |
|
M/WBE Subcontracting % |
M/WBE Overall % |
M/WBE Overall Participation $ |
|
38.00% |
38.00% |
$238,067.94 |
|
• This contract meets the M/WBE goal. |
|
• Gresham Smith - Local; Workforce - 33.33% Local |
PROCUREMENT INFORMATION
Method of Evaluation for Award Type:
|
Request for Qualifications |
• Utilized for procurements involving professional services |
|
|
• Recommended offeror whose response is most qualified, considering the relative evaluation factors stated in the specifications |
|
|
• Always involves a team evaluation |
|
|
• Allows for negotiation on contract terms, including price |
The Office of Procurement Services received the following proposals from solicitation number BIZ24-00025247. We opened them on August 9, 2024. We recommend the City Council award this professional services contract in its entirety to the most highly qualified.
*Denotes most highly qualified
Proposers Address Score
*Gresham Smith 500 North Akard St. 84.25
#3210
Dallas, TX 75201
HR&A Advisors, Inc. 99 Hudson St. 82.00
New York, NY 10013
OWNER/EXECUTIVE
Gresham Smith
Rodney Chester, Chief Executive Officer