SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve a Design Professional Agreement and Work Order with AtkinsRéalis USA, Inc., of Tampa, FL, for design services for the Public Services Complex Administrative Building project (15-0048-EN), in the amount of $3,837,474.37, pursuant to Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 43-23, Design Services - Public Works Complex and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Body
SUMMARY:
The City proposes engaging AtkinsRéalis USA Inc. to provide professional engineering services for a new Administrative Building at the Public Services Complex, located at 1650 North Arcturas Avenue. The building will serve as a Department Emergency Operations Center (DEOC) and accommodate staff from the Public Works and Public Utilities departments.
The existing administrative buildings do not provide adequate facilities for city staff to perform their required duties. The new building will improve operational efficiency and coordination by consolidating staff from both Public Utilities and Public Works, leveraging the synergies that exist between the two departments.
Replacing the existing administrative buildings with one integrated administration building will consolidate staff currently dispersed among aging, functionally inefficient, and storm-vulnerable facilities into a single resilient operations center. The existing buildings are reaching the end of their useful life with roof, electrical, HVAC, and controlled access systems requiring numerous and frequent repairs in recent years.
The Public Services Building is planned to be approximately 55,000 square feet and a hardened structure designed to withstand category 5 hurricane conditions. The facility will primarily house approximately 219 staff members from the Public Utilities and the Public Works Departments plus space for field crews from both departments. Colocation of the two departments will improve coordination among Public Works and Public Utilities functions, reduce duplicate spaces and operating costs, enhance communication and supervisory efficiency, and provide modern technology, training, meeting, and emergency-support capabilities. The building will also include space and redundant systems to support a department emergency operations center that will include operational staff from Public Utilities, Public Works, General Services, Solid Waste, and Parks and Recreations and will strengthen continuity of operations before, during, and after hurricanes and other emergencies by a centrally located facility capable of supporting critical staff and coordinated response activities.
The Work Order provided design services, permitting, and procurement administration services for this project. The Work Order includes validation of the facility’s programming and space needs; architectural and engineering design; preparation of construction drawings and technical specifications; permitting and agency coordination; procurement and bidding-phase assistance; and cost-estimating and value-engineering support.
Request for Qualifications 43-23, Design Services - Public Works Complex was issued and the City received eight responses. A team of city staff representing the Public Utilities and Public Works departments carefully reviewed each of the submittals. Each submittal was scored according to the RFQ evaluation criteria and overall responsiveness to the RFQ requirements. AtkinsRéalis was selected for these services.
The Public Services Complex Administrative Building design, permitting, and procurement services are anticipated to take approximately 22 months. Construction of the facility is not included in this approval and will be presented separately to City Council.
The total project budget for the Public Services Complex Administrative Building is anticipated to be $43,457,848. The following funding is the total previously allocated and future funding identified in the proposed FY26/27 6-year Capital Improvement Program budget:
Future Bond Issuance (Public Utilities): $10,038,550.
General Fund Revenue: $2,802,520.
Stormwater Fund Revenue: $10,380,057.
Water & Sewer Fund Revenue: $7,936,721.
Infrastructure Sales Tax/Penny for Pinellas: $12,300,000.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funding for this work order is available in capital improvement project C2214, Public Works Complex:
3157541-561300-C2214 - Capital Improvement Fund - $631,002.92
3197319-561300-C2214 - Stormwater Capital Fund - $1,183,214.23
3217321-561300-C2214 - Water & Sewer Capital Fund - $2,023,257.22
Funds in this project are provided by General Fund, Stormwater Fund, Water & Sewer Fund, and Penny for Pinellas revenues.
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS:
NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
This item falls under objective 1.2 (maintaining public infrastructure) and 1.3 (adopt responsive levels of service) within High Performing Government.
