SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve Supplemental Work Order No. 2 and increase to the purchase order with Driggers Engineering Services Inc., of Clearwater, FL, for additional geotechnical inspection and construction materials testing services associated with the South Osceola Parking Garage project (22-0011-EN), in the amount of $40,237.50 increasing the total project amount to $135,241.50 pursuant to Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 34-23, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute the same. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
This Supplemental Work Order No. 2 authorizes additional geotechnical observation, drilled shaft inspection, and construction materials testing services necessary to support ongoing foundation activities associated with the South Osceola Parking Garage project. The Procurement Manager approved the initial $45,005.00 work order in November 2025 at the start of the project, followed by the City Manager approval in May 2026 of the first supplement in the amount of $49,999.00, bringing the revised total to $95,004.00.
As presented to City Council during award of the construction contract on September 4, 2025, prior geotechnical investigations identified subsurface anomalies and variability beneath portions of the project site.
Construction of the project’s drilled shaft foundation system has encountered variable subsurface limestone conditions resulting in concrete quantities exceeding initial estimates, while contractor production rates have also extended the construction duration. As is common for deep foundation construction within downtown Clearwater, the drilled shafts are designed to achieve substantial structural capacity.
Subsurface characteristics are inherently variable. As a result, construction of drilled shafts in this environment commonly requires additional concrete beyond theoretical design volumes to fill voids and ensure structural integrity. The contract and industry practice accounts for up to 50% overage in concrete volume under these conditions.
The garage foundation design was coordinated between the precast engineer, CoreSlab, and the project geotechnical engineer, Driggers Engineering Sciences Inc. Based on soil borings and analysis, Driggers recommended drilled shafts as the appropriate deep foundation system to support the garage’s vertical and lateral loads. Using those recommendations and the structural loads provided by CoreSlab, the Engineer of Record’s (EOR) design includes drilled shafts, pile caps, and grade beams to safely and efficiently transfer loads into the ground. This is a typical coordinated approach to deep foundation design due to the complexities associated with subsurface soil conditions, groundwater, building loads, wind and later forces, constructability, costs, schedule, and long-term performance.
It should be noted that the actual concrete overage is not yet known. Several drilled shafts have experienced higher than average concrete overages due to a greater frequency and size of subsurface voids than typically encountered. These conditions are not indicative of a deficiency in design or construction, but rather a function of natural geologic variability.
The total approved project budget for the Osceola Parking Garage project is approximately $25.7 million. To date, expenses and planned construction costs are estimated at $21.8 million. Following approval of the pending Driggers Engineering PO increase, approximately $3.9 million will remain available in the project budget.
Creative Contractors has submitted approximately $3.5 million in projected change order costs associated with the unforeseen subsurface conditions, extended drilling operations, increased concrete quantities, schedule impacts, and other related items to date. City staff are actively evaluating the Contractor’s submitted costs and do not currently concur with the full amount requested. Upon completion of the City’s review, evaluation, and negotiation process, staff anticipate a reduction in the contractor’s proposed costs.
If justified, staff will bring forward an agenda item to approve a change order to the Creative Contractors work order based upon an agreed upon amount.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are available in capital improvement project ENPK230001 Downtown Parking Garage, to fund these increases, funded by revenues from the Parking Enterprise Fund.
Any unused or uncommitted contingency funds remaining upon completion and reconciliation of the project will revert to the Parking Enterprise Fund.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
1.2 Maintain public infrastructure, mobility systems, natural lands, environmental resources, and historical features through systematic management efforts.
1.3 Adopt responsive levels of service for public facilities and amenities, and identify resources required to sustain that level of service.
3.2 Preserve community livability through responsible development standards, proactive code compliance, and targeted revitalization.
