SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Ratify and Confirm an increase to Contract Number 900075 with Heath Consultants, Inc., in the amount of $100,000, to provide natural gas line locating services and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Body
SUMMARY:
Heath Consultants, INC, is currently providing Natural Gas Distribution Main and Service Line Locating Services. This contract award was originally approved by the City Council in April 7, 2016, in the annual amount of $400,000. On December 5, 2018, an increase of $40,000 (10%) was requested and approved by Acting City Manager Jill Silverboard. This ratify and confirm request is to approve an increase of $100,000 (23%), which was approved by the City Manager on February 14, 2019, for a revised annual amount of $540,000. This increase was necessary to maintain continuity in the services from Heath Consultants.
The final annual term of Heath contract number 900075 is set to expire March 31, 2019. Per State Law CGS is obligated to locate our gas mains and service lines. When Sunshine One Call receives a call from an excavator that intends to excavate near our infrastructure we receive a ticket. During 2018 the number of tickets generated by Sunshine One Call jumped 8.5% and the number of projects we are required to monitor and locate upon request jumped 68.9%. This is due to the increased number of road construction projects and housing developments that are active in our service territory. For these reasons the additional $100,000 was requested to continuing paying our contractor.
The new bid award for locating services is scheduled for consideration at the March 18, 2019 Council work session.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT:
Funds are budgeted and available in 4232066-530300 ($70,000) - Pinellas Gas Maintenance and 4232173-530300 ($30,000) - Pasco Gas Maintenance.