Who's on first?

What happens when government agencies sell land back and forth to each other because they want the first piece of land for their pet projects?

YOU get a $97 million dollar bill (so far). 

How's that Trinity River Vision working out for you so far?
We marked some of the items you won't want to miss in bold.

DATE: 8/21/2012
REFERENCE NO.: C-25798
LOG NAME: 06PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING CENTER DESIGN BUILD
CODE: C
TYPE:  NON-CONSENT
PUBLIC HEARING: NO

SUBJECT: Authorize Execution of a Design-Build Contract with The Cornell FW Company, LLC, at a Guaranteed Maximum Price in the Amount of $97,522,957.00 to Design and Build the New Public Safety Training Center at a Site Near the Intersection of Hemphill Street and Felix Street, Authorize Non-Interest Bearing Inter-Fund Loan Between the Solid Waste Fund and the Public Safety Training Facility Fund in the Amount of $20,522,957.00 and Adopt Appropriation Ordinance (COUNCIL DISTRICT 9)

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RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Authorize a non-interest bearing inter-fund loan from the Solid Waste Fund to the Public Safety Training Facility Fund in the amount of $20,522,957.00 for interim financing of the new Public Safety Training Center;
2. Adopt attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Public Safety Training Facility Fund in the amount of $20,522,957.00; and
3. Authorize execution of a Design-Build Contract at a guaranteed maximum price in the amount of $97,522,957.00 with The Cornell FW Company, LLC, to design and build the new Public Safety Training Center.

DISCUSSION: The purpose of this Mayor and Council Communication is to award a Design-Build (D-B) Contract with The Cornell FW Company, LLC, at a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) amount of $97,522,957.00 for the design and construction of the new Public Safety Training Center on the property purchased last year from the federal government through General Services Administration (GSA). It is also necessary to authorize a non-interest bearing inter-fund loan in the amount of $20,522,957.00 between the Solid Waste Fund and the Public Safety Training Facility Fund in order to provide interim financing for the project. This is necessary due to the timing of funds being available from the Crime Control Police District (CCPD) and from the sale of the Police Department's headquarters located at 350 Belknap to Tarrant County. The remaining $77,000,000.00 will come from the sale of Certificates of Obligation expected to occur on or around August 14, 2012.

The current public safety training center located at 1000 Calvert Street was developed over the past 50 years to train the City's police and fire personnel. Due to its age, limited capacity and functionality, and the impacts of the bypass channel associated with the Trinity River Vision project, it has become necessary to replace the current facility. After an in-depth analysis of potential locations, Staff has determined that the most appropriate location is the Federal Depot property located at 501 West Felix Street in south central Fort Worth. This location has numerous benefits including good freeway access, central location, proximity to current City facilities and existing zoning and infrastructure.

Last year, the City acquired the 75 acres of property through GSA at a cost of $6,425,000.00. On July 26, 2012, the Crime Control Police District (CCPD) was presented with the option of using $10,000,000.00 in CCPD funding to help pay for the cost of the new training center. Before being able to commit any funding, however, two public hearings must be held. At its July 26, 2012 meeting, the CCPD Board of Directors recommended moving forward with the public hearing process. The first hearing is scheduled for the next CCPD Board meeting on August 30, 2012, followed by the second public hearing at the September 18, 2012 City Council meeting. The $10,000,000.00 in funding from CCPD will not be available until after the public hearing process has been completed and the City Council has approved the use of CCPD funding.

Similarly, the sale of 350 West Belknap requires a formal advertisement process before the sale of 350 West Belknap can be considered by the City Council, which is expected to occur by the end of September 2012. In order to get the Public Safety Training Center project initiated without further delay, Staff recommends moving forward with the inter-fund loan approach between the Solid Waste Fund and The Public Safety Training Facility Fund. Timing is critical as the City is expected to have some its new facilities in place, including the new Firing Range, by the end of December 2013 per the lease Agreement signed with the Tarrant Regional Water District (M&C L-15268) when the current police/fire training facility was sold last year.

Regarding the sale of 350 West Belknap, the County has agreed to purchase the City's share of the building by the end of this fiscal year and has agreed in principle to the price of $13,500,000.00 which is in line with the City's appraisal. Staff will use $10,522,957.00 of the sale proceeds to reimburse the Solid Waste Fund while an additional $335,520.00 will be used to pay TPW-Facilities Management for Construction Administration Services. Because the County wants to begin using some office space and parking shortly after they purchase the City's share of 350 West Belknap, it will be necessary to temporarily move some Police staff out of their headquarters. This move will entail some additional costs to make replacement space ready including IT, parking, and possibly some minor remodeling. It is also expected that the County will charge a commercial lease rate for the space the City continues to use at 350 West Belknap. All of these costs will be identified and brought forward as part of the upcoming Mayor and Council Communication in September that will involve the sale of 350 West Belknap to the County. Lastly, the Solid Waste Fund will also be reimbursed with the $10,000,000.00 in CCPD funding that is expected to be approved by the City Council in September.

Due to the ambitious construction schedule, Staff determined that the only viable procurement option was Design-Build (D-B), which is one of several contracting and delivery procedures for construction projects authorized by Chapter 2267 of the Texas Government Code. Under a D-B model, the government entity contracts with a single entity that provides both design and construction services. For projects on a tight timeline, the D-B procurement method generally results in a quicker, more seamless delivery with fewer change orders and delays than those typically associated with a traditional design-bid-build method.

The Request for Statements of Qualification (RFQ) from D-B firms opened on January 13, 2012, and was advertised in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A total of 15 teams responded. The selection panel shortlisted four teams and issued a Request for Proposals to each that included a more detailed scope of services. Upon receiving their proposals, interviews were held with each of the four teams on April 11, 2012. The selection committee assigned points for each proposer based on experience and qualifications of the D-B team members, project scheduling, M/WBE participation, understanding of public safety training centers in terms of their planning and functionality, and ability to finance and costing methodology. Based on evaluation of the listed performance-based factors, The Cornell FW Company, LLC, received the most points and was selected as the top ranked D-B firm based on the demonstrated ability to design and build the Public Safety Training Center.

The Cornell FW Company, LLC, is in compliance with the City's M/WBE Ordinance by committing to 25 percent M/WBE participation on the design phase and 30 percent M/WBE participation on the construction phase of this D-B Project. This is achieved through the use of a joint venture for design between Komatsu Architects, a certified M/WBE firm, and Brinkley-Sargent Architects and a second joint venture for construction between Thos. S. Byrne, Ltd., a certified M/WBE firm, and Ridgemont Commercial Construction. In addition to the M/WBE joint venture participation, The Cornell FW Company, LLC, has committed to realize substantive M/WBE participation through the use of additional M/WBE subconsultants and subcontractors. The City's M/WBE goal on the design phase is 25 percent and on the construction phase is 30 percent.

This property is located in COUNCIL DISTRICT 9, Mapsco 91N.

FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:

The Financial Management Services Director certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations and adoption of the attached appropriation ordinance, funds will be available in the current capital budget, as appropriated, of the Public Safety Training Facility Fund.

TO Fund/Account/Centers
1) C236 222064 000000198700

$20,522,957.00

2) C236 444100 061070198783

$10,522,957.00

2) C236 472079 061090198783

$10,000,000.00

2) C236 541200 061070198783

$10,522,957.00

2) C236 541200 061090198783

$10,000,000.00

FROM Fund/Account/Centers

1) PE64 137236 0000000

$20,522,957.00

3) C236 541200 061070198783

$87,522,957.00

3) C236 541200 061090198783

$10,000,000.00
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Submitted for City Manager's Office by:
 Fernando Costa (6122)

Originating Department Head:
 Randle Harwood (6101)

Additional Information Contact:
 Mark Rauscher (2446)
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