Title
Approving non-use of a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the following projects: Sewer Cleaning and Televising Projects (Eagle-Shepard, Point Douglas-Lower Afton), Storm Tunnel Outfall Repairs Project, 2021 Citywide Sewer Lining, and 2021 Citywide Sewer Repairs.
Body
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul City Council adopted a policy on the use of Project Labor Agreements ("PLA") pursuant to Council File #09-584 for projects involving $250,000 or more of city money; and
WHEREAS, the Public Works Sewer Utility is undertaking sewer related cleaning, inspection, and repair projects, with project total budgets over $250,000, which are as follows:
Sewer Cleaning and Televising Projects
(2- projects; Eagle-Shepard, Point Douglas-Lower Afton)
Project Description: Clean and televise sanitary sewers and manholes, and televise storm sewers and manholes
Estimated Cost: $500,000 for each project
Estimated Start Date: Spring 2021
Estimated Project Timeline: 6 months
Storm Tunnel Outfall Repairs Project
Project Description: Repair storm tunnels and outfalls, including tunnel void grouting, concrete patching, crack sealing, erosion stabilization. Construct new sanitary tunnel shaft
Estimated Cost: $3,000,000
Estimated Start Date: Fall of 2021
Estimated Project Timeline: 12 months
2021 Citywide Sewer Repair Project
Project Description: Repair broken sewer piping and/or manholes via excavation in public streets or easements.
Estimated Cost: $1,000,000
Estimated Start Date: Spring 2021
Estimated Project Timeline: 6 months
2021 Citywide Sewer Lining Project
Project Description: Clean and televise sewers, install cured-in-place liner inside existing sewer, re-televise lined sewer
Estimated Cost: $2,500,000
Estimated Start Date: Fall 2021 or Early 2022
Estimated Project Timeline: 12 months; and
WHEREAS, the Public Works Sewer Utility sent written "Notice and Request for Recommendation on the Use of a PLA" to interested parties on January 12, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Building and Construction Trades Council was the only entity that submitted a response, and stated, "safety, multi-craft, dollar amount, length of project" as reasons they recommend a PLA for these projects; and
WHEREAS, the Trades Council's PLA response form offered no specifics which would indicate concerns over safety, multi-craft, dollar amount, or length of project; and
WHEREAS, the Public Works Sewer Utility has recommended against the use of a PLA for the following reasons:
(1) the projects are publicly bid by unit price and lump sum bid items, and labor rates are established by prevailing wage labor rates which meet or exceed union rates. Project bid documents require labor costs and total project costs to be included within unit and lump sum bid prices;
(2) small work crews (2-4 people) complete cleaning, televising, repair (via excavation), lining of sewers in streets or easements, and tunnel cleaning and tunnel shaft projects; whereas sewer vactor and televising trucks, and backhoes are primarily used to complete such projects, and relatively few companies have the capacity to perform this work;
(3) out of state contractors bid on sewer lining, and sewer cleaning and televising projects, and such companies may not bid on the project because of the effort, risks and costs involved; and
(4) low risk of strikes occurring; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the above listed projects are not of a scope or nature that it will be negatively impacted if no PLA is required; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby approves non-use of a PLA on the Eagle-Shepard Sewer Cleaning and Televising, Point Douglas-Lower Afton Sewer Cleaning and Televising, Storm Tunnel Outfall Repairs, 2021 Citywide Sewer Lining, and 2021 Citywide Sewer Repair Projects.