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Authorizing not using a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the following projects: Sewer Cleaning and Televising Projects (Como-Cleveland and Snelling-Larpenteur), Phalen Storm Tunnel Rehabilitation Project (Phase 3), 2018 Citywide Sewer Repair Project, Cherokee Heights Upper Ravine Stabilization Project, and the 2018 Citywide Sewer Lining Project.
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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:
Sewer Cleaning and Televising Projects (2- projects, Como-Cleveland and Snelling-Larpenteur)
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 2018
Estimated Project Timeline: 6 months
Phalen Storm Tunnel Rehabilitation Project (Phase 3)
Project Description: Chemical grout tunnel liner cracks, concrete repair, corrosion protection of exposed steel reinforcement, repair tunnel inverts
Estimated Cost: $2,500,000
Estimated Start Date: Fall 2018
Estimated Project Timeline: 6 months
2018 Citywide Sewer Repair Project
Project Description: Repair broken sewer piping and/or manholes via excavation in public streets
Estimated Cost: $500,000
Estimated Start Date: Fall 2018 or Spring 2019
Estimated Project Timeline: 2 months
Cherokee Heights Upper Ravine Stabilization Project,
Project Description: Regrade and stabilize ravine located downstream of city culvert, install riprap, surface restoration
Estimated Cost: $700,000
Estimated Start Date: Fall 2018
Estimated Project Timeline: 9 months
2018 Citywide Sewer Lining Project
Project Description: Clean and televise sewers, install cured-in-place liner inside existing sewer, re-televise lined sewer
Estimated Cost: $2,600,000
Estimated Start Date: Fall 2018 or Early 2019
Estimated Project Timeline: 12 months
WHEREAS, the Public Works Sewer Utility sent written "Notice and Request for Recommendation on the Use of a PLA" to interested parties on December 29, 2017 with one response received; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Building and Construction Trades Council which stated, "Length of project; multi-craft, and dollar amount" as reasons they recommend a PLA for these projects, with no other recommendations for using a PLA; and
WHEREAS, the PLA response form offered no specifics which would indicate concerns over dollar amount, length of project, or multi-craft; and
WHEREAS, the Public Works Sewer Utility has recommended against the use of a PLA for the following reasons:
• 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,
• small work crews (2-4 people) complete cleaning, televising, repair (via excavation), and lining of sewers in streets or easements; whereas sewer vactor and televising trucks, and backhoes are primarily used to complete such projects,
• out of state contractors bid on sewer lining, cleaning and televising projects,
• low risk of strikes occurring,
• Cherokee Heights project is an earthwork project to regrade and stabilize a ravine (place riprap, etc.) located downstream of 60-inch stormwater culvert,
• small work crew to complete the Cherokee Heights project,
• Phase 3 Phalen storm tunnel rehab project involves chemical grouting of tunnel liner cracks, corrosion protection of steel reinforcement, concrete repairs, tunnel invert repairs,
• small work crews complete tunnel rehabilitation projects,