Subject
title
Award and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Keller Brothers Inc., of Mount Airy, Maryland for the Outdoor Recreation Pool Renovations Construction (CIP RC18) project in the amount not to exceed $10,085,400.
end
Department
Recreation & Parks
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council Award and Authorize the City Manager to execute the contract with Keller Brothers, Inc, of Mount Airy, Maryland, in the amount not to exceed $10,085,400. The contract is based on IFB #13-24, Construction of Outdoor Recreation Pool Renovations inclusive of certain additions, including Second Floating Lily Pad Course to Activity Pool, Small Semi-Commercial Water Slide for Wellness Pool, New Plaster "White" Coat for Fitness Pool, Thermal Pool Cover and Reels for Wellness Pool, Athletic Lighting and PA System Around Fitness Pool, Water Heater for Wellness Pool, and Pool Area Furnishings per Appendix B.
Discussion
The Rockville Swim and Fitness Center is a full-service aquatics and recreation facility serving more than 350,000 customer visits annually. The first outdoor pool at the Rockville Swim and Fitness Center was constructed in 1968, with a renovation and facility expansion in 1991. At the time of the 1991 renovation, the current recreation pool was constructed within the shell of the original pool’s structure. The 2015 Aquatic Facility Audit and Recommendations for Enhancements <https://www.rockvillemd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10344/Rockvillle-Swim-and-Fitness-Center-Facility-Audit-and-Recommendations-for-Enhancements?bidId=> conducted by Smolen Emr Ilkovitch Architects identified needs for major renovations to the recreation pool due to safety and maintenance necessities, updated codes, and developments in industry standards for recreation pool amenities.
Request for Proposal 25-20, Rockville Swim and Fitness Center Outdoor Recreation Pool Renovations: Concepts, Design and Construction Administration Services was competitively solicited and awarded to LSG Landscape Architecture of Tysons, VA by the Mayor and Council on July 18, 2022, for the project’s design. The design consultant, in conjunction with City Staff developed bid-ready construction drawings and specifications which were informed by community engagement conducted at the onset of the design process. The City’s Procurement Division issued Invitation for Bid #13-24 on March 1, 2024, with responses due on April 10, 2024.
The recreation pool area is intended to safely serve youth and families who visit the facility for informal water-based activities. A wide range of engaging amenities for a variety of ages and skill levels are provided. This project includes demolition of the existing recreation pool, tot pool, sprayground and associated decks and mechanical equipment, and construction of modern, engaging, and accessible aquatics elements. New construction consists of three bodies of water: a free-form shaped activity pool with “beach” entries and interactive play features, a rectangular shaped wellness pool to serve a variety of uses, and a water slide structure with its self-contained water recirculation system. In addition to the pools, construction work will include necessary filtration equipment, installation of play features, deck areas, shade structures, overhead lighting, landscape, and forestry work as well as other components. Project highlights include the following key components:
• Free formed activity pool with “beach” entries, interactive in-water play unit, spray features, lily pad crossing course, and shallow water areas for informal play and recreation.
• 6-lane by 25-meter rectangular shaped wellness pool with large entry stairs, in-water basketball, lane lines and, Aqua-Zip “drop-in” feature and mid-depth water for informal play and recreation.
• ADA compliant pool entries and transfer system to in-water play unit.
• 26-foot tall, dual flume water slide structure with run-out flume paths.
• Shaded seating areas, picnic pavilions and overhead lighting throughout the site
• Repairs to infrastructure of the mechanical room and installation of modern filtration and pool disinfection treatment systems.
In order to allow for adequate timing for the project and upon contract execution, the City plans to issue a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) to allow for coordination, field measuring, shop drawing review/approval, submission of work plan and ordering long lead time components. The recreation pool will be available for construction activities to begin on site starting August 19, 2024, with a substantial completion date listed in contract documents of May 1, 2025. Contract documents specify that other areas of the facility outside of the construction limits of the Recreation Pool project, such as the outdoor Fitness Pool and indoor amenities will remain operational on their typical schedules, with minimal interruptions.
Mayor and Council History
This is the first time this consent agenda item has been brought before the Mayor and Council.
The Mayor and Council previously approved the project’s conceptual design on January 23, 2023, and discussed the project in the context of the prior year’s budget discussions. A consent agenda item for award of Proposal 25-20, Rockville Swim and Fitness Center Outdoor Recreation Pool Renovations: Concepts, Design and Construction Administration Services was approved on July 18, 2022.
Public Notification and Engagement
In development of the project’s Conceptual Design, community engagement for this project consisted of community listening sessions, an online survey, and interviews with various camp/daycare providers and user groups. These events were advertised through multiple channels including Rockville Reports, City’s social media channels, notifications to neighborhood associations and civic associations, Swim and Fitness Center and youth recreation programs email distribution list (6,600+ contacts), and signs and personal interactions inside the Rockville Swim and Fitness Center.
Listening Sessions: Five (5) in-person listening sessions were held around the city with 182 people participating. During these listening sessions, the participants placed stickers on their favorite current and proposed amenities and talked to City staff and the consultant team about their concerns and ideas for the future facility. One listening session was held at the Swim and Fitness Center on October 17, 2022, and the other sessions were held with youth participants at Lincoln Park, Twinbrook, and Thomas Farm community centers, and the Twinbrook Elementary afterschool program.
Online Survey: 326 people participated in the online survey. The survey was available between October 10, 2022, and November 4, 2022, to solicit feedback on how patrons currently use the recreation pool, as well as sharing their priorities for what amenities they would like to see on the site in the future. Invitations for users to take the survey were provided via the same means as the listening session’s advertisement.
Interviews: Four (4) summer camp and daycare organizations were contacted to provide feedback as well.Boards and Commissions Review
A joint meeting with the Recreation and Park Advisory Board and Rockville Swim and Fitness Center Advisory Committee was held on January 10, 2023, for the design consultant and City staff to present the Findings Report and Concept Drawings. The group had a consensus of support for the proposed concept, with some specific feedback on the recreational amenities provided which the design team will take under consideration as the project progresses. Since presentation of the conceptual design, the Swim and Fitness Center Advisory Committee and Recreation and Park Advisory Board have been kept apprised of the project’s design status.
Procurement
Staff developed and publicly advertised Invitation for Bid (IFB) #13-24, in accordance with the City of Rockville City Code Section #17-61. The IFB was posted on the City’s website and electronically provided to 531 prospective bidders via the State of Maryland’s Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) system. Of the 531 prospective bidders, using the new system reporting capabilities, 111 were Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), 116 were Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), and 13 were Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprises (VSBE). In addition, the solicitation link was emailed to an audience of 14 suggested sources. 5 sealed bids were received by the City of Rockville and were opened on April 10, 2024.
|
Vendor Name |
MFD-V Status |
Vendor Location |
Total for Base Bid |
Total for Add Alternates 1 (one) through 7 (seven) |
Grand Total Bid (including selected Add Alternates) |
|
City Construction |
Not Provided |
Washington, DC |
$10,022,747 |
$748,110 |
$10,770,857* |
|
GCS - Sigal |
Non MFD-V |
Washington, DC |
$10,233,401 |
$891,602 |
$11,125,003* |
|
Keller Brothers |
Non MFD-V |
Mount Airy, MD |
$9,177,000 |
$908,400 |
$10,085,400 |
|
USA Construction |
Not Provided |
Cumming, GA |
$4,852,680 |
$311,380 |
$5,164,060* |
|
Wohlsen Construction |
Non MFD-V |
Baltimore, MD |
$8,910,150 |
$992,720 |
$9,902,870* |
* Indicates Non-Responsive Bid - Primary Points Of Non-Responsiveness Listed Below:
- City Construction failed to submit both an electronic copy and original bid bond.
- GCS-Sigal failed to submit non-collusion affidavit.
- USA Construction took exception to one or more conditions, limitations, restrictions, terms, or other deviations from the requirements of the Invitation for Bid.
- Wohlsen Construction took exception to one or more conditions, limitations, restrictions, terms, or other deviations from the requirements of the Invitation for Bid.
Keller Brothers Inc. of Mount Airy, Maryland, is the lowest-priced, responsive, and responsible bidder. Their proposed fees have been deemed fair and reasonable by staff and the project’s architect, and their bid, inclusive of selected add alternatives is 8% lower than the Engineer’s cost estimate for the project’s construction (adjusted to remove owner’s contingency and alternatives not included).
References were contacted and were overall favorable based on their experiences with Keller Brothers Inc and their selected swimming pool subcontractor.
In accordance with Section 17-39 of the Rockville City Code, Awarding Authority, (a) all contracts involving more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) shall be awarded by the Mayor and Council.
Keller Brothers, Inc. is a Non-MFD-V business.
The contract to Keller Brothers, Inc. is provided as Attachment A.
To view all contract documents, please click the links provided below:
<https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/a6ee5d07-8f68-4049-bfd5-aec6209fac10>
Fiscal Impact
Sufficient funds are available in the Fiscal Year 2024 Recreation and Parks CIP account 420-900-RC18-0426 (Attachment B).
Next Steps
Upon Mayor and Council award, Procurement will ensure the contracts are properly executed and will obtain necessary insurance and bonds from Keller Brothers, Inc.