ST9302-CS 930427
April 27, 1993
ANALYSIS of the RFQ's for SANDY LAKE ROAD (ST 93-02)
Binkley & Barfield, Inc.
This proposal did not even address Sandy Lake Road. It could have been submitted for
any project in the world.
Carter & Burgess, Inc.
Carter & Burgess is probably quite capable of performing this project, however, I am
a little concerned that our last involvement with Carter & Burgess on the Kaye Street
Project. It is our opinion that they did not perform up to our standards. There were
problems responding to staff requests. I do understand that they were not being paid
directly by the City of Coppell, but they should have been more responsive to the City
of Coppell. They also state that it is their opinion that the 30" Dallas water line will not
need to be lowered. This seems to fly in the face of most of the other seventeen RFQ's.
The line is only six foot deep and most people have recommended that we need to cut
more than six feet off at Samuel and somewhere between Hertz and Denton Tap. They
do indicate that 85 % of their work over the last 10 years has been with repeat customers.
This one is a No.
Graham and Associates, Inc.
At first I was not to impressed with Graham and Associates. But near the end, I
encountered their utility information and felt that they had done a excellent utility
research in both the timetable for the various utilities to relocate and the potential cost
for the relocation. This was valuable information to me and my thought process for the
actual construction timetable on this project. They also provided some preliminary
engineers opinions of probable cost. However, they did fail to include brick pavers,
which could be a substantial cost on this project. They provided a fairly detailed critical
path chart. I was a little concerned about Neil Chisholm doing the hydraulics. His
degree was in environmental science. I am a little concerned about the resume submitted
for Frank Rasor froin Chiang Patel & Associates. As a subcontractor for street light
design, his resume did not include any traffic experience at all. He appeared to be strong
in water and wastewater design. Even though they have good utility research, I am
rating this one as a No.
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Albert H. Halff Assoc. Inc.
No mention of landscape. The request for proposal asks for specific listing of projects,
they stated that they were performing some landscaping for a private developer. They
failed to mentioned that they have been working on the Gateway Business Park project.
This may or may not still be an active project but it should have been addressed in this
proposal. They didn't seem to understand that the 24" line was not going to replace the
existing 16" water line. There will be no taps to the new 24" which will parallel the
existing 16". They state that during their preliminary design they will be meeting with
City Council members. My understanding is that there will be no City Council
involvement in this project.
HNTB Corporation
My overall impression was that it appears as though Wayne Ginn would be doing the
water line and Gabe Favre would be doing the street. Gabe currently works for HNTB
and this appears to be the same team that designed our sewer line project. I am a little
uncomfortable with that concept.
Huitt-Zollars, Inc.
It is my opinion that Huitt-Zollars submitted the best Request for Qualifications.
However, I am very much concerned that the person with the firm doing the design of
the water line is Sanford Case. Sanford previously worked for Ginn, Inc. and was the
design engineer on the Grapevine Creek Sanitary Sewer Main. Sanford is very defensive
about his work and does not take suggestions or critisim very well. He seems to have
a difficult time dealing with the public in presentations because he is defensive of his
designs. That one aspect causes me a little bit of concern about Huitt-Zollars. I like the
options given on the construction of the inlets when building the outside lanes. Stated
some issues can be delayed until the other two lanes are built but it would be best to
resolve them now, i.e., future retaining walls. Appears to realize that this projects
success will depend on very minimal impact to the existing development. Over all, the
RFQ was well thought out and easy to follow and read.
JBM Consulting Engineers
I generally felt pretty good about their ability to perform on this job. I get along well
with the principal in the organization, Danny Cummings. I like that they recommend a
higher runoff coefficient for the drainage design. They realize the need to maintain
positive public relations with the property owners. I am a little concerned about the
overall project manager they have assigned to the project, James Bryan. I have met him
several times and I'm not sure how he and I would work together. The RFQ states they
have never requested an extension of contract time and they have never requested an
additional fee for services which are in the original contract. Maybe
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Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc.
Project Manager is John Maggiore, I have know John about 10 years, he appears to be
a good engineer. The City used Kimley-Horn for the design of the MacArthur/Sandy
Lake intersection utilizing DART Funds in the late 1980s. Reading through the
correspondence there appears to be some problems between the city and Kimley-Horn
on what Kimley-Horn felt was additional work to the project and what the City thought
should have been included in the scope of services. There was requests for additional
monies to be paid. Several council members could remember that project if they were
involved and it could put a damper on this firms ability to please the current Council.
Their architectural firm submitted some nice visuals. The RFQ gives some thought to
traffic control during construction and to both current and future traffic control devices
at the major intersections. They realize that median openings may not please the citizens
and there may need to be some special considerations given for the spacing and/or design
of the median openings. Presented a good idea that the city should construct the
intersections to their ultimate configuration to allow for greater roadway capacity at the
intersections. This is classified as a strong maybe.
Lichliter/Jameson & Associates, Inc.
Overall impression was that there appears to be some confusion over who is working for
who in this proposal.
Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, Inc.
I have a problem with some of the personnel they have assigned to the roadway and the
drainage. They have several people assigned to each category however the second
person in each is not a licensed engineer. Particularly have a problem with the person
assigned to the drainage section. His limited resume does not show much qualification
for his ability to perform competent drainage designs. Two members of the project team
are residents of Coppell.
MSQ Engineering, Inc.
Not specific, no mention of landscape. Does not show a generally understanding of the
projects. Definitely a no.
NRS Consulting Engineers
Did not provide information about who would specifically be performing the hydraulics,
geometrics, utilities, surveying, etc. Actually, nothing really jumped out at me, I just
had a negative feeling about the RFQ.
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Rady & Associates
Personal opinion is I believe Rady could do an excellent job on the project. I am a little
concerned about the perceived notion that if Rady gets it and people think that I gave it
to Rady because of my relationship with Robert Maly. If there is some way around that,
I think that they could do an excellent job on the project. I like the fact that they
provided some letters of recommendation from other cities they have worked with. I like
the fact that they are a small firm, yet a firm that still has the on staff capabilities to do
an excellent job. Being a small firm they might be more customer responsive to the
needs of the City of Coppell. I like the fact that Robert Maly would be the primary
point of contact between the City and Rady and Associates. This is a definite Maybe.
Shimek, Jacobs & Finklea
Noting really struck me as outstanding about the proposal either pro or con.
Sverdrup Corporation
I am concerned about the person assigned to do the roadway design. He has only seven
years experience and is not a licensed engineer. Also, they state they will be submitting
plans on an inter-graph format, not autocad. Even though they state that autocad
software is available. They also did not provide any information concerning landscaping.
Teague Nail & Perkins
Over all I feel Teague Nall could do a fine job. I am comfortable working with the firm.
However, I am a little uncomfortable about the people they have assigned to this project.
The people responsible for the design of the street, drainage and water line are not
licensed engineers. Their resumes speak highly of their experience and their ability to
complete the projects. However, I am concerned about them not being licensed.
Turner Collie & Braden, Inc.
I like the fact that they committed to opening a Coppell office if awarded the contract and
that the Project Manager lives in Coppell and is familiar with the City of Coppell. The
pictures provided were kind of depressing, did not show much. During the past five
years, 80 % of their business has been repeat clients. In their urban design streetscape
image, they talk about mass transit stops. Apparently they are unaware that we have
no mass transit in Coppell and are not even in the DART System. It appears to be poor
background work on their part. They feel very strongly that we should construct the
outside four lanes. This is to correct engineering approach but the wrong political
approach. I told Mr. Redden that if they felt strong about the outside four lanes they
should reflect that in their RFQ. I am not sure it will count against them and it does
show that they have a strong conviction to their engineering philosophies. Maybe
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Weir & Associates
My past experience with Weir & Associates while with the City of Arlington has been
positive. They seem to be a conciencious firm that can follow through on what they state
and there key people assigned to this project are people I have worked with in the past
and familiar with their capabilities. Stated in their request for qualification they will
update our 1" =200' contour maps with the updated street information. Has though about
the high approach driveways along Sandy Lake and the need for possible deceleration
lanes. Because of the limited median openings they express some concern about the
width of the medians and the ability for cars to be sheltered in the medians to make U-
turns. Point to the fact that some type of innovative landscaping and obviously
landscaping that exceeds our lm~dscape plan should be designed for the channel south of
Sandy Lake near MacArthur. This is Definite Maybe.
Based on my review the top three firms for this project are:
Rady and Associates
Huitt-Zollars, Inc.
Weir & Associates
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