DATE: June 18, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER NO. 3 FOR THE STRAWBERRY PLACE AND EL CAMINO REAL STORM DRAIN REPAIR PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council approve the construction changes listed in Contract Change Order No. 3 to the Public Works Agreement (PWA) with Morrow Trenchless for the Strawberry Place and El Camino Real Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project in the amount of $161,934 for a total revised contract amount of $434,441; and authorize the City Engineer to execute the Contract Change Order.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Strawberry Place and El Camino Real Storm Drain Rehabilitation Project represents the combination of two Capital Improvement Program (CIP) storm drain repair projects. The repair projects were combined into one in an effort to draw additional responsible bidders. The first project includes lining a corrugated metal pipe (CMP) at Strawberry Place, a residential cul-de-sac. The second project consists of repairing a storm drain failure and subsequent sinkhole on El Camino Real, near the intersection of Fire Mountain Road.
On December 18, 2023, staff advertised the construction contract for the Strawberry Place and El Camino Storm Drain Repair Projects; on January 18, 2024, two bids were received and publicly opened. The low bidder was Morrow Trenchless with a bid in the amount of $249,288, which was much lower than the engineer’s estimate of $400,000 and substantially lower than the next lowest bid amount of $659,956.
On June 17, 2024, Contract Change Order No. 1 was administratively issued to resolve an accounting error on Bid Alternate #1.
During construction, Public Works notified Development Services staff of another sinkhole and CMP failure on Garrison Drive. In response, Contract Change Order No. 2 was issued to Morrow Trenchless to slipline the failed CMP near Garrison Street and backfill the sinkhole.
Contract Change Order No. 3 addresses the unexpected site conditions encountered at El Camino Real. The City’s as-built documents indicated that the isolated failure in of the CMP was approximately 10 feet deep under El Camino Real. As such, the PWA called for excavation and spot repairs of the failed CMP at this specific depth. However, field measurements determined the depth of the isolated failure to be 17 feet. On March 27, 2024, Morrow Trenchless notified the City of this unanticipated disparity in site conditions, as the increased depth of the pipe repair necessitated more shoring, excavation, and traffic control.
After thorough investigation and planning, Morrow Trenchless performed a directional drill of a new pipeline under El Camino Real. This process included injecting grouting under the pavement to stabilize subsurface conditions and special monitoring techniques to avoid the high-pressure gas lines in the area.
Contract Change Order No. 3 also addresses a failed CMP at the intersection of Crouch and Lomita Streets. In this instance, Morrow Trenchless was asked to slipline the failed storm drain pipeline and repair the asphalt.
The additional work necessary to address the unforeseen conditions at El Camino Real, as well as respond to additional CMP failures at Crouch and Lomita, constitute Contract Change Order No. 3, totaling $161,934 (Attachment 2). Staff requests City Council approval of Contract Change Order No. 3 to the PWA for the project scope described above. Including the requested change order, the project remains below the engineer’s initial project estimate.
FISCAL IMPACT
Contract Change Order No. 3 in the amount of $161,934 will be charged to the Annual Storm Drain account 902158319265.5703.10600 which has an available balance of $186,593; therefore, sufficient funds are available.
|
Description |
Construction Costs |
|
|
Annual Storm Drain Projects |
|
|
902158319265.5703.10600 |
|
Contract Change Order No. 3 |
$161,934 |
|
FY 2024-25 Available Balance |
$186,593 |
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
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Prepared by: Victor Velasco, Principal Engineer
Reviewed by: Darlene Nicandro, Development Services Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. Contract Change Order No. 3