Title
Recommendation to Authorize City Manager to Execute a One-Year Agreement with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger for Structural Engineering Services Related to the Piers at Alameda Point in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $768,000.
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required. On a separate and independent basis, in accordance with CEQA, this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (Common Sense). (Base Reuse and Economic Development C75200)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) owns and is responsible for the operation of Alameda Point Piers 1, 2, and 3 (Piers), which the United States Navy (Navy) constructed as part of the former Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda. The three Piers are located adjacent to Seaplane Lagoon at Alameda Point and likely require extensive repairs due to the extremely corrosive nature of the maritime environment. The City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan discusses the need for reinvestment in the Piers and potentially dredging Sea Plane Lagoon, to sustain and encourage development of new Maritime / Blue Tech sector businesses at Alameda Point. The next step is to perform an evaluation of the current condition of the Piers. Staff conducted a competitive process seeking proposals from qualified professional engineers and recommend entering into a Service Provider Agreement with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) in an amount not-to-exceed $768,000 to provide structural engineering services to assess condition of the piers and provide a rough order of magnitude repair cost. Staff will return and provide a detailed report of the findings to the City Council, alongside market analysis and seek direction for the next steps.
BACKGROUND
The Navy operated Alameda Point as NAS Alameda from 1940 to 1997. It began construction of the Piers in 1938 for berthing and resupply and refitting of aircraft carriers and other naval vessels along the southeastern side of Alameda Point’s Seaplane Lagoon. A current depiction of the area is shown on the attached Site Map (Exhibit 1).
The City currently leases portions of Pier 1 to Power Engineering Construction, an Alameda-based maritime contractor that has nearby facilities in Alameda Point, with additional use by other tenants. In the past, Pier 2 hosted US Maritime Administration (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet vessels, but MARAD’s vessels were redeployed to other locations by the late 2018, and Pier 2 has since remained relatively inactive. The USS Hornet Museum occupies the northern side of Pier 3, leaving the southern side of Pier 3 available for periodic usage.
The City previously engaged the engineering firm, SGH, to conduct a field inspection, structural conditions assessment and analysis in part to determine what repairs were necessary for MARAD to continue operations at Alameda Point. SGH completed the report in 2017, and the findings were presented to the City Council in January 2018. Piers 1 and 3 were found to be in satisfactory condition with minor recommended upgrades, however Pier 2 was not satisfactory due to concrete pile deterioration. SGH estimated at that time that the repair cost options for Pier 2 ranged from $2.4 million to $13.0 million.
Following the full departure of MARAD vessels, the City paused to reconsider alignment of infrastructure investment in the Piers with market conditions.
DISCUSSION
In February of 2024, City Council provided direction to staff to renew its focus on attracting Maritime / Blue Tech sector businesses to Alameda Point and add reinvesting in the Piers as a Strategic Plan priority. Given this direction, Base Reuse and Economic Development Department (BRED) staff developed a workplan that includes investigating current Pier conditions and infrastructure repair, bathometric survey work in Seaplane Lagoon, preparation of updated cost estimate(s) for repairs and dredging and an assessment of the potential marketability of the Piers to potential users in the maritime/blue tech business sector.
On March 14, 2025, BRED staff issued a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for structural inspection and condition assessment of Alameda Point Piers 1, 2, and 3. The information produced through this inspection and condition assessment process will help inform the City of the potential next steps for repair and/or rehabilitation of the Piers with the purpose of retaining existing and attracting new tenants. With the support of a maritime infrastructure consultant, Anchor QEA, staff developed the technical scope and scoring matrix for selection of a qualified engineering firm to complete the work in a timely and cost-effective manner.
To solicit the maximum number of proposals and competitive pricing, the project manual, specifications and 2017 SGH report were placed on the City’s website and advertised in the Alameda Journal. BRED staff hosted a mandatory pre-proposal meeting and site walk at Alameda Point on April 1, 2025, with proposals due on May 1, 2025. Seven (7) timely proposals were received, a short list of three (3) firms based on qualifications and lowest proposed price; KPFF Consulting Engineers, SGH and GHD, Inc. were interviewed and scored.
|
Proposer |
Not-To-Exceed Value |
|
Simpson Gumpertz & Heger |
$768,000 |
|
KPFF Consulting Engineers |
$1,041,184 |
|
GHD, Inc. |
$1,292,830 |
Staff recommends a Service Provider Agreement with SGH be authorized given that the firm is the highest scoring and lowest cost, responsive and responsible proposer. They demonstrated the ability to complete the scope of work in a timely manner with a proposed not-to-exceed cost of $768,000. SGH is experienced and qualified, and their proposal reflects their experience with supporting large waterfront infrastructure projects including the Alameda Marina, Alameda Landing development, Brooklyn Basin Project (Oakland) and Port of San Francisco’s Waterfront Resilience Program.
SGH, together with their diving ubcontractor, L3 Engineering, Inc., will perform above and below water visual and tactile inspections of the Piers and sampling and testing the pier’s piles and provide the City with a narrative written report detailing the findings and including Rough Order of Magnitude unit costs for repairs based on deficiencies, stamped and sealed by a registered Professional Engineer.
Staff anticipates the findings will be ready for presentation to City Council before the end of the year.
ALTERNATIVES
• Authorize the Agreement with SGH Consulting Engineers as proposed.
• Direct City Manager to execute Agreement for an alternate amount or scope, pending agreement by SGH on the revised terms.
• Do not authorize and provide other direction to staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The funds for this project are budgeted in the Base Reuse and Economic Development budget (29061822) and are included in the recommended Capital Improvement Program FY 25-26 Alameda Point Pier 2 Rehabilitation Project, pending final approval by City Council. No additional funding is requested.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
This project supports the City Strategic Plan priority to Invest in Transportation, Infrastructure, Economic Opportunities & Historic Resources.
This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action does not constitute a “project” as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and therefore no further CEQA analysis is required.
On a separate and independent basis, in accordance with CEQA, this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 (Common Sense).
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a one-year agreement with Simpson Gumpertz & Heger for structural engineering services in an amount not-to-exceed $768,000.
Respectfully submitted,
Abigail Thorne-Lyman, Director of Base Reuse and Economic Development Department
By,
Alesia Strauch, Base Reuse Manager
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Site Map of Piers and Seaplane Lagoon
2. Service Provider Agreement