Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute Five, Five-Year Service Provider Agreements in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $750,000 Each to Advance Design Consultants; DSK Architects; Interactive Resources Architects + Engineers; Shah Kawasaki Architects; and Siegel & Strain Architects, for On-Call Architectural Services.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities). (Public Works C41000)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this report is to authorize approval of agreements with five architectural firms, to provide on-call architectural services, for a total five-year term, not-to-exceed amount of $750,000 each. All work executed under these agreements will be restricted to funds appropriated and available for the specific project for which the work is assigned. The agreements are on-call and therefore the work performed will be based on actual need over the term of the agreement. If the demand and available funding is not there, the services will not be requested.
BACKGROUND
On-call consultant service agreements are used for services requiring expertise that City of Alameda (City) staff does not have and/or to supplement City staff during periods of peak work demand. Currently, there is a need for architectural services for various capital projects.
Anticipated work includes the full range of architectural, engineering and design services for the renovation of public buildings, including design, permitting, bidding, construction administration, and preparing reports that summarize observations, present recommendations, estimate costs of implementation, and make conclusions.
DISCUSSION
On March 17, 2025, the City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for on-call consulting services for architectural services.
Eighteen Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) were received from the following firms: Advance Design Consultants; DSK Architects; Hogan Land Services; Interactive Resources Architects + Engineers; Kava Massih Architects; KPA Group; MBH Architects; Noll & Tam; Object Projects LLP; OpenScope Studio; Sally Swanson Architects; SERA Architects; Shah Kawasaki Architects; Siegel & Strain Architects; Studio Perez + Studio 144; Studio T-Square; Ten Over Studio; and William Fisher Architecture.
City staff reviewed each firm based on the proposal packages submitted. The proposals were evaluated based on years of professional experience, letter of interest, relevant experience, including local experience, responsiveness to the RFQ, fee structure, client references, and overall completeness of their proposal and project approach. Bonus points were given for being an Alameda Local Business.
Based on the results of that evaluation, staff selected five firms that would best meet the City’s needs and recommend awarding agreements to the following five consultant firms:
|
Consultant |
Location |
|
Advance Design Consultants |
San Jose, CA |
|
DSK |
Oakland, CA |
|
Interactive Resources |
Richmond, CA |
|
Shah Kawasaki Architects |
Oakland, CA |
|
Siegel & Strain Architects |
Emeryville, CA |
Each agreement would be in an amount not-to-exceed $750,000 cumulative for five years (see Exhibits 1 through 5) for a term beginning on July 1, 2025, and ending on June 30, 2030.
ALTERNATIVES
• Award five agreements as recommended by staff.
• Reduce the number of agreements awarded. This would reduce the differing areas of expertise offered by the proposed five firms without any financial impact since the usage of the services is on an as-needed basis. If the demand is not there, the services will not be requested.
• Do not award any of the agreements. Not awarding any agreements would impact staff’s ability to efficiently deliver quality capital projects to support the City.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for work executed under these agreements will be from the Capital Improvement Program for which the architectural services are needed. The total budget for each agreement over the five-year period is not to exceed $750,000; however, the actual amount expended will be based on actual need. The usage of the services is on an as-needed basis so that if the demand is not there, the services will not be requested. There is currently no impact on the General Fund. Any proposed increase in budget authority will be brought to the City Council in a separate item.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the City’s Strategic Plan priorities to enhance community safety and services and invest in City infrastructure. This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with CEQA, this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities).
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with this action.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute five, five-year service provider agreements in an amount not-to-exceed $750,000 each to Advance Design Consultants; DSK Architects; Interactive Resources Architects + Engineers; Shah Kawasaki Architects; and Siegel & Strain Architects; for on-call architectural services.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Director of Public Works
By,
Chandni Patel, Facilities Project Manager I
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross McCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Advance Design Consultants Agreement
2. DSK Architects Agreement
3. Interactive Resources Architects + Engineers Agreement
4. Shah Kawasaki Architects Agreement
5. Siegel & Strain Architects Agreement