The city is working with two teams of 16 firms to manage the $1 billion MovEBR project list over the next 15 years. How was all that work divided up, and why? A program management plan and project list splits the more than 50 projects into two categories: new capacity and community enhancements, all to speed up the timeline from a drawn-out 30 years to potentially just 15.
The two project management teams are CSRS, who is leading the $805 million in new capacity projects, and Stantec, who’s tasked with the $300 million in community enhancement projects.
Both have 18-month contracts worth more than a combined $13 million.
“We’re managing MovEBR as basically one large project,” Kelvin Hill, assistant chief administrative officer, says. “The program managers function as an extension of the department of transportation and drainage staff.”
CSRS and Stantec have 14 subcontractors between them, including various engineering, architectural and PR consultants.
The two teams and their share of the projects are:
CSRS: $4.1 million (project management)
- HNTB: $1.9 million (engineers)
- Civil Solutions: $237,005 (engineering)
- Gotech: $671,677 (engineering)
- Eduok & Associates: $104,000 (project management/consulting)
- Vectura: $126,360 (engineering)
- Franklin & Associates: $296,326 (communications/planning/project management).
Stantec: $2.7 million (project management).
- Sigma Consulting: $1.3 million (engineering)
- Integrated Logistical Support: $287,000 (engineering)
- ECM Consultants: $410,600 (engineering/architecture/construction management)
- Manning Architects: $61,600 (architects/planners)
- Marmillion Gray Media/Rannah Gray Communications): $186,200 (PR)
- MetroMorphosis: $371,200 (nonprofit, outreach to small and disadvantaged businesses)
- Alpha Media: $100,300 (PR )
- Covalent Logic: $110,000 (PR).
Though they haven’t yet, the subcontractors are permitted to bid on projects put out by the other team, Hill says. Meaning if Sigma Consulting wants to bid on a capacity project put out by the CSRS team, there’s nothing stopping them; what they’re not allowed to do, though, is bid on projects their own team is managing.
With mounting calls from residents to alleviate traffic congestion, as well as other concerns, Hill says there’s a desire to move quickly, but there’s also an argument to be made that the projects are even ahead of schedule.
The 40 new capacity projects being managed by CSRS are large scale; they include building new roads, extensions and widenings. Each of those will take three to four years to complete.
“So what we didn’t want to do was to stack 40 major projects up against things that could be done quicker,” Hill says.
That’s where the second team, led by Stantec comes in. They’re responsible for the 24 community enhancement projects, which include things like sidewalks, surface drainage, crosswalks and safety improvements.
As the release of RFQ’s start to pick up, Hill says contractors will notice a mix of new capacity and enhancement work, a sign that the two teams are working simultaneously.
The latest round of RFQ’s issued on Friday for engineering firms reflect that variety. Those are:
- Scenic Highway intersection improvements at Harding Boulevard and Swan Street (enhancement)
- North Boulevard from I-110 to Foster/Florida improving access management, signalization, turning improvements (enhancement)
- Florida Boulevard corridor improvement from I-110 to Airline Road (enhancement)
- Adding turn lane capacity at Highland Road at Siegen Lane (new capacity).
As RFQs continue to go out, the city is aiming to get 15 to 18 projects underway, starting up a continual pipeline until they are all done.
A possible record number of minority-owned and certified small businesses are also participating in the process, Hill notes. With the project management subcontractors alone, the level of participation from those historically underrepresented groups is significantly higher than it has been.
Of the four RFQ’s that were sent to the selection board last week, a possible record of nearly 60 firms responded.
“I think people are excited about the opportunity, excited about the vision the mayor laid out and her commitment to get them involved and participate in the process,” Hill says. “They’re stepping up to the plate.”
