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Zero-Emission Bus Architectural and Engineering Services
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DESCRIPTION: Requesting board authorization to award the contract to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. for design services for bus charging and related infrastructure for RTA’s Zero-Emission Fleet Project for Zero-Emission Fleet Planning |
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text. |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
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Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to award a contract Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. to provide architectural and engineering services for the implementation of RTA’s Zero-Emission Resilient Fleet project in an amount not-to-exceed $5.1 million.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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In Spring 2023, RTA was awarded a major FY23 Low/No Vehicle Emission Grant by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The $71.4 million award will fund a major effort to transition to a zero-emission, resilient fleet with 20 Battery Electric Buses (BEBs), a 20MW solar power-based microgrid for grid-independent power generation, charging infrastructure, and workforce development. This project is called the “Zero-Emission, Resilient Fleet”, Project # 2023-FL-02.
In order to streamline the project delivery process, the FTA authorized transit agencies to include partnerships with other entities in the grant application that intend to participate in the implementation of the project, including, but not limited to, specific vehicle manufacturers, equipment vendors, owners or operators of related facilities, or project consultants. Per the FTA grant, “if an application that involves such a partnership is selected for funding, the project will be deemed to satisfy the requirement for a competitive procurement.”
To best deliver the implementation of this major project, RTA identified and included Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. (Jacobs) as a partner in its FY23 Lo/No grant application to provide architectural and engineering services related to the design and installation of the charging infrastructure, microgrid, and related infrastructure. Jacobs’ design work will build on a planning study that was recently completed by MSMM Engineering LLC (with Jacobs as their subconsultant). This study determined that a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) method of project delivery would be the best approach for the construction of the charging infrastructure. The study also identified the RTA’s East New Orleans (ENO) facility as the best location for battery electric bus charging, storage, and maintenance. This study, in the amount of $150,000, was previously authorized by the Board in August 2024 via Resolution No. 24-043.
This is initiative aligned with the Agency’s Strategic Mobility Plan: Goal - “Innovate”; Strategy - “Reduce RTA’s environmental impact; Actions SH1 and SH2.
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DISCUSSION:
Staff followed the process for sole-source procurement, based on competitive selection guidance established by FTA for this grant process. The justification forms are attached to this report. The contract with Jacobs to provide the below deliverables will be managed by Capital Projects.
Division. Jacobs’ scope of services is as follows:
• Task A1 - Infrastructure Project Initiation, Administration, and Coordination
• Task A2 - Engineering Design
• Task A3 - Permitting
• Task B1 - Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) Procurement, Design, and Construction Initiation
• Task B2 - Construction Phase Services
These services will be provided over the life of the project that is scheduled for no longer than four (4) years.
After extensive discussions with Jacobs regarding scope and budget on a task-by-task basis, a not-to-exceed price of $5.1 million was determined to be mutually satisfactory to accomplish RTA’s goals, deliverables, and timeline for the project. This amount is within the independent Cost Estimate prepared by the Capital Projects team and is within the budgeted amount for A&E services that was submitted for the FY23 Low/No grant application.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total amount for the architectural and engineering services is not-to-exceed $5.1 million and will be funded 90% by the FTA FY23 Low/No Emission Grant in an amount not-to-exceed $4,590,000 and 10% by local RTA funds in an amount not-to-exceed $510,000 from budget code 01-0000-00-1501-000-00-00-00000-00000-00. These amounts are included in the FY2025-29 Capital Investment Program.
NEXT STEPS:
Execute a contract with Jacobs and issue a Notice to Proceed to kick off the project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Jacobs contract Scope of Work
3. Approved Sole Source Justification for Jacobs
4. Independent Cost Estimate (ICE)
Prepared By: Rafe Rabalais, rrabalias@rtaforward.org
Title: Director of Capital Projects
Reviewed By: Dwight Norton, dnorton@rtaforward.org
Title: Chief Planning and capital Projects
Reviewed By: Gizelle Johnson Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
7/23/2025
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer