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Rampart Streetcar Restoration Phase 2: Amendment Request to Barnes Electric’s Contract
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DESCRIPTION: Requesting Board Authorization to Amend Walter J Barnes Electric contract to include changes for new pole foundations |
AGENDA NO: Click or tap here to enter text. |
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ACTION REQUEST: ☒ Approval ☐ Review Comment ☐ Information Only ☐ Other |
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
To authorize the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and amend Walter J Barnes Electric’s contract for Rampart streetcar restoration for an additional not-to-exceed amount of $250,000 for the construction of a new foundation for an OCS pole - an unforeseen condition that is critical to maintaining the current schedule.
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ISSUE/BACKGROUND:
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The Rampart streetcar line was severely damaged because of the Hard Rock Hotel collapse in 2019. RTA completed a damage assessment and design for the repair of the track and overhead catenary system. A damage assessment was completed by RTA contractor and at the time all OCS pole foundations were believed to be existing. RTA design firm prepared a drawing package based on the previously assessed conditions. A construction contract was awarded to Walter J Barnes Electric (Barnes) in October 2022.
Barnes submitted its initial permit application to the City of New Orleans in November 2022. That permit application has been delayed by the City for several months pushing back the original anticipated restoration of service date from June 2023 to January 2024. The permit was just approved by the City to begin most of the work, except the start of the corridor at Elysian Fields and St Claude. That intersection is controlled by DOTD as it is a state highway (LA 46).
Since the survey, additional work was done at the site as part of demolition and debris removal associated with the building collapse that staff and the design team were not aware of. During the preliminary preparation by Barnes, it was recently identified that there was either no or a badly damaged foundation at one of the OCS pole locations.
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DISCUSSION:
To maintain the updated project schedule work needs to begin immediately on installation of the damaged OCS poles along N Rampart St near Canal St. In parallel, the team will be able to secure the final permit from DOTD so that work can proceed on the re-tensioning of the cables from the far end at Elysian Fields toward Canal St.
The unforeseen condition with the OCS foundation is now on the critical path to mobilizing work crews. This additional work covered by the change order will require work that puts the contractor at risk without assurance the change order will be advancing (Letter from contract attached). This amendment request will authorize staff to work in parallel to finalize the detailed cost amounts and approvals while the contractor Barnes begins mobilizing crews. Waiting until the following month risks an additional 4-6 weeks of delay that could jeopardize the overall project schedule to meet the January return to service date.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The original total cost for this work was not to exceed $1.02 M. The estimated amount for the additional work is not to exceed $250,000.00 and will be funded through 1.1510.109 if needed. Staff will continue to negotiate this price as the detailed solution and cost is finalized.
NEXT STEPS:
Upon Board approval, staff will finalize the change order amount and amend W J Barnes Electric’s contract to include work to rebuild the new OCS pole foundation.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Initial Request for Change from Walter J Barnes Electric
3. Letter from Walter J. Barnes Electric
Prepared By: Darrell LaFrance, dlfrance@rtaforward.org
Title: Project Manager, III
Reviewed By: Dwight Norton, dnorton@rtaforward.org
Title: Interim Chief of Infrastructure, Planning and Information Technology
Reviewed By: Giselle Johnson Banks
Title: Chief Financial Officer
7/21/2023
Lona Edwards Hankins Date
Chief Executive Officer