Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
November 22, 2017 – 4:40 p.m.
At 2:00 p.m. on November 22, 2017, Fernandina Beach City Manager Dale Martin, Purchasing Agent Wanda Weeks and Marina Manager Joe Springer attended a meeting in the city’s Conference Room to open bids received in response to RFQ 2017-04 seeking maritime engineering assistance in repairing the city marina. The city marina has been virtually out of business for a year due to damage sustained during Hurricane Matthew.
Four responses were received. Two bid to design; two bid to design/build. Next week the city will convene a review panel to review and rank the responses. The Fernandina Beach City Commission will consider awarding the bid at their December 19, 2017 meeting.
Respondents were invited to submit bids for 3 projects, with the third project conditional upon grant funding. Respondents were given two options: “Part A” bid for review, design, and document preparation, and “Part B” for design/build services. If opting to also bid on Project #3 respondents were advised to show that as an additional cost for both proposals since that project is conditional upon grant funding.
The bids are provided below.
| BIDDER | DESIGN ONLY | DESIGN/BUILD |
| McLaren (Orlando) | Project 1:
$40,810 Project 2: $35,795 |
No Bid |
| Passero Associates
(Jacksonville) |
Project 1:
$185,000 Project 2: $155,000 |
No Bid |
| ATM (Gainesville) | Project 1:
$54,000 Project 2: $50,000 Project 3: $56,000 |
Combined Projects 1 and 2:
$3,150,473 |
| OTEK (Yulee) | No Bid | Project 1:
$5,751,594.29 Project 2: $4,399,461.12 |
Project #1
The Marina’s southern attenuator, composed of approximately 1000 feet of floating concrete modules with related amenities (lighting, electrical, water, and fire suppression systems), was significantly damaged as a result of Hurricane Matthew (October, 2016). Several pilings to which the concrete modules were affixed were also significantly damaged.
Project #2
Unrelated to Project #1 (and associated FEMA funding), the City desires to reconfigure the southern basin docks (from the current east/west configuration to a proposed north/south configuration). The subject docks will support long-term and transient watercraft. Said docks will provide support services such as lighting, electrical, water, and fire suppression systems. Due to the proposed reconfiguration, several pilings must be re-positioned.
Project #3
Separate from Projects #1 and #2, the City has submitted an application to secure grant funding for a northward expansion of three docks (approximately 300 feet each). This project is entirely dependent upon receipt of said grant funds, the award of which is expected in early 2018. The proposed dock expansions will house transient watercraft and include associated services such lighting, electrical, water, and fire suppression systems.
If the bid is awarded at the December FBCC meeting, City Manager Martin restated the city’s goal to have the south attenuator available for use during ShrimpFest 2018.
The FEMA estimate for repairs was upwards of $5M. FEMA will reimburse the city for 75 percent of the cost of authorized repairs.
Four members of the public also attended the bid opening. Florida Inland Navigation District Commissioner Lynn Williams asked about the inclusion of dredging. Martin said that dredging was not included in the projects. Williams mused over the use of FEMA reimbursement funds to cover activities and repairs not authorized by the agency. He suggested that perhaps the bidders could “use chicanery” to do so. City Manager Martin quickly replied that bidders would not “use chicanery” to utilize FEMA reimbursements.