Subject:
Title
Ranking of firms and agreement with Land & Water Engineering Science, Inc. for professional engineering services for the Starkey Channel 5 Bank Stabilization project.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the ranking of firms and agreement with Land & Water Engineering Science, Inc. for professional engineering services for the Starkey Channel 5 Bank Stabilization project.
• This contract is for professional engineering services for the Starkey Channel 5 Bank Stabilization project.
• The banks of Starkey Road Channel 5 consist of very loose sand that has been experiencing erosion for decades. Bank failures complicate maintenance in multiple ways. This contract will determine engineered solutions to stabilize channel banks and make access and maintenance safer.
• One firm submitted a proposal that was evaluated. Purchasing extended the solicitation period to ensure adequate attempts for competition; however, five firms provided no submission responses due to their respective workloads.
• Recommendation to award was made to Land & Water Engineering Science, Inc., in the amount of $1,012,560.24 in accordance with the Consultants Competitive Negotiations Act (CCNA), per Florida Statute 287.055. This amount includes $53,624.28 in optional services.
• Land & Water Engineering Science, Inc. is a Pinellas County Certified SBE.
• This agreement will be effective for 1,095 days from issuance of notice to proceed from the County.
• Funding for this agreement is available under Starkey Channel 5 Bank Stabilization project 004135A, included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Capital Fund in the amount of $10,113,000.00 with Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas).
Contract No. 25-0437-RFQ-CCNA in the amount of $1,012,560.24; Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.4 Improve environmental quality
Healthy and Safe Community
2.2 Enhance Community Safety
Summary:
Summary
The overall objectives of the engineering agreement are to develop plans and specifications and provide all other professional engineering services as may be required to perform full and final design work for bank stabilization and potential water quality improvements along the manmade ±2,100 linear foot segment of Starkey Road Channel 5. Such design work shall include development of 30%, 60%, 90% and 100% Design Plans and Specifications as well as post design services.
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Background Information:
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to comply with the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA), per Florida Statute 287.055, was released June 17, 2025, on behalf of Public Works with submittals due July 29, 2025; the negotiation and scoping process concluded February 25, 2026.
The contract includes fully burdened hourly rates that include all labor, direct/indirect overhead margins/profits, and travel within the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area (TBMSA). Travel outside of the TBMCSA will be reimbursed in accordance with Florida Statutes.
The existing banks of Starkey Road Channel 5 consist of very loose sand that has little or no cohesion. The channel has been experiencing both fluvial and mass failure erosion for decades. Channel degradation has caused the creek to deepen, resulting in steepening of the banks and bank failures that encroach onto the maintenance pathway and toward commercial properties on both sides of the embankment. Severe erosion has also caused sediment transport downstream. The County has an existing 70-ft. wide recorded drainage easement over the channel within the project area. The surrounding land use is commercial, and the area is built out. Routine maintenance efforts to stabilize the banks and prevent further erosion have not provided satisfactory results. The loose soils have created unsafe conditions for maintenance activities that require the use of heavy equipment.
Fiscal Impact:
Total contract not to exceed: $1,012,560.24
Funding for this agreement is available under Starkey Channel 5 Bank Stabilization project 004135A, included in the FY26-FY31 Capital Improvement Plan, funded by the Capital Fund in the amount of $10,113,000.00 with Local Infrastructure Sales Surtax (Penny for Pinellas).
Staff Member Responsible:
Kelly Hammer-Levy, Director, Public Works
Merry Celeste, Purchasing Division Director, Office of Management and Budget
Chris Rose, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Partners:
N/A
Attachments:
Agreement
Ranking
Location Map