Subject:
Title
Agreement with Frontier Florida LLC to reimburse Pinellas County for additional utility locates support services.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Agreement with Frontier Florida, LLC (Frontier) to reimburse Pinellas County Utilities (PCU) for additional utility line locate support services needed to locate infrastructure owned and maintained by PCU. This is in conjunction with Frontier’s accelerated Fiber to the Home project.
• This is an agreement that will allow Frontier Florida LLC to reimburse PCU in the estimated amount of $600,000.00 due to additional utility line locate services requested and needed. Utilities has obtained McKim & Creed to provide these additional infrastructure location support services. Frontier has offered to reimburse the County for this additional expense.
• This contract will help prevent future utility line breaks that cause disruption to customers and utility services. Underground utility lines must be located prior to any digging or project work can begin. Frontier has a very aggressive schedule that is outpacing the County’s ability to keep up with locating requests.
• Frontier Florida LLC has a 1.5-year accelerated fiber optic cable installation project that has created an abnormally high rate and demand for utility line locate requests.
• Frontier’s fiber optic cables will be installed by directionally drilling that requires underground pipes and valves to be first detected, located, and visibly marked. This prevents damage to underground assets located in these work areas.
• Contracted services will be used to provide support for utility line locate requests to maintain the current utility line locates workload and meet the additional 25% workload demand needed and requested by Frontier Florida LLC for their ongoing fiber installation project.
• PCU currently has a Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) contract with McKim & Creed for services including line locating services.
• PCU will be billed monthly by McKim & Creed for additional locate services performed, and PCU will submit reimbursement requests to Frontier.
• This CCNA agreement has a $4 million project limit for this type of service.
• Revenue will be deposited in the Water and Sewer Operating Funds to reimburse for expense from these funds.
Frontier to reimburse County approximately $600,000.00 for utility locates to meet Frontier deadlines; Agreement term effective for twenty (20) months upon execution.
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Strategic Plan:
Deliver First Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources
5.3 Ensure effective and efficient delivery of county services and support
Summary:
The Agreement provides a mechanism to ensure the County is reimbursed for expenses connected with the location and marking of underground facilities for Frontier’s broadband expansion project. Frontier will reimburse the County approximately $600,000.00 for needed utility locates to meet Frontier’s project deadlines. McKim & Creed will complete locates for the County under the current CCNA agreement. Frontier’s project service improvements include fiber optic cable installation to boost wi-fi and internet connections for Frontier’s customers. Upon approval, the contract will be effective for twenty (20) months.
Background/Explanation:
In the mid-2000s, Verizon started a countywide fiber optic installation program for the County and completed approximately half of the County before shelving the remainder of the project due to funding issues. Frontier recently acquired Verizon and is committed to completing the rest of the installation program. Frontier has a very aggressive schedule that is outpacing the County’s ability to keep up with locating requests. Frontier has offered to reimburse the County for additional contracted locate requests. The County has a current ongoing contract for locating services with McKim & Creed, who has the resources to complete the work.
Fiscal Impact:
Frontier to reimburse the County approximately $600,000.00 for utility locates to meet Frontier deadlines. The revenue will be deposited in the Water and Sewer Operating Funds for associated expense from these funds. If savings in the appropriated budget are not sufficient to cover the anticipated additional expense, PCU may request a budget amendment during FY23 to recognize the reimbursement revenue and increase expenditure appropriation accordingly (net $0 impact).
Staff Member Responsible:
Hillary Weber, Acting Director, Utilities
Partners:
Frontier Florida LLC
Attachments:
Agreement including Exhibit A
Notice to Proceed-Purchase Order-Scope of Work (McKim & Creed).