HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Professional Services Contract for Energy Resource Options Study RESOLUTION NO. 12-270
RESOLUTION AWARDING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR
ENERGY RESOURCE OPTIONS STUDY
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS, in recent years,the electric utility industry, especially those with fossil-fueled
generation resources, has been challenged by the introduction of several imposing environmental
regulations promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA); and,
WHEREAS,at the same time,the price and supply of natural gas has improved significantly,
due primarily to the additional supply of natural gas in the United States made available as a result
of"fracking,"but also, in part, related to the softening of the demand for natural gas as a result of
the economic recession; and,
WHEREAS, these two factors, severe environmental regulations, and the low price and
abundance of natural gas,togetherhave causedthe industry to seriously evaluate its strategies of how
to generate electric power in the future; and,
WHEREAS,the City of Ames,with two coal-fired generating units 45 and 30 years old,must
now evaluate their future role of supplying power for the City of Ames electric taxpayers in light of
these same forces; and,
WHEREAS, the Ames Municipal Electric System (AMES), is soliciting the services of an
architect-engineering firm with vast and current knowledge and experience pertaining to the design,
engineering,costs,and application of equipment associated with electric power generation,including
environmental control processes and equipment; and,
WHEREAS,the City is in need of a study to assess the electric generating and power supply
options to satisfy the City's future electric power requirements, especially in light of the variables
and constraints that currently exist and for those that are expected in the future, most notably the
rules and regulations recently proposed or finalized by the U.S. EPA; and,
WHEREAS, the basic scope of work is as follows: starting with AMES existing electric
utility infrastructure,including its power generation assets and resources,evaluate all possible(and
credible) options for generating electricity, and supply power to satisfy the City's electrical power
requirements for 2015 and beyond; and,
WHEREAS, on March 21, 2012, the Request for Proposal (RFP) document was issued to
nine firms for the solicitation of proposals, and on April 27, 2012, staff received competitive
proposals from six firms; and,
WHEREAS, these proposals were reviewed by a staff Evaluation Committee, and each
member independently evaluated and scored all six of the proposals in two separate steps; and,
WHEREAS, based on the averaged weighted scores and a unanimous decision by the
Evaluation Committee,staff recommends that a contract be awarded to Black&Veatch Corporation
of Kansas City, Missouri, in the not-to-exceed amount of$375,000.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that the Professional Services Contract for the Energy Resource Options Study with Black&Veatch
Corporation of Kansas City,Missouri,in the not-to-exceed amount of$375,000 is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 22nd day of May, 2012.
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor
Introduced by: Goodman
Seconded by: Wacha
Voting aye: Davis, Goodman, Larson, Orazem, Szopinski, Wacha
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 22nd day of May, 2012.