Council awards police seismic design contract to WRK after qualifications review

The City Council on Aug. 26 awarded an engineering and architectural services contract for a police department seismic grant to the firm identified in staff materials as WRK.

Staff solicited requests for qualifications and presented scoring results, recommending WRK based on experience with seismic projects of comparable type and scale. Council members reviewed scoring sheets and asked staff about differences in special qualifications among firms; staff said WRK’s prior seismic work and project delivery track record supported the recommendation.

Council discussion referenced a scoring rubric that included experience, special qualifications for seismic work, and references to prior projects (including work on stations and schools). One council member noted a strong in-person impression of an alternate proposer and asked staff to share internal scoring notes; staff offered to provide the notes for review. Another council member raised concerns about apparent inconsistencies in scoring but concluded it did not change the recommendation.

A motion to award the contract to WRK was made by a council member and seconded; the council approved the award by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Staff said they would provide the scoring notes on request and proceed with contracting under the seismic grant scope. The award authorizes staff to enter into an agreement for design and construction oversight services necessary to complete the seismic project for the police department.

The selection and contract award were taken under the staff procurement process; council did not, during the meeting, provide additional appropriations for the project beyond the grant-funded scope presented by staff.