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Commission authorizes negotiation with Dewberry for FEMA road-repair design work
Summary
The Panama City Commission voted Oct. 28 to authorize negotiations with Dewberry Engineering to design repairs to road segments approved for FEMA public-assistance, and asked staff to return with task-order cost estimates for non-FEMA segments.
Panama City commissioners on Oct. 28 approved staff recommendations to enter negotiations with Dewberry Engineering (with Half Associates and Magnum Engineering as subconsultants) to design FEMA-approved road repairs.
Background: Following arbitration, FEMA approved 351 city road segments for repair related to Hurricane Michael; the city issued an RFQ for engineering services to design the repairs and identify eligible projects. An evaluation committee of city staff and outside advisors ranked Dewberry as the top-qualified firm from six submissions.
Why it matters: The work is intended to secure FEMA public-assistance reimbursements by producing design documents suitable for FEMA reimbursement. Staff said FEMA will pay actual documented costs for approved segments, but commissioners asked Dewberry to provide a separate estimate for design of non-FEMA-eligible segments so the city can anticipate local-funding needs and consider surtax or other local sources if necessary.
Action: The commission authorized staff to negotiate a contract or task order with Dewberry; commissioners requested that staff bring two task-order options back at the next meeting: (1) design work for FEMA-eligible segments and (2) a separate scope and cost estimate for the non-FEMA segments the city may choose to repair using local funds. The motion passed 5-0.
Next steps: Staff will return with task-order documents and cost estimates for both FEMA-eligible and non-FEMA segments so the commission can consider appropriate funding paths and timelines.
