TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 21, 2026
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. John P. Murray, Executive Director
Title
Issue purchase order and enter into an agreement for Contract 26-CON-01 (Project 25-801-2C, formerly Project 25-801-3C), Testing and Inspection of Concrete and Construction Materials, with Flood Testing Laboratories, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $750,000.00, Account 201-50000-612240, Requisition 1658052
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement with Flood Testing Laboratories, Inc., for professional engineering services for Contract 26-CON-01 (Project 25-801-2C, formerly Project 25-801-3C), Testing and Inspection of Concrete and Construction Materials, in an amount not to exceed $750,000.00.
The proposed work consists of the inspection and testing of concrete and other construction materials. The items to be inspected will include, but are not limited to, fresh and hardened properties of ready-mix concrete, precast concrete, asphalt, shotcrete, and other construction materials. The consultant will prepare and submit written reports of all tests and inspections performed. Concrete cylinder reports are to be submitted weekly, with other reports to be submitted within a pre-agreed timeframe.
The consultant will function as a technical advisor to the Engineering Department (Engineering) by providing training, review of submittals, and recommendations for specifications.
Engineering, along with the Procurement and Materials Management Department (Procurement), conducted a consultant selection process to assess prospective consulting engineering firms for providing the professional engineering services. Several firms were invited to submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). SOQs were received from two companies, and both were invited to participate in an interview:
Flood Testing Laboratories, Inc.
SEECO Consultants
The SOQs were reviewed, and interviews conducted by a panel of three engineers and a representative from Procurement. After evaluation, Flood Testing Laboratories, Inc. was selected by the committee to provide the needed professional services based on the experience of the firm, project manager, support personnel, office locations, and performance on similar work.
Flood Testing Laboratories, Inc. is registered to transact business and is in good standing with the State of Illinois.
The purchase order will be in effect for the remainder of 2026 through December 31, 2028. However, the District reserves the right to extend the expiration date by mutual agreement.
This is an open purchase order, with the work performed dependent on the contracts awarded and the schedule of the contractors.
The approximate components of the total fee are as follows:
ITEM FEE
1. Total Labor Costs $550,000.00
2. Reimbursable Costs
Testing $200,000.00
Total Reimbursable Direct Costs $200,000.00
Total Fee (NOT TO EXCEED) $750,000.00
The Affirmative Action Ordinance, Appendix A, will be included and applied to the engineering services portion of the contract. The Affirmative Action goals for this contract are 20 percent Minority-owned Business Enterprises (MBE) and/or Woman-owned Business Enterprises (WBE).
Flood Testing Laboratories, Inc., is a WBE/SBE, and will perform all the work.
The Diversity Section has reviewed the agreement and has concluded that the WBE/SBE firm is in accordance with the District’s Affirmative Action Policy. The agreement shall be subject to the approval of the Law Department as to form and legality.
Inasmuch as the firm of Flood Testing Laboratories, Inc. possesses a high degree of professional skill, it is recommended that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to issue a purchase order and enter into an agreement per Section 11.4 of the Purchasing Act, in an amount not to exceed $750,000.00.
Funds for the 2026 expenditure, in the amount of $168,000.00, are available in Account 201-50000-612240. The estimated expenditures for 2027 and 2028 are $291,000.00 per year. Funds for the 2027 and 2028 expenditures are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for those years.
Respectfully Submitted, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, GCR
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement and Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Previous Brady-Davis, Chairperson Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for May 21, 2026
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