Does the City of Georgetown Know What They are Doing?

The following item is on the City Consent agenda for the next council meeting on April 25: 

Consideration and possible action to approve Task Order with RVi of Austin, TX, for professional services related to San Gabriel Park Phase II improvements and Hike and Bike Trail Extension in the amount of $502,265.00 

Remember that items on the consent agenda are to be approved without public comment. It would seem that this particular item deserves some public discussion.

The San Gabriel Park Phase II is budgeted to cost $3.8 Million Dollars including this item.

The first issue that jumps out is this is a proposed task order contract. Task order contracts are used when the scope and timing of the work cannot be predefined. In this case it seems like both the scope and schedule can be defined in advance and a firm, fixed price contract is warranted. Task order contracts are open-ended with no cost or schedule limits, except the contract duration.

The second issue that arises when looking at the task order is that this 1/2 Million Dollar contract is for project management services, where the project is the design of the park improvements. Five people are to be hired at rates ranging from $70 per hour to $250 per hour to hire subcontractors to do the actual design work.

This seems like a task for city staff to accomplish themselves, unless they do not have the necessary skills. It would certainly be far cheaper for the city staff, i.e. a project manager and procurement specialist, to hire and oversee subcontractors than to hire a high price project management firm.

Here is what passes as a schedule:

Timeline

July 31, 2017            Schematic Design Documents  

October 31, 2017       Design Development Documents

February 28, 2018     Construction Documents

And by-the-way, "No public meetings or presentations to Parks Board, City Council or the Adaptive Management Working Group by Consultant are included."

What a deal, here is $500K, come back when the money is gone and hopefully something useful will be provided to the city!

The proposed tasks do not include schedules, milestones, performance requirements or other common project management tools.

For more information, visit the following city website.