Item 8 — original pdf

Backup

Item 8 # 24-4850 Water & Wastewater Commission: June 12, 2024 Council: July 18, 2024 Posting Language Recommend approval to negotiate and execute a contract for consulting services to develop the Austin Water 2028 Strategic Plan with Blue Sky Incubators LLC d/b/a Blue Sky Partners, for a term of two years in an amount not to exceed $150,000. MBE/WBE This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. Lead Department Financial Services Department Client Department Austin Water Assistant Director of Business Services, Anna Bryan-Borja Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $150,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining contract term is subject to available funding in future budgets. Purchasing Language: The Financial Services Department issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) 2200 BJT3012 for these services. The solicitation was issued on December 04, 2023, and closed on January 30, 2024. Of the nine offers received, the recommended contractor submitted the best evaluated responsive offer. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bids received, is available for viewing, is available for viewing on the City’s Financial Services, website, Austin Finance Online. Link: Solicitation Document. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: June 12, 2024 - To be reviewed by the Water & Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide a consultant to facilitate, refresh and develop a new strategic plan to guide Austin Water (AW) into the future. The contractor will work closely with internal and external stakeholders of AW to conduct a ground-up strategic planning process, gathering comprehensive feedback from all levels of the organization and offering multiple opportunities for community input. The AW 2028 Strategic Plan will align with the City’s Strategic Plan to provide secure, reliable, and resilient utility infrastructure that cost effectively serves the customers. The contractor’s strategic planning expertise enables AW staff to collaborate on plan developments while carrying out core business functions and offers a different perspective on industry trends and emerging risks. An evaluation team with expertise in this area evaluated the offers and scored the plan with Blue Sky Incubators LLC d/b/a Blue Sky Partners as the best to provide these services based on work plan,  Item 8 # 24-4850 Water & Wastewater Commission: June 12, 2024 Council: July 18, 2024 schedule, and proposed project deadlines, workshop design proposal, staff qualifications/personnel, small business preference, local business preference, sample of previous similar projects, and price. A delay in contract approval would result in AW being without a long-term strategic plan, potentially causing stalled progress on important initiatives and risk to the utility and City.