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The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit, Water and Sewerage Department authorizes the Director to approve DWSD Contract 6007080 (CS-1995) with Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. dba OHM Advisors, for Stormwater Infrastructure Program Management Services, for a total contact amount not-to-exceed $18,000,000.00 and a term of five (5) years, plus two (2) one-year renewal options. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
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Agenda of April 16, 2025
Item No. 2025-75
Contract No: 6007080 (CS-1995)
Contractor: Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. dba OHM Advisors (DBB)
Address: 1145 Griswold Street, Detroit, MI 48226
Contract Amount: $18,000,000.00
Contract Term: 5 years, plus two (2) one-year renewal options
TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan
FROM: Gary Brown, Director
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
RE: Proposed DWSD Contract 6007080 (CS-1995)
Stormwater Infrastructure Program Management Services
Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. dba OHM Advisors
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Marqaicha Welch, Purchasing Manager, the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit, Water and Sewerage Department, authorizes the Director to approve The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit, Water and Sewerage Department authorizes the Director to approve DWSD Contract 6007080 (CS-1995) with Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. dba OHM Advisors, for Stormwater Infrastructure Program Management Services, for a total contact amount not-to-exceed $18,000,000.00 and a term of five (5) years, plus two (2) one-year renewal options. This also authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
In 2010, DWSD began implementing a Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program. From 2010-2013, activities such as tree planting, downspout disconnection workshops, selective building demolition and subsequent replanting have been conducted.
With the issuance of the 2013 NPDES permit, DWSD hired a program management consultant to provide design and construction administration services for green infrastructure projects including vacant lot bioretention, swales, pervious pavement and other green infrastructure practices to manage stormwater. In 2019, a new NPDES permit was issued which required the continuation of the green infrastructure program. As of 2024, DWSD has spent approximately $57 Million implementing green stormwater infrastructure and has achieved an estimated annual stormwater reduction of 83 million gallons into the combined sewer system. Under the latest permit cycle DWSD has also begun to develop and implement combined sewer overflow (CSO) control projects in alignment with the CSO Control Plan jointly developed by DWSD and GLWA.
The current NPDES Permit incorporating the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program expired 10/01/22 but efforts towards the goals of the permit have continued. DWSD is awaiting EGLE’s issuance of the new permit (anticipated in spring/summer 2025), which will include the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program.
JUSTIFICATION
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) and the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) are co-permittees of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit No. MI0022802, issued by the State of Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). This permit requires DWSD and GLWA to jointly develop and implement the Alternative Rouge River Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Program, which is designed to restore water quality and protect public health while staying within the City’s financial means to pay for new projects. The Alternative CSO Control Program, which is in lieu of the formerly approved Upper Rouge Tunnel CSO control facility that was cancelled in 2009, encompasses a 25-year phased plan that focuses on green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) solutions along with “right-sized” conventional CSO control facilities.
The Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program is required under the DWSD National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. MI0022802. As part of DWSD’s revised Long-Term Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Plan for the Rouge River, the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program was adopted in lieu of the cancelled Upper Rouge Tunnel in 2010.
The Green Stormwater Infrastructure Program targets to reduce the annual stormwater (including snowmelt) runoff into a portion of the combined sewer system, which will contribute to the reduction in CSO discharges (volume and frequency) from Outfalls 059-069, 072-075, 077 and 079. These outfalls are situated along a 7.5 mile stretch of the main branch of the Rouge River and the tributary streams are located in upper western Detroit, which is the same area that the Upper Rouge Tunnel would have served.
The NPDES permit also requires DWSD and GLWA to enact projects identified in the revised CSO Control Plan for the area tributary to the Detroit River Outfalls 005-009, 011, and 012 (known as the “Near Eastside”). These projects will include cost-effective GSI solutions along with conventional CSO control facilities.
The Stormwater Infrastructure program under Contract No. 6001995 (CS-1995) will ensure compliance with the green stormwater infrastructure requirements of the NPDES permit, and reduce wet weather flows into the combined sewer system. The consultant team under this contract will research, manage and implement green stormwater infrastructure and CSO control projects in the Upper Rouge Tributary area, the Near Eastside area and other areas of Detroit as directed by DWSD. The team will prioritize strategies to ensure alignment with the targets of the CSO control plan, cost-effectiveness of projects, community engagement, and long-term sustainability of the program. The team will also continue project development and implementation efforts started under Contract No. 6001884 (CS-1884A).
PROCUREMENT METHOD
This procurement was competitively solicited through a Request for Proposals (RFP) per Requisition 522120, which was fully approved on 12/9/24. DWSD published RFP #522120/CS-1995 for Stormwater Infrastructure Program Management on the Michigan Inter-Governmental Trade Network (MITN) BidNet website for 38 calendar days (1/13/25 - 2/20/25). MITN published this opportunity to 2371 vendors and 129 firms downloaded the bid package.
Two proposals were received:
1. OHM Advisors
2. The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc.
The Proposals were first evaluated for responsiveness by Procurement. It was determined that the Mannik & Smith Group’s proposal was deemed non-responsible for failing to meet all the RFP’s stated minimum qualifications.
The Evaluation Committee was comprised of the Field Services Director, an Engineer from the Engineering Department, and an Assistant Manager in the Field Engineering Group. Evaluations were based on the following criteria:
• Work Plan
• Firm Experience/Ability to Perform the Work
• Staff Experience
• Pricing
Each voting member of the Evaluation Committee independently reviewed, evaluated and scored the lone responsive proposal based on a pass/fail basis for the first three criteria listed above. All three Evaluation Committee members gave OHM Advisors a passing score for each criterion.
Therefore, the Evaluation Committee recommended that the highest-ranked Proposer, OHM Advisors, enter into negotiations for contract award. Negotiations were successful.
Based on the information above, DWSD recommends the contract be awarded to the highest ranked responsive and responsible proposer, OHM Advisors.
OHM’s clearances expire 5/28/25. A formal contract document has been sent to the vendor for signature.
SUMMARY
A. Contract No.: 6007080
B. Contract Term: 5 years, plus two (2) one-year renewals
C. Initial Contract Amount: $18,000,000.00
D. Funding Source: CIP Funds
E. Anticipated FY Spend: FY 24-25: $743,199.00
FY 25-26: $3,100,000.00
FY 26-27: $5,500,000.00
FY 27-28: $5,500,000.00
FY 28-29: $3,156,801.00
F. GL String:
5821-20243-497711-617900-900423-30129-0000-000000 - 100% Sewer
This proposed contract was presented to the BOWC Finance Committee on April 2, 2025. Per DWSD procurement protocol, Mayoral Review and Detroit City Council approvals will also be obtained.