HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter - Ford Engineers, Inc.February 5, 2014
Mr. Johnny Martinez, P.E.
City Manager
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
Re: Waiver of competitive bidding requirements pursuant to Sec. 18-85(a) of the City
Code to ensure to timely and coordinated completion of certain right-of-way
improvements within the Miami Design District.
Dear Mr. Manager:
Ford Engineering ("Ford") is the engineer of record for the improvements being advanced by Oak Plaza
Associates (DEL.), LLC ("Oak Plaza") through its contractor, Coastal Construction Group of South
Florida, Inc. ("Coastal"), within the Miami Design District. We respectfully tender this letter to the
administration and City Commission of the City of Miami ("City") recommending the award of the
project, consisting of certain improvements within the right-of-way along NE 38th and 39th Streets
between NE 1st & 2nd Avenues (the "Right -of -Way Improvements"), to Oak Plaza without competitive
selection.
We believe that the recommended course of action is in the best interests of the City and project for each
of the following reasons:
1. Oak Plaza and its affiliates, through and with Coastal, have a long-standing relationship and are
currently advancing a comprehensive right-of-way enhancement program within the subject area.
As such, they are intimately familiar with the conditions within the area which will allow them to
anticipate issues, minimize costs, and most efficiently deliver the desired improvements.
2. Because of the proximity of the improvements currently being advanced by Oak Plaza through
Coastal and the potential for possible conflicts that will create unneeded disruption to the public -
at -large, the award of the Right -of -Way Improvements will ensure greater coordination of the
both projects, thus mitigating against any potential miscommunication that could result in project
delays and needless inconvenience to the public.
3. Through their continuous involvement in the area by virtue of their existing projects, Oak Plaza
and its affiliates and Coastal are familiar with the procedures and requirements established by the
City, thus providing greater assurance that those procedures and requirements are uniformly
enforced and followed.
1950 NW 94th Avenue • 2 Floor • Dora!, FL 33172-2330 • Phone:305-477-6472 • Fax: 305-470-2805
http://www.fordco.com
For these reasons, we recommend that the City Commission adopt the resolution waiving competitive
bidding requirements for the Right -of -Way Improvements and allow Oak Plaza, through Coastal, to
continue and complete the same in a timely manner benefiting the City.
S incerely,
FORD ENGINEERS, INC.
By:
Manuel Echezarreta, P.E.
President
For the Firm