HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/17/2023 Item 6f, Horn - Staff Agenda CorrespondenceCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum
City of San Luis Obispo
Council Agenda Correspondence
DATE: October 17, 2023
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: Brian Nelson, Deputy Director of Public Works / City Engineer
Matt Horn, Public Works Director
VIA: Derek Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: ITEM 6F – AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE ON-CALL SERVICES FOR
QUALIFICATIONS – VARIOUS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Staff received the following questions, regarding the request to advertise on-call services.
The questions are below with staff’s response shown in italics:
1) Do we have any local preference allowances in our selection process for these
contracts?
California statute (Government Code Section 4525 – 4529.5) requires all government
agencies to utilize Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS). QBS is a competitive
procurement process that requires a public agency to hire design professionals based
on their qualifications and competence. The code states “Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, selection by a state and local agency head for professional services
… shall be on the basis of demonstrated competence and on the professional
qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the services required.”
The requirements of QBS procurement do not identify location as a suitable
qualification criterion. However, in general, local firms rank higher in the selection
process due to their familiarity with the local codes and standards, past and present
projects with the City, and ability to more quickly respond to work requests due to their
proximity.
2) For Urban Design, Transportation Engineering, and similar contracts, do we
require any certifications like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED), National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), or
similar that demonstrates firms seeking selection have experience in best
practices or incorporating environmental and health considerations into
design?
The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process will prequalify professional services
firms, resulting in a short list of firms from which staff can seek proposals for individual
projects. Various professional organization accreditations and certifications are not a
prerequisite for being selected for on-call services since not all projects include a
related scope of work. However, firms demonstrating project expertise, certifications,
and/or accreditations that align well with City policies and forward-thinking design
standards and practices are typically ranked higher than those without.