Recommend approval to procure design services from Ecological Planning Group (EPG) in the amount of $48,650.00, which will be funded through a State grant. The design services will be used by the Water Resources Department to design a Habersham Village green infrastructure and beautification plan in conjunction with the Casey South Phase 2A Drainage Improvement Project. This is a sole source because Ecological Planning Group was contracted on a previous project to improve water quality. The previous project exhausted the funds available so the Water Resources Department sought grant funding. To maintain uniformity and to reduce duplication of efforts, Ecological Planning Group is being recommended.

EPG is a subcontractor with Thomas and Hutton for the role of water quality planning on the Casey Phase 2A project. To be able to keep water quality improvements in the basin, the City partnered with EPG to draft a grant application for the Habersham Green Infrastructure and Beautification Design. The City was awarded the grant based on the project scope and budget, which included a match from EPG’s work on the Casey 2A project. In addition, the City’s grant contract with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources includes budget and project task details that specify EPG staff, rates and match. The City's procurement procedures make allowances for a sole source award to a private contractor if the specification of the project agreement and/or grant requires that specific contractor. This is the case in this instance.

Approval