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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter of Interest - Coal Line Trail Phase I Proj No. 115-063 - VS Engineering SolutionsLETTER OF LETTER OF INTERESTINTEREST JANUARY 12, 2021 CITY OF SOUTH BEND: COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) FROM LINCOLN WAY WEST TO RIVERSIDE DR. CLIENT FOCUSED.   •   TRUST.   •   WORK HARD. TOGETHER.   •   KNOWLEDGE. MARK HERALD, PE Northern Region Director Project Manager mherald@vsengineering.com C: 260.348.1768 VS Engineering: 95% McCormick Engineering (DBE): 5% ƒ10305-A Dawson’s Creek Blvd. • Fort Wayne, IN 46825 ƒ260.489.6635 ƒwww.vsengineering.com January 12, 2021   Mr. Kyle Silveus, Assistant City Engineer 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. 1316 County-City Building South Bend, IN 46601 Re: City of South Bend Coal Line Trail (Phase I) from Lincoln Way West to Riverside Dr. (Des. 1401810) in LaPorte District Dear Mr. Silveus: VS ENGINEERING (VS) is pleased to submit our Letter of Interest for construction inspection services for your Coal Line Trail (Phase I) project. Our VS Team understands that this project will not only provide pedestrian connectivity in the area, but will implement an aesthetic enhancement to the corridor. Our team clearly recognizes that this project is not simply a pedestrian improvement, but also creates an asset for future economic development and aids in beautification efforts. When completed, it will be a tremendous asset for years to come, and will continue to shine a spotlight on the City as being a great place to live, work and play. Our team will be led by Mark Herald, PE, who has over 17 years of experience in transportation engineering on both locally and federally funded projects, including for the City of South Bend, La Porte County, the City of Warsaw, the City of Fort Wayne, and other communities in Northern Indiana. Mark is a proven leader, and will be a strong partner for you from start to finish. Mark and the rest of our VS Engineering construction inspection team are interested in exploring opportunities to provide savings to the City’s taxpayers much needed funds, particularly in a time when local funds will likely diminish due to the current health pandemic. As with most infrastructure projects, local residents typically have concerns about how projects will affect their daily lives. At VS, we understand the City of South Bend’s strong interest in keeping the public informed of ongoing construction projects as you detail many of your projects on the City’s website in your ongoing efforts towards increased transparency. We know that our work reflects on you and understand your need for a superior and worry-free project. We pledge to be excellent representatives for the City in communicating with the hundreds of affected citizens who live in this highly residential and commercial area. Our assigned Project Supervisor, Bill Kreger, is based out of our La Porte office, along with Project Inspector Fidel Chavez. Bill has been assigned full-time/on-site and brings with him over 10 years of experience in the areas of civil engineering, construction management and QC inspection. He has supervised roadway projects that match the same critical construction elements as the Coal Line Trail project, including the recent highly-lauded Maplecrest Road project, during which this VS team attended neighborhood public meetings to discuss the project’s impact on the residents’ daily lives. We listened to their concerns, and developed a working relationship with those individuals we would normally see on the job site. Having a Project Supervisor who is willing to listen and inform the residents is imperative to comforting the minds of the public. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of our locally-based VS Engineering team. We bring to you decades of experience, a strong understanding of the importance and impact of the finished project, and a passion for continuing to make the City of South Bend shine. We are capable. We understand. We are ready! Respectfully Submitted, SANJAY PATEL, PE President/CEO Principal-in-Charge sbpatel@vsengineering.com C: 317.626.0070 Our experienced team ensures critical construction supervision and inspection tasks are at the forefront, beginning with positive and effective communication with the INDOT Area Engineer. Our construction administration and inspection tasks are numerous and broad. • Pre-construction Conference • SiteManager and Project Documentation • Field Inspection and Contract Oversight • Extensive Project Te sting Implementation • Positive Communication (internal & external) • Bi-weekly Progress Meetings (issuance of minutes) • Pro-active Maintenance of Tr affic • Daily Erosion Control Inspections • Weekly/Monthly Project Status Updates • Change Order / Budget Management • Schedule Management • Timely and Accurate Final Construction Records We have selected this team carefully to provide the most efficient team possible for the City of South Bend. The two leaders on this project, Mark and Bill, are both long-term northern Indiana residents and are therefore readily available for all project tasks. Both have worked in and around South Bend. Bill will be finishing up another local project and will be able to transition into this project with ease. He is experienced working with City officials, familiar with the process of public communication, and knowledgeable regarding what is expected when representing South Bend. Our construction services team, led by Mark Herald, PE, has the depth and bredth to provide the necessary services — including project management, project supervision and construction inspection — to lead this project and provide support for the City of South Bend. Inspection for the project will be lead by Bill Kreger, who has been TRUSTED for over 10 years to successfully deliver construction projects. Bill’s experience while working at INDOT allows him to assist in training and mentoring VS project supervisors and inspectors across our company, and ensures that our staff are technically sound and well organized to provide high-quality construction supervision and inspection. The result of this training is a robust VS construction inspection team with decades of experience on federally and locally funded projects. THE VS TEAM LOCAL CAPACIT Y YOU SEEK EXPERIENCE YOU SEEK VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST  • 2   CITY OF SOUTH BEND KYLE SILVEUS, PE — ASSISTANT CITY ENGINEER PROJECT MANAGER & NORTHERN REGION DIRECTORMark Herald, PE PRINCIPAL-IN-CHARGE Sanjay Patel, PE PROJECT SUPERVISOR *Bill Kreger *VS Engineering La Porte Office 1 McCormick Engineering, LLC (DBE) UTILITIES SPECIALIST Joe Dluzak CONSTRUCTION INSPECTORS Andrew Matney, EI *Fidel Chavez Andy Holman 1 John Beer QA/QC Jerry Crothers YOUR PROJECT TEAM SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST   • 3   BILL KREGER | PROJECT SUPERVISOR 9 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE EDUCATION BROWN MACKIE COLLEGE CERTIFICATIONS ƒINDOT Field Proficiency (All Categories) ƒINDOT Site Manager Software ƒINDOT Certified Technician Bill joined the VS team full time after working for 8 years for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). He has supervised construction inspection on several projects relating to roadway construction including asphalt resurfacing, asphalt patching, traffic signal rehabilitations, and bridge deck overlays. Bill is an INDOT Certified Technician and is fully Field Proficient. He has also passed the INDOT SiteManager certification training. PROJECT SUPERVISOR EXPERIENCE ƒAsphalt Resurface (INDOT)—LaPorte District: Contract R-37738 ($4,200,000 Construction Cost) ƒSignal Rehabilitation (INDOT)—Fort Wayne District: Contract T-36023 ($180,000 Construction Cost) ƒAsphalt Resurface (INDOT)—Fort Wayne District: Contract RS-34904 ($305,000 Construction Cost) ƒAsphalt Resurface (INDOT)—Fort Wayne District: Contract RS-38695—3 Des Numbers ($3,900,000 Construction Cost) ƒAsphalt Resurface (INDOT)—Fort Wayne District: Contract RS-39653 ($900,000 Construction Cost) ƒAsphalt Resurface (INDOT)— Fort Wayne District: Contract RS-39652 ($2,000,000 Construction Amount) ƒAsphalt Resurface (INDOT)—Fort Wayne District: Contract RS-40829 ($1,800,000 Construction Cost) ƒAsphalt Patching (INDOT)—Fort Wayne District: Contract RS-41337—5 Des Numbers ($1,900,000 Construction Cost) MARK HERALD, PE | PROJECT MANAGER 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE EDUCATION B.S., CIVIL ENGINEERING INDIANA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY REGISTRATIONS PE — IN CERTIFICATIONS ƒINDOT Utility Coordinator ƒINDOT Certified Technician ƒACEC Leadership Training Graduate Mark serves as Project Manager for the firm’s transportation projects. Managing an inspection project requires a different technique than typical projects, and Mark excels in these areas. He understands that various project types may require shifting staff efforts towards the project at hand, which is paramount to its success. Mark’s multitasking skills “kick in” when leading project teams, and he knows how to think with innovation to find the most cost-effective engineering solution for any given scope and budget. Communication—even within this VS Team— must stand out, beginning at the top. Mark is expert at driving timely project input from partners and subconsultants, acting on small issues before they become big problems. CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE ƒAuburn Road Reconstruction – City of Fort Wayne ƒCovington Road Trail – City of Fort Wayne ƒLake Ave. Roadway Diet – City of Fort Wayne ƒArgonne Road/Parker Street Corridor – City of Warsaw ƒMarket Street Roadway Design – City of Warsaw ƒTraffic Signal Preemption – City of Angola ƒTraffic Signal Preemption – City of Marion ƒSafe Routes to School – City of Butler ƒBrian’s Place Extension – City of Kendallville ƒFort Wayne Utilities – On-Call Inspection ƒINDOT Fort Wayne District – On-Call Construction Inspection ƒI-69 Preventative Maintenance HMA Overlay ƒUS 224 Reconstruction in Decatur PROJE CT MANAGEMENT SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 4   ANDREW MATNEY, EI | PROJECT INSPECTOR 4 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE EDUCATION B.S., CIVIL ENGINEERING PURDUE UNIVERSITY FORT WAYNE (IPFW) REGISTRATIONS EI — IN CERTIFICATIONS ƒINDOT Field Proficiency (All Categories) ƒINDOT Site Manager Software ƒProficient in PMIS ƒINDOT Certified Technician Andrew is a Project Inspector with field experience in construction inspection on several projects, in addition to field experience in data collection for asset management plans. He also has significant experience working within GIS databases, specifically with ARCGIS. Andrew is thoroughly experienced in the supervision of construction work, compliance review with contract documents, preparation of construction related reports and records, testing of materials, and serving as a liaison between the client and contractors. He has on-site experience to include reading and interpretation of contract documents, quality control, material on-site delivery approval and material testing. NOTABLE EXPERIENCE ƒMIC Trail Construction Inspection – Muncie, IN ƒNorthwest Trail Construction Inspection – Goshen, IN ƒMaplecrest Road Widening Construction Inspection – Fort Wayne, IN ƒCitizen’s Square Parking Lot Reconstruction – Fort Wayne, IN ƒFort Wayne Children’s Zoo Force Main – Fort Wayne, IN ƒGreyhawk Subdivision Water Main – Fort Wayne, IN ƒNorthwest Drive Septic Elimination – Fort Wayne, IN ƒ2016 General Manhole Rehabilitation – Fort Wayne, IN ƒAEP Service Center Sanitary – Fort Wayne, IN ƒBrantford Court Culvert Replacement – Fort Wayne, IN ƒCreighton-Home Sewer Separation – Fort Wayne, IN JOHN BEER | PROJECT INSPECTOR — MCCORMICK ENGINEERING 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE CERTIFICATIONS ƒINDOT Site Manager Software ƒINDOT Certified Technician John is an experienced technician with over 25 years in the construction industry. Observation experience includes performance of material testing, monitoring daily construction activities and preparing Daily Work Reports for roadway reconstruction, bridge deck replacement and telecommunication fiber installation projects. NOTABLE EXPERIENCE ƒINDOT On-Call, SR 331 over US 30 Bridge Deck Overlay - Marshall County ƒIndiana Toll Road Concessions, ITS Phase II, Elkhart, LaGrange - Steuben & Porter Counties ƒBridge Rehabilitation Projects - DeKalb, Fulton, Huntington, Marshall, Kosciusko, LaGrange and Tipton Counties ƒKercher Road Phase 2 Reconstruction, Goshen, Indiana ƒHandley Elementary Safe Routes to School, LaPorte, Indiana PROJE CT INSPECTORS SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 5   JOE DLUZAK | UTILITIES SPECIALIST Joe has over 41 years of professional experience and serves as Project Manager for the firm’s transportation projects. His experience includes design of transportation and civil site projects—including INDOT and locally funded, pavement rehabilitation and widening with curbs, gutters and sidewalks, storm sewers with storm water drainage, and trails. Joe also has a vast amount of experience in many subdivision and commercial development projects. His design experience is complimented by his strong organization and communication skills. Joe is an INDOT Certified Utility Coordinator and he is proficient in AutoCAD and Civil3D. NOTABLE EXPERIENCE ƒCity of South Bend - Dubail Avenue: This 0.75-mile project provided improvements to the roadway, pedestrian facilities, and on street parking. The design allows for motorists to safely park their vehicles on street and for the traveling public to traverse Dubail Ave. New ADA-compliant sidewalks and residential/commercial driveway improvements were also included. This roadway rehabilitation design included detail-oriented design to coordinate existing utilities, street lighting, and traffic operations. Within this corridor are two elementary school buildings, in which design of the school bus and parent drop off locations were included. As lead design engineer, Joe was responsible for all design-related activities such as setting alignments and all geometrics. Joe spearheaded the lines of communication with the client, stakeholders, and all associated parties involved with the project. ƒCity of Fort Wayne - Hobson Road ƒCity of Fort Wayne - Pufferbelly Trail 41 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE EDUCATION B.S., ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING ITT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE CERTIFICATIONS ƒINDOT Certified Utility Coordinator JERRY CROTHERS | QA/QC 36 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE CERTIFICATIONS ƒINDOT SiteManager Software ƒINDOT Certified Technician ƒINDOT FIELD PROFICIENT ƒProficient in Project Management Information System (PMIS) Jerry serves as Quality Assurance for the firm. He has over 36 years of on-site construction inspection experience of both new construction and rehabilitation construction projects throughout northeastern Indiana. Jerry was a long-time employee with INDOT’s Fort Wayne District, where he managed projects from simple pavement resurfacing to complex interstate highway construction. He has complete knowledge of INDOT project reporting procedures along with the associated paper work and final records to close out a project. Jerry has specifically supervised LPA Construction Inspection over the past 10 years. These Construction Inspection contracts have required coordination of several inspectors and contractors, at many different simultaneous locations. His skills in supervision of transportation projects allow him to service each client’s needs, all the while balancing staff assignments, reports and other project related matters. Jerry was the Project Supervisor for the City of Fort Wayne’s Maplecrest Road Widening and Dupont Road Widening, which have become the City’s standard for urban roadway construction. LOCAL EXPERIENCE ƒDupont Road Widening from Lima Rd. to Coldwater Rd. — City of Fort Wayne ƒMaplecrest Road Widening from Lake Ave. to State Blvd. — City of Fort Wayne ƒAuburn Rd. Widening Over I-69 — City of Fort Wayne ƒCovington Rd. Trail from W. Hamilton Road to Braemar Dr. & Scott Road to Braemar Dr. — City of Fort Wayne ƒWayne Trace Roadway Reconstruction and Storm Sewer — City of Fort Wayne ƒSR 3 from Carroll Road to just north of Town of Huntertown ƒSR 101 from US 224 to SR 124 – Adams County, IN ƒI-69 from Dupont Road/SR 1 to the Cedar Creek bridge – DeKalb County/Allen County ƒUS 224 Reconstruction – Decatur PROJE CT INSPECTORS SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) The main purpose for this project is to provide pedestrian access and improve pedestrian safety. The Coal Line Trail project will provide a paved multi-use trail link between West Lincoln Way and Riverside Drive on the northwest side of downtown South Bend. This project will allow pedestrians to safely travel the 0.8-mile-long corridor through a mixture of residential and commercial areas while experiencing minimal vehicular traffic. The majority of the railroad corridor within the project limits is relatively clear, although some of the rails are still present. Upon our on- site field visit, we noticed the railroad bed ballast stone is still largely in place, which provides an ideal subbase for a recreational trail construction. The vehicular bridge on Portage Avenue over the railroad bed was recently reconstructed and provisions were included to allow the trail to be constructed under the roadway through a precast concrete tunnel. Along the railroad corridor, there are five at grade crossings with residential streets and a commercial property near Riverside Drive. The City of South Bend has taken great strides in developing the “walkability” of the City by improving sidewalks, curb ramps, adding multi- use trails, and upgrading crosswalks. These pedestrian friendly improvements are evident when visiting downtown South Bend, and observing the trails, sidewalks, curb ramps, and street lighting in locations along the Saint Joseph River. This particular section of the Coal Line Trail is the first phase of the project. The next phase will continue the trail to the east across Riverside Drive and across the Saint Joseph River along the existing, abandoned rail bridge over the river. Once completed, this trail will provide safe pedestrian connectivity to South Bend’s Muessel Grove Park, Brownfield Park, and Holy Cross School. Construction activities will include constructing the recreational trail, at grade crossings, as well as trail ancillary items such as rest nodes with benches, and possibly vehicular parking areas. This team has direct, recent experience with this same type of construction inspection project. Constructing the trail under live traffic conditions will require special attention to ensure the safety of the vehicular traffic. As this team did on the Dupont Road project and the Maplecrest Road phases in Fort Wayne, we are prepared to work with the City of South Bend’s Engineering staff to ensure any relocations or alterations of their facilities are carried out to the City’s expectations, and accurately documented in the City’s record system with detailed daily reporting. Bill Kreger, Fidel Chavez, and John Beer are all trained in utilities inspection as well as roadway inspection, and will be prepared to provide the highest level of documentation on all City utility relocation inspection. VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 6   It is our promise to monitor contract quantities, manage and negotiate all change orders fairly, and maximize the work that is completed for each dollar you spend. Communication between the VS Project Team, the contractor, City officials and the public will be key in adhering to the project schedule. The VS Team will remain proactive in preventing delays to construction by ensuring smooth and efficient coordination bewteen the contractor and utilities. A Project Supervisor who is willing to listen to and inform local residents of project progress is essential in appeasing the minds of the public. The VS Team’s decades of traffic control experience will help to implement traffic schemes in order to provide safety for motorists traveling through and living in South Bend. PROJE CT APPROACH SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) PROJECT UNDERSTANDING VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 7   VS OFFERS A TRUE 3RD PA RT Y APPROACH CHECKLISTProject Super visor reviews construction documents for constructability, value engineering and schedule prior to kick-off meeting with the City and INDOT District Staf f. Daily reports generated by all inspectors and reviewed by project super visor include actual quantities installed, quality of workmanship and other pertinent field information. Daily inspection of all work to assure conformance with plans and INDOT specifications, including materials conforming to approved material list(s). Te sting of materials including concrete, asphalt and subgrade and reporting and documenting materials received including verification of INDOT approved sources and acceptance. Project Supervisor generated repor ts into daily, weekly and monthly repor ts, reviewed prior to submission. Accurate construction reporting including daily, weekly and monthly reports, and regular interaction with contractor for clarification/interpretation of requirements. Assurance of proper installation, monitoring and maintenance of Rule 5 erosion control measures. Tr acking progress of work on a unit price basis for accurate and accountable contractor pay vouchers. Progress meetings as well as strong support of all teaming effor ts to complete projects according to all contract documents, on-time and within budget. Assurance of proper and safe maintenance of traf fic measures during on-going construction to protect all workers, as well as citizens and the motoring public. Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QA/QC) where applicable, and final project accounting and project close-out ahead of schedule. Maintaining files of all work item invoices, weigh tickets & material certifications, and Change Orders when required, including verification, review and recommendation. Regular interaction with contractor for clarification/interpretation of requirements, and availability to citizens to answer questions and concerns, where required. PROJE CT APPROACH SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) Project Manager Mark Herald, PE, and Project Supervisor Bill Kreger possess the experience and the availability to assist the City, if the need arises, with constructability reviews and claim resolution. Their experience with value engineering will allow the City to effectively manage cost overruns by finding ways to allocate the work to meet the budget and the initial scope. Mark and Bill have worked together on inspection projects for the past 3 years. This teamwork has allowed them to establish a proven system that provides a quality service to all of their clients. ƒWe will be the City’s partner on this project – including necessary commitment to the safety of the motoring public and residents alike during construction. ƒWe will provide a local construction inspection team who are familiar with the project area and are fully capable of working with the City of South Bend and INDOT. ƒWe will identify project hurdles prior to preconstruction meetings and submit memorandum detailing all findings to City staff in an effort to minimize owner risk. No hiccups during construction! ƒWe will be the eyes and ears of the project, ensuring the City receives a quality-constructed project that will stand the test of time. VS PROJECT TEAM BRINGS ADDED VALUE This area sees significant daily traffic and is located within a unique mixture of dense residential and commercial properties. All residential and business owners must have ample access to their homes and business locations maintained through all phases of construction. During demolition of the existing drives and prior to reconstruction, compacted stone temporary access drives will be vital for each impacted property. Some businesses have an alternate access either to the rear or side of the property. In the event of freshly poured concrete, the temporary use of these alternate access points will be necessary. Deliveries for these businesses must be maintained throughout the construction process as well. During the construction of similar projects such as Maplecrest Road – Lake Avenue to State Boulevard, and Dupont Road, this VS team attended neighborhood public meetings to discuss the project’s impact on the resident’s daily lives. We listened to their concerns, and developed a working relationship with those individuals we would normally see on the job site. Having a Project Supervisor who is willing to listen and inform the residents is imperative to appeasing the minds of the public. Bill will provide weekly progress reports to all necessary parties. These weekly reports are emailed to all recipients and include a detailed summary of the daily activities on the project, as well as what to expect in the short term future. Integrated into our public outreach plan is constant coordination with Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS and the School Corporation. We recognize the impacts a construction project has on your public safety departments so we make it a priority to consistently communicate with each entity regarding closures, detours, etc. PUBLIC OUTREACH VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 8   SAFETY IS PRIORITY #1 VS is 100% committed to workplace and traffic safety. Not only has our staff completed OSHA 10-hour Safety Training— we are supplied with appropriate personal protective equipment and fully committed to the following goals: Work zone safety is everyone’s responsibility Cooperation with contractor, City and INDOT to identify the most appropriate means of communication and physical protection for safe travel and work Lane/Road Restriction Form updates when traffic patterns change Updating INDOT CARS system to ensure INDOT and public have accurate information; phone calls to the TMC to update INDOT personnel Coordination with City staff to ensure they are able to inform the public PROJE CT APPROACH SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) Making the most of your money isn’t just for the frugal grocery getter. The ability to get more for your money means that more projects get funded, more roads and bridges get built and maintained, and the more you can provide to the community. We recognize this at VS and we are committed to monitoring our inspection budgets in the same manner you monitor your budgets. Our fees are based on conversations with City staff, and review of the plans, and include only the hours that are necessary to provide you with the high-quality support you expect that will, in turn, provide a high-quality project. PROTECTING BUDGETS Our project staff understands that we are being trusted to act on your behalf, and spend your money efficiently as possible. It is our promise to monitor contract quantities, manage and negotiate all change orders fairly, and also maximize the work that is completed for each dollar you spend. No one wants to spend unnecessarily, and this VS team will ensure that you don’t. CHANGE ORDER CONTROL VS understands that unforeseen complications can occur during construction. Even the best set of plans can’t predict a completely unknown condition that ends up costing you time or money. Our team uses their vast experience to quickly trouble shoot conflicts with as little impact to the budget and schedule as possible. Early identification and communication provide for more time to develop the most efficient solution and implement it. Whatever the challenge, VS is ready to give you a proper, lasting solution. We accept all responsibility for completing your project on-time and in-budget. BUDGET & CHANGE ORDER MANAGEMENT The City of South Bend, as well as the other communities within St. Joseph County, take on many construction projects each year. At times, these projects overlap, have street closures that aren’t communicated to the public in advance, create unexpected inconveniences for delivery drivers, etc., causing residents and business owners to become rather unhappy about their daily commutes through the area. Because of these numerous perceived inconveniences, local residents may be quick to judge the City and the contractor and quick to anger with even more infrastructure improvement projects that could impact their daily travel. Bill will be the first line of defense to ensure businesses and residents are well informed throughout the project. The construction phasing allows for the entire project to be constructed under operating vehicle traffic at the intersecting streets, without a posted detour route. This will likely result in a significant amount of daily traffic along the corridor under construction. Major traffic generators east of the project, such as the University of Notre Dame and downtown South Bend to the southeast will add to the traffic volume during rush hour times. An important key to an effective maintenance of traffic plan is to have a strong, experienced Project Supervisor who can assure the traffic is being maintained in the most efficient way to benefit the contractor, City, business owners, and pedestrians. Mark and Bill will review the MOT Plan with the City and contractor to coordinate construction with other active infrastructure projects that may impact traffic flow. Bill will also discuss construction phasing, special events within the area, potential expediting of construction activities, and MOT communication protocol. Bill will constantly monitor how effective the maintenance of traffic is working, will complete daily checks of construction signs, and proactively communicate to City officials any changes. MAINTENANCE OF TRAFFIC (MOT) VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 9   PROJE CT APPROACH SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) Quality Control is always a vital key in any project. To ensure that the City’s quality standards are met, VS follows strict guidelines and reporting to ensure that everything is tracked, checked, and documented. Quantities are tracked, and verified with contractor throughout the project progress. Daily communication resolves any issues that may occur, and quantities are reviewed at the scheduled progress meetings. A critical deliverable on this project is the final construction record. Quantities are tracked through the duration of the project to ensure on-time delivery of the final report. VS is committed to submitting the final construction record within 30 days of the last day of work. Through our QA/QC measures, we can assure this project will be handled with the level of customer service you expect from VS, resulting in minimal impacts to your staff. QA/QC As with any construction project, it is critical to be aware of the existing utility locations and to make certain that ground markings are maintained throughout the project, ensuring that any utilities within the construction limits that aren’t being relocated are protected during construction. There are overhead and underground facilities within the project. Given the nature of this project, it is likely relocation of some utilities will be required in order to allow for successful construction. VS has multiple staff members that are certified utility coordinators selected for this project. In addition, Mark will be supported by Joe Dluzak, who has over 35 years of utility coordination experience and has coordinated with utilities throughout the State. Their knowledge, experience, and contacts will help ensure that the utility relocations are completed on time so that construction of this project is not delayed due to lack of coordination. UTILITY COORDINATION Communication between Mark, Bill, the contractor, and the public will be key. Constant communication between Bill and City staff will serve to improve the public’s knowledge of construction activity. The primary method of communicating the construction activities will be through a weekly or bi-weekly progress meeting with the entire project team. These progress meetings will allow the contractor to state his construction schedule, address any concerns, and give any updates that are necessary. Progress meetings also allow City officials to give their input based on their intimate knowledge of the community. Bill will oversee all on-site activities and will be the City’s eyes and ears to keep this project on time and on budget. Bill will work with Mark, as well as City staff, and the Site Superintendent to determine that level of effort and construction oversight based on the contractor’s schedule. Given the nature and location of the work activities, there may be occasions where multiple inspectors are needed to oversee all construction activities. It is anticipated that this project will require one full-time Project Supervisor and an additional Project Inspector (during multiple construction activities) to maintain communication and coordination between the City, the contractor, and the public. COMMUNICATION VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 10   PROJE CT APPROACH SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) 4TH STREET HERITAGE TRAIL City of Huntingburg The City of Huntingburg retained VS Engineering as the prime consultant for the 4th Street Heritage Trail project. The 4th Street Heritage Trail is part of Huntingburg’s Stellar Community Designation and the sister project to the recently completed Market Street Park. The project lies within the City of Huntingburg’s (federally registered) historic central business district. The project served to remove and replace existing 4th Street with a curbless, flex street that will allow business owners to utilize space in front of their business for commercial purposes or parking. Given the amount of businesses on 4th Street, and the importance of them to the City of Huntingburg, VS along with our project partners, developed a robust communication strategy that included public meetings, local office hours, social media campaigns, weekly construction update email blasts and frequent door to door communications during construction. Other elements of the project included: ƒPermeable and Unit Pavers ƒEnclosed Storm Sewerage ƒLighting and Electrical Outlets (including USB ports) ƒFull ADA Compliance ƒBollard Flex Design ƒMOT plan that ensured access to businesses throughout construction COVINGTON ROAD: RECREATIONAL TRAIL City of Fort Wayne The purpose of this project was to construct a recreational trail using current design standards, thus improving the serviceability and safety for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The project included a 10’-wide asphalt trail, storm sewer, asphalt milling and resurfacing, two pedestrian bridges, curb, curb ramp construction, significant modular block wall construction & pavement markings. The new trail was part of the City’s River Greenway system. It is located along a local collector in a residential area, on the southwest side of the City of Fort Wayne. Part of this project was located along the frontage of Sycamore Hills Golf Club. Sycamore Hills Golf Club hosted the Junior PGA Golf National Tournament during the same time as construction. Coordination with the golf club and City officials during this time was crucial to accommodate the large crowds and national media. VS provided an array of services for the project, including: • Complete construction inspection services • Coordinate all construction related activities • Preparation of daily construction records on SiteManager • Utility coordination • Alternative analysis and selection of preferred alternative • Prepared payment estimates • Construction of a Hawk pedestrian traffic signal • Over a mile in length of new asphalt recreational trail construction • Material and post-construction testing • Completion of project final record documents Inspection VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 11   Design & Inspection RELEVANT PROJECTS SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) MUNCIE INDUSTRIAL CENTER TRAIL Delaware County VS provided construction management and engineering services for this four (4) mile long, 10’ wide HMA multi-use trail. The Muncie Industrial Center Trail project was an Indiana Department of Natural Resources Next Level Trails Round 2 grant finalist. The project was awarded bid at the contract price of $3,297,000 and construction began in June 2020. The project will complete construction in May 2021. The project included construction along Tillotson Avenue from 26th Street to Memorial Drive. From Tillotson Avenue, the trail extends along 26th Street to Cowan Road. South Delaware County lacks connectivity between communities. Construction inspection of all clearing and grubbing, demolition, erosion and sediment control measures, surface restoration including roadway replacement, sidewalk replacement, curb replacement, tree removal, fence removal and replacement, and water service repair was included on this project. During construction, VS provided observation and inspection of the quality of work and tracked quantity of item installed for the construction of the trail. Shop drawings from the contractor were reviewed to be applicable and accurate to the work detailed in the plans and specifications provided by VS. Questions from the Contractor were answered and information required was relayed to the Contractor. Construction inspection included submittal review, risk management, and utility conflict resolution. Design & Inspection BEFORE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAIL AFTER CONSTRUCTION OF TRAIL SARE ROAD: TRAIL & INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS City of Bloomington (Ongoing) VS provided construction inspection for the 0.6 mile segment of trail from Buttonwood Lane to Renwick Apartments for the City of Bloomington. The goal of this project was to construct an asphalt multi-use trail and connect two existing trails along Sare Road. The project also upgraded the intersection geometrics and signals at the intersection of Sare Road and Moore’s Pike while also making improvements to the superstructure of the bridge over Jackson Creek. Included in the final project was the asphalt multi-use trail with new curb ramps, new concrete curb & gutter, bridge superstructure work, new concrete sidewalk, and upgraded signal components. The project required coordination with utilities as well as local residents and the motoring public. VS staff were made constantly available to project officials and the public throughout all construction phases to address any questions or concerns relating to the project. The firm provided an array of services for the project, including: ƒComplete construction inspection services ƒAdminister project progress meetings ƒProvided weekly progress updates to the client ƒCoordinate all construction related activities ƒRemained in contact with the City of Bloomington representatives ƒUtility coordination ƒPrepared payment estimates ƒMaterial testing Inspection VS ENGINEERING, INC. | LETTER OF INTEREST • 12   RELEVANT PROJECTS SOUTH BEND • COAL LINE TRAIL (PHASE I) (Rev. 06/27/2018) Request for Proposal Number: RFP Item Description: Affirmative Action Certification (AAC) for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) I hereby certify that my company intends to affirmatively seek out and consider Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) certified by the State of Indiana’s DBE Program and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) DBE Program to participate as part of this proposal. An Agreement between INDOT and KYTC established reciprocal acceptance of certification of DBE firms in their respective states under the Unified Certification Program (UCP) pursuant to 49 CFR §26.81(e) and (f). I acknowledge that this certification is to be made an integral part of this proposal. I understand and agree that the submission of a blank certification may cause the proposal to be rejected. I certify that I have consulted the following DBE websites to confirm that the firms listed below are currently certified DBEs: INDOT: https://entapps.indot.in.gov/DBELocator/ KYTC: https://transportation.ky.gov/Civil-Rights-and-Small-Business-Development/Pages/Certified-DBE-Directory.aspx I certify that I have contacted the certified DBEs listed below, and if my company becomes the CONSULTANT, these DBEs have tentatively agreed to perform the services as indicated. I understand that neither my company nor I will be penalized for DBE utilization that exceeds the goal. After contract award, any change to the firms listed in this Affirmative Action Certification to be applied toward the DBE goal must have prior approval by INDOT’s Economic Opportunity Division. I.DBE Subconsultants to be applied toward DBE goal for the RFP item: Certified DBE Name Service Planned Estimated Percentage to be Paid* % % % % II.DBE Subconsultants to be utilized beyond the advertised DBE goal for the RFP item: Certified DBE Name Service Planned Estimated Percentage to be Paid* % % % % Estimated Total Percentage Credited toward DBE Goal: Estimated Percentage of Voluntary DBE Work Anticipated over DBE Goal: Company Name: Signature: Date: *It is understood that these individual firm percentages are estimates only and that percentages paid may be greater or less as a result of negotiation of the contract scope of work. My company will use good faith efforts to meet the overall DBE goal through the use of these or other certified and approved DBE firms.