Agenda Item Wording:
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Award Contract for Aviation Engineering Design Services - Authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Brandley Engineering for aviation professional architectural and design/engineering services for airport development projects at Visalia Municipal Airport for a not to exceed amount of $2,163,000 for a five-year period.
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Deadline for Action: 11/17/2025
Submitting Department: Administration - Airport Division
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Jody Miller, Airport Manager, (559)713-4282, Jody.Miller@visalia.city
John Lollis, Assistant City Manager, (559)713-4323, John.Lollis@visalia.city
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Brandley Engineering for RFQ 24-25-25 for aviation professional architectural and design/engineering services for airport development projects at Visalia Municipal Airport for a not to exceed amount of $2,163,000 for a five-year period (2026-2031).
Background Discussion:
At its meeting on November 4, 1999, the Council authorized a Professional Services Agreement with Brandley Engineering for the purpose of providing Airport engineering design services and project management for a five-year contract period. At its meeting on November 4, 2024, the Council authorized a one-year extension of the Agreement to facilitate the completion of projects in-progress.
In accordance with the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued in May 2025 to seek Statements of Qualifications from any firms interested in providing consulting and design/engineering services for the next five (5) years to the Visalia Municipal Airport. The FAA expects airports to keep a firm under contract, as opposed to a project-by-project basis, due to the federal funding process for Airport Improvement Projects (AIP) is typically a 2-year process which includes the project submission for initial consideration, filling of an application and a tentative allocation issued by the FAA.
Once the RFP was issued, airport staff reviewed the lone proposal received from Brandley Engineering, Inc. (Loomis, CA).
Review of the proposal was conducted by the Airport Manager (Jody Miller), Transit Manager (Angelina Baker) and the City Engineering Department. The proposal was evaluated based on experience with FAA funded projects and expertise in designing and overseeing the types of projects included in the Visalia Airport’s federal Airport Capital Improvement Program (ACIP). Additionally, Brandley Engineering was rated on the record of past performance with Visalia and other airports as well as any knowledge of local conditions that were exhibited in the proposals. Brandley Engineering has been under contract with the City of Visalia since 1999, during that time have helped oversee the Airport’s ACIP and assisted in the submittal of grant applications that have resulted in the City receiving nearly $20 million in AIP grant funding.
Only receiving the single response to the RFP is not unique in the airport engineering services industry, especially when the incumbent firm has such an extensive working relationship with the City.
Future ACIP projects may include but are not limited to:
o Architectural Design Reconstruct General Aviation Terminal
o Reconstruct Taxilane A, and Connectors Construction Phase
o Reconstruct Tiedown Apron A3 Design and Construction Phase
o Reconstruct Hangar H1 Taxilanes Row 3,4,7 and Hangar H2 Row 9 Design and Construction Phase
o Reconstruct General Aviation Terminal Building
o New Midfield Apron Development Phase 1 Design and Construction Phase
o Expand West Cargo Apron, New Taxiway Connector Design and Construction Phase
o Other miscellaneous airport engineering projects
The estimated cost of all airport engineering projects covered throughout the duration of the proposed 5-year contract is $2,163,000.00.
The not-to-exceed limit for all airport projects with Brandley Engineering throughout the proposed 5-year contract will also be $2,163,000.00
Fiscal Impact:
Brandley Engineering will be paid a negotiated fee, based on the value of the
projects designed and in accordance with a fee schedule approved by the FAA, of which typically 90-95% of the costs would be reimbursed via FAA and State matching grants. Given the fee structure is provided by the FAA, price is not a deciding factor in this process.
Prior Council Action:
1. November 4, 2019: Approval of an Annual Contract with Brandley Engineering for the Purpose of Providing Airport Engineering Design Services and Project Management for a 5-Year Contract Period
2. November 4, 2024: Authorization of an Amendment and Extension to Professional Services Agreement
Alternatives:
City Council could choose to not authorize the execution of the proposed Professional Services Agreement with Brandley Engineering and Airport Staff will explore an additional RFP for the services.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve to authorize the City Manager to award a contract to Brandley Engineering for RFQ 24-25-25 for aviation professional architectural and design/engineering services for airport development projects at Visalia Municipal Airport for a not to exceed amount of $2,163,000 for a five-year period (2026-2031).
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Environmental Assessment Status: NA.
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: .
1. Draft Professional Services Agreement
2. City Council Agenda Report: November 4, 2019
3. City Council Agenda Report: November 4, 2024