Meeting_Body
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
JUNE 18, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: CEQA/NEPA & ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE SERVICES
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to:
A. EXECUTE Modification No. 00003 to Contract No. PS77530000 with ICF Jones & Stokes Inc. to exercise the two, one-year options, for a Not-To-Exceed (NTE) amount of $1,924,174.53 and $1,760,892.27 respectively, for a total NTE amount for the options of $3,685,066.80, increasing the total contract value from the initial NTE amount of $14,166,384.73 to a total NTE amount of $17,851,451.53, and extend the term of the contract from December 1, 2025 to December 1, 2027;
B. INCREASE Contract Modification Authority (CMA) in the amount of $368,506.68, increasing the total CMA from $1,416,638.47 to a total of $1,785,145.15 (10% of the not-to-exceed contract amount); and
C. EXECUTE all individual Task Orders and Contract Modifications within the recommended contract funding amount and recommended CMA.
Issue
ISSUE
Nearly every capital project undertaken by Metro requires a need for California Environmental Quality Act/National Environmental Policy Act (CEQA/NEPA) and environmental compliance services. In addition, CEQA/NEPA and environmental compliance services are required to support Metro's projects in operations and on Metro-owned properties.
At its December 2022 meeting, the Board approved awarding a three-year base term contract to ICF Jones & Stokes Inc. for CEQA/NEPA and Environmental Compliance Services with two, one-year options. Due to increased and unanticipated need for support, the NTE funding limit of $14,166,384.73 previously authorized by the Board is expected to be exhausted by June 2025. The recommended execution of the option years for the requested increase in funding, and the increase in CMA will allow staff to complete the work anticipated in the contract as described in the background below and provide support for federal partner agencies such as the FTA for Metro projects.
Background
BACKGROUND
At its December 2022 meeting, the Board approved awarding a contract to ICF Jones & Stokes Inc. for CEQA/NEPA and Environmental Compliance Services inclusive of three base years with an initial NTE amount for the base years of $14,166,384.73; and two, one-year options for a NTE amount of $1,924,174.53 and $1,760,892.27 respectively, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $17,851,451.53. The Board authorized the Chief Executive Officer to award and execute Task Orders within the total approved NTE funding limit of $14,166,384.73. Staff have executed, to date, Task Orders and Task Order Modifications totaling $12,942,972.80 with $1,223,411.93 in authorized funding remaining.
The solicitation and award of Contract No. PS77530000 was based on a five-year forecast of anticipated support for current and future projects. An increased demand for support for the projects beyond the forecasted amounts and an unanticipated demand to support priority projects has pushed this Contract to nearly committing its full contract value prior to the end of the three base contract years.
The continued implementation of Measure M, Measure R, and new regional projects in the last two years has increased the number of projects under development; including but not limited to projects such as NoHo to Pasadena BRT, G-Line Improvements, Southeast Gateway Line, East San Fernando Valley LRT, and Joint Development.
This contract modification is necessary to execute current risk, schedule, and cost critical tasks, including those that are already in the project pipeline, and to maintain momentum in supporting the delivery of current and future projects.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The increased and overlapping capital programs in the last two years has also increased the level and volume of capital project requests for CEQA/NEPA and Environmental Compliance Services. With the ongoing Measure M, Measure R, and preparations for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, staff engaged the consultant under Contract No. PS77530000 to provide a broad range of related support services. The services provided under the Contract have historically saved projects money and avoided additional months of delay due to our ability to rapidly and effectively respond to unforeseen environmental issues encountered during project planning, permitting, and construction (see Tables below for notable Projects supported by this contract).
This contract is expected to reduce project delays and facilitate community benefits from the ecosystem services in the long term such as recordation of community sensitive artwork at West Los Angeles VA Hospital, the future location of Purple (D) Line Extension Section 3 Veterans Administration Station.
The exercise of the option years and increase in contract value, including CMA, will allow Metro staff to continue to engage this consultant to support the capital projects in performing key risk management activities and achieving critical project dates and funding commitments. The Procurement Summary for this item is included in Attachment A, and the Contract Modification/Change Order Log is included as Attachment B.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
This Board action will not have an adverse impact on safety standards for Metro.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Contract No. PS77530000 is an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. All Task Orders are individually negotiated, and level of effort fully defined prior to the authorization and requisition of any project specific funds.
Since this is a multi-year contract, project managers, cost managers, and the Chief Program Management Officer will be responsible for budgeting costs in future years.
Impact to Budget
Funding for the individual Task Orders is provided by the projects utilizing this service. Therefore, the funds for each task order will reflect the funding sources approved by the Board at the time of each project’s Life-of-Project or annual budget adoption.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
This contract allows projects to prepare to be responsive, minimizing potential negative impacts while the community can benefit from the services the greater project will provide. CEQA/NEPA provides transparency and notification to the public and disadvantaged communities that have historically been disproportionately impacted by development. Environmental compliance assists the disproportionate burden disadvantaged communities may bear by analyzing and mitigating potential impacts from population and housing impacts, traffic and transportation, air quality, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, public services, parks and recreation and hazards mitigations and monitoring.
ICF Jones & Stokes (ICF) made a 28% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), a 25% Small Business Enterprise (SBE), and a 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) commitment on this Task Order (TO) based contract. ICF is exceeding both the DBE and DVBE commitments and experiencing a shortfall in its SBE commitment. The Contractor’s mitigation plan is included in Attachment C - DEOD Summary.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled _Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit1. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through investment and planning activities that will improve and further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
This consultant contract supports Strategic Goal 2 by optimizing the delivery and performance of Metro’s transportation system by incorporating environmental compliance through environmental services activities to reduce impacts to the environment and increase system efficiency.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could decide not to authorize the option years and to not increase the funding for this Contract requiring Metro to solicit and award a new contract. Staff does not recommend this alternative due to schedule impacts to existing projects resulting in construction delays.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval, staff will execute Modification No. 00003 to Contract No. PS77530000 to exercise the options and extend the Contract end date.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - Contract Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment C - DEOD Summary
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Robert Pak, Senior Director, (213) 660-6895
Tom Kefalas, Executive Officer, (213) 418-3370
Carolina Coppolo, Deputy Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer (213) 922-4471
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Tim Lindholm, Chief Program Management Officer
(213) 922-7297
