THE CITY OF NASHUA “the Cate City’
Office of Economic Development
To: Kelly Parkinson, Purchasing Manager
From: Tim Cummings, Economic Development Director
Ce: Janet Graziano, Financial Manager; Deb Chisholm, Acting Community Development Director
Date: January 12, 2022
Re: Preliminary Design, Final Design and Bidding Services for East Hollis Street/Bridge Street
Intersection Improvements
Request
The Office of Economic Development requests approval to execute a contract with McFarland-Johnson
("MJ") for $440,939.27 to provide Preliminary Design, Final Design, and Bidding Services for
improvements at the intersection of East Hollis Street and Bridge Street.
Background
The goal of the project is to improve mobility along a congested commuter route at one of only two
Merrimack River crossings in Nashua and increase capacity for alternative modes along this vital link to
the City's downtown core. Ancillary benefits of this project include allowing for better access to
redevelopment sites, including several new and planned multi-family housing properties and the future rail
station, and enhancing the gateway aesthetics of the area. The City has been actively working toward
improving this area for many years and the engineering study completed as Phase 1 for this project
confirmed the purpose and need identified in the 2004 East Hollis Street Area Plan is even stronger today.
This project is 100% federally funded in the State Transportation Improvement Program (Project #16314)
with $3,661,000 in federal dollars and no local match requirements up to that funding amount. In May
2017, the City sent out RFQ0274-051917 "Design Build East Hollis—Bridge Street", in compliance with
the NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) Local Public Agency rules for the selection of an
engineering firm. The RFQ was for Engineering Services encompassing four phases: Phase 1: Engineering
Study; Phase 2: Preliminary Plans; Phase 3 — Final Plans; and Phase 4 — Bidding Services.
NHDOT reviewed and approved of the City's selection process that resulted in MJ receiving the highest
ranking of four firms who submitted Statements of Qualifications and they approved MJ's scope of work
and fee for the Phase 1 Engineering Study. In March 2018, the City entered into an agreement with MJ for
Phase 1 with the final scope of services and fee for Phases 2, 3 and 4 to be determined at the completion of
the Engineering Study and the selection of a preferred alternative. NHDOT approved the final Engineering
Study identifying a preferred alternative in late 2021. NHDOT also reviewed MJ's scope of work and fee
for Phases 2, 3 and 4 and granted approval to execute a contract on December 27, 2022.
The Office of Economic Development recommends approval of the contract to McFarland-Johnson to
complete Phases 2, 3 and 4 for improvements at the intersection of East Hollis Street and Bridge Street for
the proposed fee of $440,939.27. Attached is a City of Nashua Standard Contract for Professional Services
for this project, which includes the scope of work and fee summary.
