8) THE CITY OF NASHUA “The Gate City”
Economic Development Division
To: Dan Kooken, Purchasing Manager
From: Tim Cummings, Economic Development Division Director
Ce: Janet Graziano, Financial Manager, Sarah Marchant, Community Development Director
Date: January 26, 2018
Re: ~ Engineering Study for East Hollis Street/Bridge Street Intersection Im provements
Request
The Economic Development Division requests approval to contract with McFarland-Johnson ("MJ") for an
engineering study for intersection improvements at East Hollis Street and Bridge Street, adjacent to the city
line bordering Hudson in the amount of $256,503.13.
Background
The goal of the project is to improve mobility at this vital link to the City's downtown core and to increase
capacity along a congested commuter route at one of only two Merrimack River crossings in Nashua.
Ancillary benefits of this project include upgrading the gateway aesthetics of the area and allowing for
better access to increase the potential for redevelopment of underperforming assets. The City has been
actively working toward improving the area for many years and this project is consistent with the vision
and recommendations outlined in the 2004 East Hollis Street Area Plan.
This project is fully funded in the State Transportation Improvement Program (Project #16314) with
$3,661,000 in federal dollars and no local match requirements. In May 2017, the City sent out a Request
for Qualifications through RFQ0274-051917 "Design Build East Hollis—Bridge Street", in compliance with
the NH Department of Transportation (NH DOT) Local Public Agency rules for the selection of an
engineering firm. Statements of Qualifications were received from the following four firms:
Firm Location
Hayner Swanson, Inc. Nashua, NH
Hoyle, Tanner & Associates, Inc. | Manchester, NH
McFarland Johnson Concord, NH
VHB | Bedford, NH
The Statements were evaluated by a multi-disciplinary team consisting of City staff from Community
Development, Public Works, and Economic Development, with MJ receiving the highest ranking. The NH
DOT reviewed MJ's Scope of Work and Fee Proposal for an Engineering Study (Phase | of the project)
and granted approval to proceed on January 16, 2018.
The Economic Development Department recommends approval of the contract to McFarland-Johnson to
complete the Phase | Engineering Study for improvements at the intersection of East Hollis Street and
Bridge Street for the proposed fee of $256,503.13, pending Board of Public Works Approval. It is
anticipated that the study will be completed by October 2018. Attached is the contract for the engineering
study, which includes the scope of work and cost summary.
