City of Nashua aa
Community Development Division Cee pene ont
City Hall, 229 Main Street, PO Box 2019 Ftangportaten Department
Nashua, New Hampshire 03061-2019 Waterways
Date: August 2, 2019
To: John Griffin, CFO; Daniel Kooken, Purchasing Manager
From: Sarah Marchant, Community Development Division Director
Re: Contract for Engineering Services for the Heritage Rail Trail East
The City of Nashua was awarded a NH Department of Transportation (NH DOT) Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant to design and construct a bicycle and pedestrian trail
extending approximately three-quarters of a mile from Main Street to Denton Street, next to the
25 Crown Street future rail station. The Heritage Rail Trail project was started in the late 2000s
to reduce congestion along East and West Hollis Street, one of the most congested corridors in
the City of Nashua and the Nashua Region, by providing an alternative bicycle and pedestrian
transportation route through the heart of the City’s most densely populated neighborhoods. The
City has consistently moved this project forward over the last 10+ years through the acquisition
of all necessary land or easements along the entire corridor, and completed construction of the
Heritage Rail Trail West from City Hall to Will Street/Simon Street. Most recently the
Department of Public Works installed needed new lighting along the heavily used western trail
through a FY2017 budget appropriation.
In compliance with the NH DOT funding for this project, the selection of an engineering firm
followed the Local Public Agency rules. A Request for Qualifications must be advertised and the
selected firm must be based on qualifications and not cost. Fees and scope are discussed after
the firm is selected. The Request for Qualifications for comprehensive engineering services,
including the feasibility and design phase engineering for this project, was issued on March 15th
and closed April 19th, 2019.
We received six (6) submissions and interviewed four (4) firms. A team comprised of City staff
participated in the evaluation of qualifications which included Sarah Marchant (CDD Director),
Julie Chizmas (CDD Transportation and Long Range Planner), Peter Kohalmi (Deputy City
Engineer), Mike Harris (DPW Operations Manager), and Nick Caggiano (Parks Superintendent).
From the four (4) firms interviewed, the team unanimously agreed that the contract should be
awarded to CMA Engineers, Inc., based on their qualifications, prior experience on similar
projects, and familiarity with NH DOT processes. Once approved by NH DOT, we entered into
scope and fee negotiations. According to the terms of this grant, NH DOT pays 80% of expenses
with the remaining 20% being paid by the City. The Community Development Division
recommends awarding the contract for comprehensive engineering services to CMA
Engineering, Inc., of Manchester, NH in the amount of $166,398.
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