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2 <br /> This project area is part of the 3,000 acre Efland/Buckhorn/Mebane Utility Planning Area (see <br /> Attachment 4) and comprises over 800 acres of economic development land use shown as <br /> areas A and D1. This area is generally located along a 3-mile corridor south of 1-85/1-40 and <br /> north of West Ten/Bowman Roads. A gravity sewer `backbone' system is being installed that <br /> will flow back to the City of Mebane. In addition, 16" water mains will be installed that support <br /> an additional 900 acres with new and enhanced water supply and fire flow. <br /> These facilities are strategically placed within prime development areas consistent with <br /> intergovernmental and community planning study areas and agreements. Also, proactive <br /> rezoning through the BOCC in these areas has made the location more competitive when vying <br /> for targeted business and industry. Further, this is an important phase of the utility master plan <br /> that will also create some of the infrastructure to allow the sewer flow from Efland to be <br /> redirected to Mebane. <br /> Funding for this is accomplished thorough the 1/4 cent sales tax initiative from the November <br /> 2011 voter referendum. Within less than a year after the referendum, Orange County has <br /> succeeded in two major interlocal utility agreements with Mebane and Durham with various <br /> stages of master planning, design, and construction bid award in progress. The investment in <br /> these prime interstate corridors will position Orange County to diversify the economic tax base <br /> with office, light industrial, manufacturing and retail and associated jobs. <br /> BID INFORMATION <br /> Competitive bids were opened on October 9, 2012 (see Attachment 1 , "Certified Bid <br /> Tabulation"). After a period of review of the bid documents by staff and the County's <br /> engineering consultant, Hobbs Upchurch Associates, J.F. Wilkerson Contracting was <br /> determined to be the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for this project for the base bid <br /> sections 1-4 (see Attachment 2). <br /> Bids received were in excess of the $3.1 million schematic cost estimate for construction <br /> approved by the BOCC as part of the FY2012-13 Capital Investment Plan. Staff and the <br /> consultant conducted a rigorous value engineering exercise with J.F. Wilkerson Contracting and <br /> successfully eliminated $329,595 in costs to the project with minimal impact to the design <br /> scope. <br /> Additional value engineering will be conducted, assisted by more in-depth soil borings, that <br /> could further reduce costs. If savings are realized, or additional funds are identified, staff will <br /> bring back additional utility scope increases that were noted as alternates in the bid program. <br /> The following timeline represents the project delivery and completion: <br /> TASK PROPOSED END BY <br /> BEGINNING DATE <br /> DATE <br /> BOCC Action: Buckhorn-Mebane Phase 2 Water and Sewer 11/8/12 11/8/12 <br /> Construction Period (est. 12 months) 1/1/13 1/1/14 <br /> System Commissioning, Completion of As-Built Drawings 1/1/14 2/1/14 <br /> System Turnover to the City of Mebane 3/31/14 N/A <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: $3.575 million is available as part of the FY2012-13 Capital Improvement <br /> Project budget, which includes $439,500 in professional services funds for Hobbs Upchurch <br />