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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 12, 2007 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~--~q~ <br />SUBJECT: Contract Approval with Raftelis Financial Consultants to Conduct a Rate Study <br />for the Efland Sewer System <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing, County Engineer PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Request for Proposals (RFP) <br />Raftelis' Response to RFP <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones, 245-2652 <br />Paul Thames, 245-2304 <br />PURPOSE: To award a contract for professional services associated with conducting a rate <br />study for the Efland Sewer System to Raftelis Financial Consultants of Charlotte, North <br />Carolina. <br />BACKGROUND: The Efland Sewer System (owned by Orange County) currently provides <br />sewer service to approximately 200 customers in the Efland area, a small, unincorporated <br />community lying along Interstate 85/40 in central Orange County: The rates being charged <br />today were originally set in 1987 and have not been adjusted since that time. The system <br />currently operates with an annual shortfall of approximately $100,000 which is made up through <br />the General Fund. In prior discussion, the Board determined that the time has come to bring <br />sewer rates in line with the cost of operating the system, and the best way to do this would be <br />by hiring a consultant to conduct a rate study. <br />A Request for Proposals (RFP) was developed to select the consultant (see attached). <br />Although costs were submitted to conduct the study, staff also asked for the qualifications of the <br />firms so they could be considered while making a recommendation. Selection criteria included, <br />but were not limited to, the quality of the proposal, technical capabilities, similar experience, <br />innovation and creative methods and experience with .low income rate payers. The RFP was <br />sent to four firms and advertised on the County website with two firms responding. A team <br />consisting of the County Manager, Purchasing Director, County Engineer, Finance and Budget <br />Directors evaluated the proposals. The team unanimously selected Raftelis Financial <br />Consultants of Charlotte, North Carolina to conduct the study at a $14,829. This includes a final <br />report and a presentation of results at a BOCC meeting. <br />Raftelis has conducted several studies in the area, including work for OWASA, the City of <br />Durham, Durham County and the City of Burlington. The firm has also successfully completed <br />