1220-2024-3389 - Notice of Intent to Direct Award - Sumas River Watershed Technical Assessment Study

Notice is hereby given that the City of Abbotsford (the “City”) is contemplating making a direct award of a contract to Kerr Wood Leidal Consulting Engineers Ltd. (the “Supplier”) for the following:
• Sumas River Watershed Technical Assessment Study

Background
The November 2021 extreme weather event has caused flooding in various parts of the City, and most notably the widespread flooding in the Sumas Prairie, due to the Nooksack River overflow from Whatcom County in the United States of America.

As part of the ongoing work under the Sumas River Flood Mitigation Collaborative Framework (“Framework”), the City intends to engage the services of a qualified professional, Kerr Wood Leidal Consulting Engineers Ltd. (“KWL”), to assist with Technical Assessment Study. This study utilizes a newly updated hydraulic model to assess scenarios that align with the shared knowledge, values, and principles of all participants of the Framework.

Scope
The scope includes developing and simulating flood risk mitigation scenarios and reporting.

Rationale for Contemplating a Direct Award
The City is contemplating a direct award with the Supplier for the following reasons:
• With the objectives of public security and safety and the protection of human, animal and plant life and health and due to the unpredictability of severe weather events, it is important that the provision of services be expedited as delays increase the risks of Sumas Prairie being exposed to the same magnitude of flood risk seen in November 2021.

Contract Value:
The value of the contract is expected not to exceed $300,000.00 CAD plus applicable taxes.