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BOOK x.06 P4E '2 7 access (see attached drawings). As proposed, the platform will be 15 feet above impoundment dike grade, and will be access via a ±210 foot ramp. The structure will be located to project into open water of the property's salt marsh, which is known to be an excellent location for bird watching and general habitat viewing. The cost of the structure (including installation), as quoted by Summerlin's Seven Seas, is $36,800. The FIND grant allocates $20,000 toward the observation platform. As proposed, the County's cost will be the difference of that amount and the actual cost, which is $16,800. County funding, as proposed, would come from fees -in -lieu of native upland set -asides and wetland mitigation fund accounts, which funds are ear -marked for management of conservation lands. These accounts are the source of funds budgeted for the subject FIND grant. FMEL staff has inquired as to whether the proposed platform could be higher than 15 feet to afford a better view. County staff calculates it would cost approximately $10,000 to $12,000 more to elevate the platform another 5 feet, accounting for an additional ±72 feet of ramp (12:1 slope) that would be needed for ADA access. County staffs position is that the platform as designed will afford a good view at a height of ±21 feet above dike grade (based on a 5 to 6 foot tall person standing on the 15 foot high platform), which is enough to see over the mangroves of the impoundment. Raising the platform another 5 feet (or higher) would not be cost effective. • Purchasing Procedures; Justification County Code Chapter 105, Purchasing, sets forth bidding procedures and requires Board approval for the purchase of materials or services exceeding $5,000. Code Section 105.03 provides that bidding is not required except for certain projects specifically requiring bidding under Florida Statutes (which is not applicable in this case). It is staffs position that it is appropriate and in the County's interest to select the services of Summerlin's Seven Seas, Inc. for construction of the proposed observation platform without need for formal bidding, based on the following reasons. First, from past experience regarding similar structures associated with other county projects, county staffs opinion is that the quoted price is very reasonable. Second, in past marine construction county bid projects, Summerlin's Seven Seas has consistently been the low bidder and has done competent work in a timely manner on other county projects (e.g., Round Island Park boardwalks and tower; Donald McDonald Park boardwalk/pier). As previously explained, the County contracted with Summerlin's Seven Seas for construction of other marine structures on the ORCA property, and there is an opportunity to amend that contract to include the observation platform, thus allowing for construction to occur in a timely manner before the FIND grant expires in September, 1998. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize staff to amend its previous contract with Summerlin's Seven Seas for that company to construct the herein described observation platform on the Oslo Riverfront property, at a cost of $36,800. ATTACHMENTS • Depiction of the proposed observation platform • Price quote from Summerlin's Seven Seas • Cost -Share summary matrix of Oslo Riverfront FIND Grant #95-19 August 11, 1998