Item - 2021.IE24.5

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services to negotiate and enter into a non-competitive agreement with LEA Consulting Limited, on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor for the detailed engineering design of the Dufferin Street Bridges over the Metrolinx Rail Corridor and F.G. Gardiner Expressway; the estimated amount of this non-competitive contract is $3,551,862 net of Harmonized Sales Tax, $3,614,375 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries, including disbursements, provisional allowances and contingencies.

The purpose of this report is to request authority for the Chief Engineer and Executive Director, Engineering and Construction Services, to negotiate and enter into a non-competitive contract with LEA Consulting Limited. The contract is for professional engineering services for the detailed design of the replacement bridges at Dufferin Street over the Metrolinx Rail Corridor and F.G. Gardiner Expressway, and the new Toronto Transit Commission's Dufferin Gate Streetcar Loop. The estimated value of the non-competitive contract is $3,551,862 net of Harmonized Sales Tax, $3,614,375 net of Harmonized Sales Tax recoveries.

There is an urgent need for the award of this contract due to several years of delays. Metrolinx had previously informed the City that they would undertake the bridge replacement work. However, after significant discussion with City Staff, Metrolinx have now advised that the City will need to assume responsibility for the bridge works. This has resulted in the need for accelerated detailed design in advance of construction. Entering into a non-competitive contract with LEA Consulting Limited will enable the City to maintain the necessary schedule and proceed with the replacement of the temporary bridges which are nearing the end of their expected service life, with construction starting in 2024.

The scope of work combines the design for replacement of the bridges at Dufferin Street over the Metrolinx Rail Corridor and the F.G. Gardiner Expressway and the design for reconstruction of the Dufferin Gate Streetcar Loop requested by the Toronto Transit Commission, in anticipation of a single construction contract, thus avoiding traffic and streetcar service disruptions along Dufferin Street in subsequent years.

City Council approval is required in accordance with Municipal Code Chapter 195-1 Purchasing, where the current request exceeds $500,000 under Section 1 of the Purchasing By-Law and allowed under staff authority as per the Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 71- Financial Control, Section 71-11A.