Transtech Letter www.transtech.org
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TRANSTECII CITY OF ROSEMEAD
R 2 7 2015
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
April 27,2015 BY:
Mr.Jeff Allred,City Manager
City of Rosemead City Hall
8838 E.Valley Boulevard
Rosemead, CA 91770
CC: Ms. Michelle Ramirez,Community Development Director
Ms. Gloria Molleda,City Clerk
Subject: Transtech Engineers, Inc.
Clarifications to the April 28,2015 Rosemead City Council Staff Report
Item 5B.SELECTION OF A BUILDING&SAFETY DIVISION CONTRACTOR
Dear Mr.Allred:
Transtech Engineers, Inc. Building and Safety Project Team Members had the pleasure of meeting you and your team
regarding our recent proposal submitted on December 8,2014, at our interview on February 18,2015.
On April 23, 2015, the City published the City Council Staff Report regarding the selection of the Building and Safety
Division Contractor,which is on the April 28,2015 Rosemead City Council Meeting Agenda (Agenda Item 5B).
For the record, we are submitting this letter to address comments made about our firm in the April 28, 2015 City
Council Staff Report to clear any misunderstanding the City staff may have about our services. We respectfully request
that this letter is provided to City Council Members for the April 28th Council Meeting as a public record. Our principal
staff members will attend the City Council Meeting to present clarifications to the comments included in the staff
report,and provide responses to any questions.
Transtech, founded in 1989, is a well-qualified and respected firm in the industry. Currently,Transtech is providing
Building and Safety Services to a number of cities in the surrounding area. We embrace a customer service attitude,
and provide our services in a manner that is applicant friendly. Responsiveness is an integral part of Transtech's
"customer friendly"service approach. We always strive to improve the City's reputation as a desirable community to
invest and conduct business. Furthermore,Transtech maintains a low overhead cost,and provides these cost savings
to its client cities.
13367 Benson Avenue I Chino CA 91710 I T 909 595 8599 I F 909 590 8599 I www.transtech.org
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April27,2015
Mr.Jeff Allred,City Manager
Page 2 of 4
The April 28, 2015 Rosemead City Council Staff Report states the following items as part of the executive summary of
Transtech (page 4 of 5). We respectfully provide the following clarifications for statements made about our firm.
1. Statement from April 28, 2015 Rosemead City Council Staff Report: "Transtech did not provide an all-inclusive
percentage based compensation fee schedule in their initial proposal as had been requested in the RFP. In
addition to their proposed percentage fee schedule,they stated that additional hourly fees would be charged for
certain services. "
The City's RFP issued on November 10,2014,indicates on page 7 of 10 under Item 8.Compensation,that"Proposal
.must include a percentage fee compensation breakdown for building and plan check services separately",and also
states that "In addition, Consultant must provide an hourly rate sheet for other services outside of the scope of
services." Transtech's December 8, 2014 Proposal, Section 8. Compensation, page 8.1 shows that we originally
responded to the City's fee request in the format required in the City's RFP.
2. Statement from April 28,2015 Rosemead City Council Staff Report: "During the interview, Transtech confirmed
that additional fees based on hourly rates would be charged to the City for"certain services ", i.e.plan checks
after the second review, weekend/holiday/after work hours,no-fee and City projects, and specialized fields of
plan check reviews. When the addendum was issued to clarify and re-state the City's intention to have all-
inclusive services with no additional fees, Transtech provided a letter(in addition to the addendum)that again
suggested that they may not fully understand the scope of services,which also led,to staff's doubt as to whether
Transtech is proposing an all-inclusive percentage-based split of revenues with no additional fees charged to the
City. As a result,additional follow up and clarification was needed."
After the February 18,2015 interview,the City issued an addendum(dated February 23,2015)with updated scope
of work clarifications,and requested the submittal of an updated all-inclusive percentage fee compensation only,
based on all of the services shown in the addendum.
As requested, Transtech submitted an updated fee proposal per the City's addendum, which states that "As
required by the City, we are submitting City's "Revised Compensation Proposal Form" per conditions specified in
the Addendum".
After submitting the above fee to City as requested per the addendum, Ms. Ramirez contacted us on March 9,
2015,and requested that we resubmit clarification. As requested,we resubmitted the same fee%s as follows:
' Our fee to provide all of the scope of work items as listed in City's Addendum 1,dated February 23,2015 is as follows:
New Fee per the new conditions set in the RFP Addendum received via e-mail on February 23,2015
Building Services 100% Plan Check Services 100%
Consultant 51% Consultant 51%
City 49% City 49%
As presented above, our first submittal after the addendum, as well as the re-submittal at the City's request, our
fee is an all-inclusive percentage-based split of revenues with no additional fees charged to the City.
The staff report indicates that Willdan was the only firm to submit an all-inclusive proposal for a percentage split
of revenues with no additional fees from the onset. However,Willdan's fee proposal on Page 20 of their proposal,
which was attached to the staff report(as was the other consultants proposals),states that"any additional services
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will be provided per our reduced Schedule of Hourly Rates attached therein". After the issuance of addendum,
Willdan also submitted an updated fee to the City.
The staff report also states that the City has received six(6) proposals, and after careful review of each proposal,
four(4)firms were selected for interviews based on their qualifications and fee proposal. As indicated in the staff
,report,Transtech submitted the lowest bid. Based on the City provided information for FY 2013-14,the Building
& Safety Division Revenues were $642,835.40 for Inspection (Permit) and $373,922.47 for Plan Check. Based on
these revenues,Transtech's proposed fee would result in$72,806 savings for the City annually,or$218,418 savings
in the initial 3 year contract term, or$364,030 savings to the City if the initial term is extended for 2 additional
years as stated in the RFP.
3. Statement from April 28, 2015 Rosemead City Council Staff Report: "There is also concern that Transtech may
not provide the dedicated assigned staff that would be required to match the level of service provided by the
'existing consultant."
Our project team organization provided the dedicated staff as requested in the City's RFP addendum,which stated
that a full-time dedicated Building Official, Building Inspector, and Building Permit Technician must be assigned to
the City,and that the Consultant will be required to provide additional staff as needed,to meet the demands of an
increase in workload.
Transtech Proposal,Section 6. Project Team, Page 6.1 provides a list of qualified and certified staff members that
would be assigned as the dedicated staff to the City, which include the classifications of a full-time dedicated
Building Official, a full-time dedicated.Building Inspector, and a full-time dedicated Building Permit Technician, as
well as plan checkers and any additional support staff when needed.
4. Statement from April 28, 2015 Rosemead City Council Staff Report: "According to statements during their
interview, they proposed to share personnel resources with neighboring cities,rather than provide the desired
assigned staff as specified in the RFP and RFP addendum."
Transtech never made such a statement, nor proposed to share personnel resources with neighboring cities. As
indicated in Item 3 above,Transtech's Proposal,Section 6. Project Team, Page 6.1 provides a list of qualified and
certified staff members,which include the classifications of a dedicated full-time Building Official,a dedicated full-
time Inspector, a dedicated full-time Building Permit Technician, as well as plan checkers and any additional
support staff when needed. During the interview, a question was asked by City staff regarding how Transtech
manages coverage during illness, or vacation; and how Transtech would handle it if one of the designated staff
assigned to the City was unavailable. In the rare occasion that the dedicated staff assigned to the City was ill or on
vacation,we mentioned that since Transtech provides the same services and have ample staff nearby,we would
.easily be able to fill that position to ensure that there was no interruption to the services provided to residents,
developers, business owners,and to the City.
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5. Statement from April 28, 2015 Rosemead City Council Staff Report: "In addition, their lack of attentiveness to
these details in the RFP and RFP addendum is concerning,and provides some insight into their potential working
relations with the public."
As presented with citations from our proposal throughout this letter,we have responded to the City's RFP per the
RFP guidelines, in detail and clearly. In our opinion, the Staff Report statement is a subjective assumption. As
presented in Transtech's proposal, 12 references and letters of recommendations from various agencies
throughout the region were included. None of which would lead to an assumption of a lack of attentiveness.
Transtech has a high level of commitment to community and customer service in all facets of services provided,
and has maintained an exemplary relations with public agencies, as well as with the community members those
agencies serve.
6. Statement from April 28, 2015 Rosemead City Council Staff Report: "Additionally, Transtech has no experience
with the HdL software system used by the City. The lack of knowledge and proficient use of this software could
lead to delays in the issuance of building permits, logging of inspections, and the running of required needed
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reports."
Our staff follows the needs and the direction of the City and can adapt to any software or program the City wishes
staff to use.
We have transitioned several services from existing consultants,the County, or City staff over our tenure.There has
never been interruption to the economic development momentum that the City may be experiencing during those
transitions regarding development projects or any ongoing project. We strive to make sure there is no disruption in
the current flow of services from a customer service and building services standpoint and make sure to have a seamless
transition to continue the development and level of service to the City. We always strive to improve the City's
reputation as a desirable community to invest and conduct business. Furthermore, Transtech maintains a low
overhead,and provides these cost savings to its client cities.
We respectfully request that this letter is provided to City Council Members for the April 28th Council Meeting as a
public record.
Our principal staff members will attend the City Council Meeting to present clarifications to the comments included in
the staff report, and provide responses to any questions.
Respectfully submitted.
Transtech Engineers, Inc.
Prepared by Transtech Staff,who attended the interview:
• Neville Pereira, PE,CBO; neville.pereira @transtech.org
• Dennis Tarango,Jr., CBO;dennis.tarango @transtech.org
• William Dorman;CBO; bill.dorman @transtech.org
• Ayla Jefferson,CBO;avla.iefferson@transtech.org
www.transtech.org
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