HomeMy WebLinkAbout025157 - Construction-Related - Contract - Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE)��N RACTENO Y � � � � I
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Engineers, Architects, Material Scientists
August 6, 1999
Headquarters Mr. Douglas A. Rademaker, P.E.
Northbrook, /L Deparhnent of Engineering
City of Fort Worth
Offices 1000 Throckmorton
Atlanta Fort Worth, TX 76102
Chicago
Dartas
Denver
Detroit
Honolulu
Memphis
New York
Princeton
RE: Martha Lane Channel
WJE No. 991721
Dear Mr. Rademaker:
3100 Premier Drive, Suite 200
Irving, TX 75063-2659
(972) 550-7777 fax: (972) 550-1189
http://www.wje.com
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Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. (WJE) is pleased to present this proposal to the City of Fort Worth to
perform an engineering investigation of the failure of the recently conshucted Phase I of the Martha Lane
Channel Improvement Project.
SanFrancisco `I'he Martha Lane Channel Improvement project was designed to be consixucted in two phases. Phase I,
seanre including Section A, B and B Alternate, extended from Station 201 + 56 to station 230 + 00, a distance of a
Washington, Dc little over a half mile. Design Engineers for the project were Albert H. Halff Associates, Fort Worth; the
Geotechnical Engineers were Terra-mar; and the Contractor far Phase I was Ramex Construction of
EHA Division Houston. The Owner is the City of Fort Worth. The Phase I work was completed in February, 1999. The
Phase II work, by another contractor, is currently nearing completion.
Northbrook, /L
Austin The open channel was constructed from downstream (East end) to upstream. The channel bottom (invert)
C(wefand and sloped side walls were constructed of 3000 psi reinforced concrete, the invert being constructed first,
followed in sequence by construction of the north slope wall and the south slope wall. The invert is shown
to be 8 in. thick and 20 ft wide. The 2:1 slope walls are shown to be 6 in. thick and to extend laterally from
14.2 to 19 ft (typically 16 ft). During construction, random longitudinal cracks were noted to occur at
about mid-height of the slope walls of the channel.
During a heavy rainstorm in mid-March, 1999, approximately 3 in. of rainfall occurred in about one hour in
the area which drains to the Martha Lane Channel. Shortly thereafter, it was discovered that extensive
heaving and cracking of the channel invert and slope sides occurred near and at the downstream end. Also,
a pipe connection broke on an 8 in. aerial sanitary sewer pipe which crosses the channel at about station
206 + 50.
On July 7, 1999, the undersigned representative of WJE conducted a short site visit of the project with
representatives of the City. We were then requested to prepare this proposal to perform an engineering
investigation of the failure. The objective of the investigation is to assess the as-built condition of the
structure and determining contributing causes for the failure.
Based on our observations and our brief site visit, we anticipate performing the investigation with the
assistance of sub-consultants. The initial phase of the investigation will include the following:
Document review. We will review available and pertinent construction documents, including the
contract for engineering design services, plans and specifications, construcrion records, and reports
of testing perfornied after the failure.
Site observations and documentation. A site visit will be conducted to document the nature and
extent of the failure conditions. We will retain the services of a local surveying firm to perform a
limited elevation survey of the channel bottom and slope walls at selected stations, the purpose being
to provide a comparison with the design elevations and provide baseline elevations for comparison
to future measurements, if needed, At this time, we do not anticipate taking additional soil borings,
as we understand that the City had retained Rone Engineers to perform those tests shortly after the
failure, and that the results of their tests will be provided for our use.
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Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Mr. Douglas A. Rademaker, P.E.
Ciry of Fort Worth
August 6, 1999
Page 2
3. Storm water study. We will retain the services of Ayres Associates as a sub-consultant to perform an
appropriate storm water drainage study and analyses of erosion and scour potential of the channel.
4. Preliminary report. Preparation of a preliminary report of our opinions as to the cause(s) of the failure of the
channel.
Subsequent studies may be needed, depending on the findings of the above tasks. If so, work on additional tasks will
not be initiated without the prior approval of the City.
We recommend that the City provide a budget of $14,500 for the above scope of work. Charges for our investigation
will be invoiced approximately monthly on a time and expense basis, using our standard hourly rates in effect at the
time the wark is performed. A copy of our current rate schedule is attached. All services are provided in accordance
with our standard Terms and Conditions, dated August 1, 1996, copy attached.
Enclosed for your information and review are copies of current brochures for WJE and for Ayers Associates. Also
enclosed are professional qualification summaries for Mr. E.V. Richardson, Ph.D., P.E., who will be principal
investigator for Ayers, and for the undersigned representative of WJE, who will serve as WJE's project manager for
this investigation.
Thank you for contacting Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates in this matter. Please indicate your acceptance of this
proposal by signing in the space below and returning a copy with an original signature to us. Upon receipt, we will
schedule the work. We have tentatively arranged with Dr. Richardson to conduct his site work beginning on the
morning of August 28, his first available date. We understand that our preliminary report is to be submitted to the
City by October 1, 1999.
Very truly yours,
WISS, JANNEY, ELSTNER ASSOCIATES, INC.
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Douglas W. Deno, P.E.
Project Manager
Enclosures �
Accepted by:
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�dntract Authori ation
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Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, lna
ProfessionaI Staff
Senior Consultant
Consultant
Senior Engineer
Engineer III
Engineer II
Eng-ineer I
HOURLY TIME CHARGES
$170.00
145.00
120.00
100.00
85.00
70.00
Professional Supnort Staff
Senior Specialist $85.00
Specialist 75.00
Senior Technician 60.00
Technician II 50.00
Technician I 40.00
Note: Classifications of professionals in other disciplines are made by appropriate
change of "Engineer". For example, the Senior Engineer classification also
applies to Senior Architect, Senior Chemist, etc.
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Assoc7ates, Inc.
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Page 1 ot 2
Auguat 1, 1996
These Standard Terms and Conditions shall continue in full force and effect during, as well
as after, the completion or termination of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.'s (WJE)
employment. These Standard Terms and Conditions shall control any conflicting term or
condition unless WJE shall agree in writing.
PERFORMANCE
WJE and its employees will exercise the degree of skill
and care expected by customarily accepted practices
and procedures. No warranties, expressed or implied,
are made with respect to WJE's performance, unless
agreed to in writing. WJE is not a guarantor of the
project to which its services are directed, and its
responsibility is limited to work performed for the client.
WJE is not responsible for acts or omissions of the
client, nor for third parties not under its direct control.
WJE shall not be liable for any reason for any special,
indirect or consequential damages induding loss of use
and loss of profit. WJE may rely upon information
supplied by the client engaging WJE, or the contractors
or consultants involved, or information available from
generally accepted reputable sources, without
independent verification. WJE services are being
pertormed solely for clients benefit and no contractor,
subcontractor, supplier, fabricator, manufacturer, tenant,
occupant, consultant, or other third party shall have any
claim against WJE as a result of its services.
exclusive (net) of local or county excise and other
business or business license taxes. The client
represents it is aware of all such taues and shall be
responsible to reimburse WJE upon presentation by
WJE of the cost of such taxes by an invoice within one
, year of completion of senrices.
CLIENT DUTIES
In order for WJE to perform the services requested, the
client shall, at no expense to WJE, (1) provide all
necessary information regarding clienYs requirements as
necessary for orderfy progress of the work, (2) designate
in writing a person to act as clienYs representative for
senrices to be rendered under this Agreement, which
person shall have authoriry to transmit instructions,
receive instructions and information, interpret and define
clienYs policies and requests for WJE's services, and (3)
provide access to and make all provisions for WJE to
enter, without cost, limitation or burden to WJE, publicly
or privately owned property as required to perform the
work, including the use of scaffolds or similar
mechanical contrivances.
WJE shall not have control over or charge of and shall
not be responsible for construcBon means, methods,
techniques, sequences or procedures, or for safety
precautions and safery programs in connection with the
project, since these are solely the responsibility of
others. WJE shall not be responsible for the contractor's
schedules or failure to carry out the project in
accordance with contract documents. WJE shall not
have control over or charge of acts or omissions of the
contractor, subcontractor, or their agents or employees,
or of any other non WJE persons performing portions of
the project.
USE OF REPORTS, DRAWINGS, ETC.
WJE retains ownership of letters, reports, drawings,
specifications, photographs, test data, notes and other
work product it has created. These documents or patts
thereof may not be reproduced in advertisements,
brochures, or sales matedai, nor used by the ciient for
any purpose other than the purpose for which they were
prepared, nor by third pawes, without the written
permission of WJE. Conclusions by WJE based on test
results are limited to the specific conditions for which the
tests were performed. if fhe client requests our work
product be stored by some form of electronic media (i.e.
CAD, word processor, spread sheet files, etc.), the client
agrees that WJE shall not be held liable for the
completeness, accuracy or longeviry of these materiais.
PROPOSALS
Proposals expire 120 days after submission to a client
unless a different expiration limit is included in the
proposal. WJE may withdraw or modify a proposal at
any tlme prior to acceptance by the client. All fees and
e�enses quoted in proposals or stated in invoices are
SAFE7Y
Field work of WJE will be performed only under
conditions deemed safe by our personnel. Charges may
be made for safery or security measures required by
hazardous job c�nditions. WJE is not responsible for the
safety of other persons or property.
Haz�anous Mareau►ts
If WJE encounters, or reasonably suspects that it has
encountered, hazardous materials in the project, WJE
shall cease activiry on the project and promptly notify
the client. The client shall initiate action, where
appropriate, to idenGfy and investigate the nature and
extent of hazardous materials in the project and to abate
and/or remove the same as may be required by federal,
state or local statute, ordinance, code, rule, or regulation
now existing or hereinafter enacted or amended. Unless
othervvise specially provided in writing, the services to
be provided by WJE do not include identificatlon of
hazardous materials, and WJE has no duty to identify or
attempt to identify the same within the area of the
project.
It is further unde�stood and agreed that services WJE
wiil undertake for the client may be uninsurable
obligations invoiving the presence or potential presence
of hazardous materials. Therefore, the client agrees,
except (1) such liability as may arise out of WJE's sole
negligence in the pertormance of services under this
agreement or (2) to the extent of insurance coverage
avaitable for the claim, to hold harmless, indemnify and
defend WJE and its employees, subcontractors and
agents from and against any and all claims, lawsuits,
damages, liabiliry and costs, including.but not limited to,
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS � P�a 2 or 2 �
August 1, 1996
costs of defense, arising out of or in any way connected
with the presence, discharge, release, or escape of
hazardous materials. This indemnification applies only
to e�asting conditions and not to conditions caused or
created by WJE. 'Hazardous materials' means any
substance, waste,.pollutant or contaminant, in whatever
form, now or hereafter included within such terms under
any federal, state or local statute, ordinance, code, rule
or regulation now existing or hereinafter enacted or
amended.
SUSPENSION OF SERVICES
If the client fails to make payment when due WJE for
services and expenses, WJE may, upon seven days'
written notice to the client, suspend performance of
services under this Agreement. Unless payment in full is
received by WJE within seven days of the date of the
notice, the suspension shall take effect without further
notice. In the event of a suspension of services, WJE
shall have no liabiliry to the client for delay or damage
caused the client because of such suspension of
S@CVICBS. .
FDCED PRICE CONTRACTS
Where WJE and the client have agreed to a fixed price
contract, the following terms and conditions are
specifically excluded: Time Charges, Expenses,
Equipment Usage, Affiliated Consultants, and
Subcontracted Services. Progress payments will be
made monthiy as a percent of compietion unless
otherwise arranged with the client. Other stated billing
terms remain in effect.
TIME CHARGES �
Time charges are accrued on an hourly basis, unless
other arrangements are estabiished. Minimum time
charges of personnel at a job site is 8 hours per day,
unless time can be utilized on another job. No increase
in rates for overtime. No charge for out-of-town travel
time of professional staff outside of normal &hour
workday unless time is productive. Technicians may
. charge up to 2 hours on weekdays for out-of-town travel
outside of normal workday, or up to �4 hours per day for
out-of-town travel on weekends. Billing rates may be
increased annualiy, after notification to the client
EI�ENSEs
Public transportation, subsistence and out-of-pocket
expenses incurred during travel, communications,
reproduction and shipping charges will be billed at cost
plus 5% (nvoiced as an expense service fee.)
Expended materials for field and laboratory
investigations, rental equipment, and fees advanced on
clienYs behalf will be billed at cost plus 10% (invoiced as
an expense service fee.)
Company or personal vehicles $ 0.35 per mile
Computer usage $20.00 per hour
Clients may be charged for the cost of providing copies
of receipts or detailed 'back-up' information conceming
expenses.
EQUIPIIIENT USAGE
Equipment usage is approximately equal to 1% of the
replacement cost per day, subject to adjustment for
minimum or extended usage.
AFFILIATED CONSULTANTS
WJE retains certain affiliated consultants as independent
contractors, but provides insurance and support
services. These affiliated consultants are billed at rates
equfvalent to WJE employees of similar education and
professional experience.
SUBCONTRACTED SERVICES
Services are billed at cost plus 10% if the subcontractor
firm has at least $500,000 of ProfessionaUGeneral
Liability Insurance, otherwise cost is marked up 20%.
The mark-up does not apply to subcontractor's
reimbursable expenses, such as a subcontractor's travel
e�enses.
STORAGE
Material samples not consumed in our work may be
discarded 30 days after submission of the test report
' unless the client requests other disposition. Charges
may be made, after notification, for extended storage of
materials, recorcls, or equipment. WJE will exercise
reasonable care in safeguarding materials, recorcls, or
equipment, but disclaims any liability for loss or damage.
SUBPOENAS AND COURT ORDEAS
The ciient is responsible, after notification, for payment
of time charges, attomey fees and other expenses
resulting from a required response to subpoenas or
court orders issued at the request of any party
conceming any part of our worlc. Charges are based on
billing rates in effect at the time of our response.
INSURANCE
WJE is protected for general, automobile, workers'
compensation and employers' liability coverage by
policies written by national insurance carriers rated by
the A.M. Best Company. The primary limits are
$1,000,000 with a$2,000,000 aggregate on general
liability. Excess coverage applies to exposures over
$1,000,000. Endorsements are not allowed. Coverage is
subject to annual renewal. Increased coverage will be
sought if requested. iiowever, charges for this additional
coverage will be billed to the client
BILLING TERIAS
The firm or individual engaging WJE is responsible for
payment of charges uniess WJE is notified in writing,
prior to the time that the charges are incurred, that the
engagement is on behalf of another party. Accumulated
charges will be billed in approximately monthly intervals.
State and local sales and use tax will be included in the
billing if applicable. Payment in full is due upon receipt
of the i�voice. Invoices which are unpaid 30 days from
the invoice date are considered past due and subject to
an interest charge at the rate of 1�fz% per month (or at
a lower maximum legal rate) plus related attomeys' fees
and collection expenses.
The client is responsible for payment of all charges.
Agents of the client who engage WJE are also
responsible for payment of all charges unless WJE
agrees otherwise in writing prior to the time that the
charges are incurred.
��1
Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, lnc.
Personnel Qualifications
r
Dougtas W. Deno
Branch Manager and
Senior Consultant
Education
St. Joseph's College
B.A. Math-Physics, 1963
Purdue University
B.S. CivilEngineerin� 1964
M.S. Civil Engineerin� 1966
Registration
Professional Engineer in Illinois and
Tezas
Prior Experience
Mr. Deno was employed for three years at
the Research and Development Labora-
tories of the Portland Cement Association,
where his projects included studies of the
effect of cement content and admixtures on
various concreteproperties andbridge deck
deterioration. He also worked for one year
as Public Works Engineer in the Midwest-
ern Region of PCA.
Mr. Deno joined the Construction Prod-
ucts Division of W. R. Grace in 1970, pro-
viding "in-the-field" services to concrete
admixture users, including ready-mix con-
crete producers, paving and buIlding con-
tractors. He assisted the general contractor
of the world's largest parking garage at
O'Hare Airport as a wncrete quality con-
trol coordinator.
From 1972 through 1984, Mr. Deno held
various technical and marketing positions
with General Portland Inc. in Dallas, Texas,
with responsibility for technical activities in
support of production and sales efforts re-
garding cement, aggregates, fly ash and
ready-mix concrete. He consulted on con-
crete and masonry construction problems
and conducted laboratory and field evalua-
tions of concrete admixtures, fly ash and
masonry cements.
WJE Experience
Mr. Deno joined WJE in 1985 as Consult-
ant and Manager of the Dallas Branch Of-
fice. He has served as primary investigator
on several projects involving concrete ma-
terials and concrete construction procedures,
working closely with WJE's Erlin, Hime
Associates Division. He has investigated
concrete problems involving low strength,
cracking andvarious forms of deterioration
and distress.
In 1989 and 1990, he was project manager
on a maj or invesrigation involving prestressed
concrete railroad ties. He has also man-
aged investigarions involving masonry dis-
tress, water leakage, and building condition
surveys.
Concrete problems investigated have
included the non-performance of a large
loading dock slab for a beer distributor;
extensive cracking on the floor slab of a
large postal facility; an airport runwaythick-
ness and strength deficiency issue, and sev-
eral projects involving the failure of tilt-up
concrete panels during erection.
He has also evaluated numerous problems
on slabs-on-grade, including cracking, low
strength, finishing difficulties and various
types of surface failures.
Professional Activities�
A Fellow in the American Concrete Insti-
tute, Mr. Deno receivedtheNartheastTexas
Chapter's Sophus Thompson S ervice Award
in 1984. He has served as a speaker on the
ACI Seminar Series on "Troubleshooting
Concrete Problems." He has also previ-
ously served on the Board of Directors and
is past President of the Northeast Texas
Chapter of ACI. He is currently a member
of ACI Committee 232, Fly Ash and Natu-
ral Pozzolans in Concrete, the Educational
Activities Committee and the Convention
Committee.
Mr. Deno is also an active member of the
American Society for Testing and Materi-
als and the Texas Aggregate and Concrete
Association. He is a member of AST'M
Subcommittee C09.03.10, Fly Ash, Silica
Fume and Slag, and is chairman of ASTM
Subcommittee C09.03.09, Ready Mix
Concrete.
Throughout his career, Mr. Deno has been
active in industry educational efforts, con-
ducting frequent technical seminars, work-
shops and lectures.
5.91
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E.V. Richardson, Ph.D., P.E.
Senior Associate
Expertise
River engineering
Instructor for NHt course "Stream Stability and Scour at Highway S#ructures"
Author and instruc#or of HEC-98 and HEC-20
Hydraulic desigr� of bridges, dikes, jetties, revetment, and other river training works
Author and Instructor of "Highways in the River Environment" training course
Geomorphic evaluation
Experience
Dr. Richardson is an internationally known expert in river engineering, with particular expertise in
bridge crossing hydraulics and scour. He has served as a consultant #o the Departments of
Transportation on hydraulic design of bridges and design of dikes, jetties, revetments and other
river training works. As part of this work, in the early � 970s Dr. Richardson supervised the
preparation of a training and design manual entitfed uHighways in the River Environment,
Nydraulic and Environmental Design Considerations." He was responsible for updating the same
document in 1990 and for continued presentation of training courses based on that document.
Additionally, he is Principal Investigator for development of an �HWA training course on scour at
#�ridge crossings. Related to the effort is the revision and updating of the FHWA HEC=18 and
HEC-20 documents on bridge scour and channel stability, respectively.
Dr. Richardson was co-author of the "Interim Procedure for Evaluating Scour at Bridges" that
accompanied the FHWA Technical Advisory on Scour at Bridges that was issued November 7,
1988. � He was senior author of FHWA Hydraulics Engineering Circular (HEC) No. 18,
"Evaluating Scour at Bridges" (1990), tha# superseded the Interim Procedures and also co-
author of FHWA publication HEC-20, "Stream Stability at Highway Structures.° Dr. Richardson
was Principal Investigator for the development of FH�tk's--very successful short course entitled,
"Stream Stability and Scour at Highway Structures," and is a certified NHI instructor for the
course. Most recently, Dr. Richardson is #he Principal Investigator for the complete rewrite of
the FHWA Highway Hydraulics (HDS-4) Manual which will be instrumental in developing the
FHWA "Introduction to Highway Hydraulics" Training Course.
Dr. Richardson was (1988-1990) a member of New York State's Bridge Safety Assura�ce Task
Force. This Task Force investigated and made recommendations on the safety of a11 the
bridges in New York State.
ar. Richardson is also involved in the geomorphic and hydraulic evaluation of bridges for
District-wide scour studies in Florida Districts 2, 6, and 7. �
Dr. Richardson recently completed a detailed scour analysis of the March 1995 I-5 bridge
failure for the CALTRANS Legal Division. Working with hydraulic engineers from the USGS
and FHWA, he analyzed the hydrology and hydraulics of Arroyo Pasajero (Los Gatos Creek)
and completed a detailed analysis of th�e role of degradation, contraction scour, pier scour, and
channel instability in the failure. =
AYRES ASSOCIATES
E.V. Richardson, Ph.D., P.E. (continued)
He has authored or co-authored 200 technical papers, manuals, and reports on water resources,
fluid mechanics, open channel fiow, erosion, sedimentation, river mechanics, irrigation, hydrology,
bridge waterways, and hydraulics strvctures.
Dr. Richardson was a consultant to the National Transportation Safety Board in their study of the
Schoharie Creek Bridge failure in New York. Working with Drs. Lagasse, Schall, and Frick or
Ayres Associates, he investigated the hydraulics, river mechanics, and scour aspects ofi the
failure. Dr. Richardson also supervised the model study of that failure. He testified at the NTSB
hearing.
Credentials
B.S. Civil Engineering, Colorado State Universiiy, Fort Collins,1949
M.S. Civil �ngineering, Coforado State University, Fort Collins, 1960
Ph.D. Civil Engineeri�g, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 1965
Registered Professional Engineer - Colorado
AYRES ASSOCIATES