Ridge Pike project gets funds

NORRISTOWN >> A chunk of funds approved recently by the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners dealt with the ongoing Ridge Pike Improvement Project.

Of the roughly $2.9 million authorized in a series of contracts and amendments during the May 6 meeting, the commissioners were presented with some bigticket items.

One was an agreement not exceeding $1,334,994 with TRC Engineers Inc., of New York, N.Y., for construction inspection services.

The seven-figure contract between the New York-based firm

and the county’s Department of Assets and Infrastructure and Planning Commission, covered “Section D” of the longterm project, which covers Ridge Pike, from Crescent to Northwest avenues, located between Springfield and Whitemarsh townships to the Philadelphia city line.

Specifically, a request for proposals was posted online prior to the selection process. Fifty-one companies viewed the plans, and nine placed bids on the project, according to the contract.

The county solicitor endorsed the New York firm, according to the contract.

An agreement not exceeding $341,724.25 with JBC Associates Inc., of King of Prussia, was approved as part of the same infrastructure initiative.

The Montgomery County Department of Assets and Infrastructure previously issued a request for proposals for construction management services focusing aforementioned boundaries of the major thoroughfare.

The online advertisement was viewed by 49 companies, and nine initiated bids, according to the contract award.

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale took issue with several contract awards and amendments concerning the construction of a storage facility at the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety’s emergency operations center.

The commissioners initially approved a $9,086,011 agreement in March between the Montgomery County Department of Assets and Infrastructure and SJ Thomas Co. Inc., of Lansdowne, for “the construction of a warehouse and garage facility” at the agency’s headquarters in Eagleville.

The space was slated to house several items including generators, personal protective equipment and sign boards and traffic equipment for mass evacuations, according to a county spokesperson.

At this most recent meeting, Gale opposed a $140,205 contract with Hillis Carnes Engineering Associates Incorporated, of Annapolis Junction, Maryland, for testing and inspection services.

He also objected to a $53,000 amendment to an existing contract with Bursich Associates Inc., of Pottstown, for civil engineering services to design the warehouse. The revised figure now stands at $74,050.

Additionally, he protested a $68,350 amendment to a previously approved agreement with Heckendorn Shiles & Associates, of Wayne, Pennsylvania for architecture and engineering services for the warehouse’s design dealing with a “design and construction revision.” That contract is now totaled at $811,807.

Gale has been previously vocal in his objection to the project, citing excessive cost.

“I’d like to oppose ... the construction project of the warehouse at the emergency operations center campus,” Gale said during the May 6 meeting. “Today’s agenda reflects over $1 million in cost related to that project.”

Additionally, a previously approved contract with Infor Global Solutions, Inc., of Alpharetta, Georgia was amended during Thursday’s meeting. The Georgia-based company required another $216,538 for “technical managed services support for the County’s Infor Cloud Suite financial system.”

The initial agreement was approved to Ciber Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina. However, it was reapproved after the business was sold to Infor US Inc. in 2017. The contract has been updated nine times since it was initially authorized, and eight since it changed hands. The revised figure now stands at $2,474,550, according to the contract.

All 17 contracts were authorized in a 2-1 vote with Gale dissenting.

In other business, the commissioners issued proclamations for May, which included Older Americans/Centenarian Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.

The next Montgomery County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 20.