2025-46 Contract Amendment #2-VHB-Site Investigation-Harrison Avenue Dump Site

WHEREAS, the City of Newport entered into an agreement with VHB, a multidisciplinary American civil engineering consulting and design firm, on October 27, 2023, to provide a scope of work and cost estimate to characterize soil currently staged in a large stockpile at RHS; and

WHEREAS, on April 5, 2024, the City of Newport did amend the original contract with VHB to now include a Limited Site Investigation pertaining to the Harrison Avenue Dump Site, to investigate the Site via a combination of exploratory test pits, soil borings, ground water monitoring well installations, soil gas monitoring and soil sampling services; and

WHEREAS, such investigations conducted to date, and subsequent to a meeting with the City, VHB and RIDEM on February 27, 2025, did determine that additional investigations at the Site are necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Rules and Regulations for the Investigation and Remediation of Hazardous Material Releases; and

WHEREAS, VHB’s amended contract (4/5/24) included preparation and submission of a Site Investigation Report (SIR) for RIDEM review and approval, in which the Site has not been fully characterized, VHB anticipates RIDEM will not be able to issue an approval indicating Site investigations are complete, therefore requiring additional investigations prior to moving forward with a remedy for the Site; and

WHEREAS, VHB is proposing to use remaining budget in the current scope to further characterize the Site and better recommend a preferred remedy as described in the SIR at no additional expense to the City of Newport. NOW THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED: that the City Administration requests that the City Council approve a contract amendment to the first amendment between the City of Newport and VHB, dated April 5, 2024, in order to fully characterize the Site. AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED: that VHB shall use remaining budget in the current scope in order that RIDEM will be able to issue an approval (Program letter) indicating Site investigations are complete.

IN COUNCIL
READ AND PASSED
MARCH 26, 2025

Laura C. Swistak, CMC
City Clerk