The City of Vicksburg is one step closer to completing its ongoing work on its new animal shelter, with Mayor George Flaggs Jr. and Ward 2 Alderman Alex Monsour approving a third task order on the project during Monday’s regular meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

The approval grants Senior Project Manager Brian Robbins and Neal-Schaffer, Inc. authorization for Task Order #3 to perform additional work on the site located on U.S. 61 South.

The task order’s details include a topographic survey of site modifications and elevation certificate, with the cost of this phase
of work not to exceed $22,245.

“Our services under this Task Order shall be considered Type 1 Services in accordance with the GSA between The City of Vicks-
burg and Neel-Schaffer, Inc.,” Robbins laid out in a letter to the city. “Our professional services will include topographic survey-
ing, elevation certificate for the newly renovated building, development of revised construction plans to meet the modified conditions of the site, preparation of cost estimates, bidding, award and construction engineering/inspection (CEI).”

In a breakdown of work provided by Neal-Schaffer, Inc., specific project tasks and expected costs include: (design phase) Project management/internal corporate review, $275; survey data interpolation and building of surface model, $775; grading and drainage design, $990; revisions to existing site drawings based on new topographical data, $2,670; creation of plans, $2,670; construction estimates, $990; quality calculations, $495; compilation and production of specifications, $1,550; QA/
QC, $355; meetings, bid openings, bid tabulation and award recommendations, $1,075; (CEI phase) contractor pay requests, invoicing, contract administration, $1,400; construction inspection (this is not full-time/10-hour-a-day inspection, but rather inspection during critical path items and overall quality assurance), $7,200; final inspection and punch list, $280; (additional services) survey (sub-consultant – DIMCO) (topographical and elevation certification), $1,800.

With a total cost of $22,525 coming in just above the stipulated fixed fee set by the city, Robbins explained the additional $280 falling within the scope of additional fees.

“Our services will be provided in accordance with Exhibit A – General Terms and Conditions, for a not to exceed fixed fee of $22,245.00. Any other services not listed in the scope for Design and CEI requested by the City shall be considered additional services. The only additional service included in the proposed fixed fee is that of the new topographic survey and elevation certificate that will be provided by our subconsultant, DIMCO and is listed below. Any additional services deemed necessary outside those listed below will be presented separately to the City for consideration before proceeding with any of those services.”

In December, city officials moved the completion date for the shelter to February, following a change order request from contractor Fordice Construction to upgrade a circuit for the dryer at the shelter.

The shelter’s construction and pending completion marks the end of a multi-year search for a new animal shelter. The current
shelter is more than 50 years old and sits on a tract of land on Old Mill Road that has been subject to frequent flooding issues.