Geotechnical Engineering Proposal
RKCI
Guadalupe
A detailed geotechnical engineering services proposal submitted to Level 5 Architecture for the LeRoy Park project in the City of Guadalupe.
Firm Profile: Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc. (RKCI)
- Organizational Identity: Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc. (RKCI) is a specialized engineering and consulting firm with a high degree of technical concentration in the geotechnical sciences. Operating as a critical partner to architects and municipal agencies, the firm is structured to provide high-resolution subsurface data and engineering interpretations that form the basis of structural stability for the built environment.
- Local and Regional Hubs: RKCI maintains a robust regional presence on the California Central Coast, specifically utilizing its Archer Street office in San Luis Obispo to service projects within the City of Guadalupe and the Santa Maria Valley. This localized operational model ensures that field crews and engineers are intimately familiar with the unique geological characteristics of the coastal and alluvial stratigraphy of the region, allowing for more precise and cost-effective design recommendations.
- Multi-Disciplinary Technical Support: The firm’s organizational structure is designed to support the full lifecycle of a project, from initial site selection and due diligence through construction completion. RKCI integrates geotechnical engineering with environmental consulting and construction materials engineering and testing (CoMET). This integrated approach ensures that data collected during the initial geotechnical exploration is seamlessly utilized during construction-phase inspections and materials verification.
- Engineering Philosophy: RKCI’s approach to geotechnical engineering is rooted in empirical observation and rigorous laboratory validation. Every project is overseen by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) who reviews all boring logs, laboratory test results, and final analysis to ensure compliance with the California Building Code and industry best practices. The firm prioritizes the reduction of geological risk by identifying potential hazards such as liquefaction, expansive soils, and seismic settlement during the earliest design phases.
- Collaborative Partnership with Architecture: As a key consultant to firms like Level 5 Architecture, RKCI provides the technical "ground truth" that informs structural design. Their reports are drafted to be interoperable with architectural and structural plans, providing clear, actionable data on soil bearing capacities, lateral earth pressures, and site preparation requirements that prevent project delays and costly design revisions.
- Institutional Quality Control: The firm maintains internal Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) protocols that exceed standard regulatory requirements. This includes the peer review of all engineering evaluations by senior-level principals and the continuous calibration of laboratory equipment to ensure that moisture-density relationships, shear strength, and plasticity tests are accurate to the highest degree of confidence.
- Safety and Professional Responsibility: RKCI operates under a strict safety culture, particularly during field drilling and subsurface exploration. Their crews are trained in utility clearance protocols and site safety management, ensuring that exploratory activities do not compromise existing infrastructure or personnel. The firm also carries comprehensive professional liability insurance tailored to the specific risks of geotechnical services.
- Technical Credentials and Licensing: The firm employs a deep roster of technical specialists, including Geotechnical Engineers (GE), Engineering Geologists (CEG), and certified field technicians. This diverse staff allows RKCI to tackle complex geological challenges that require high-level state-specific licensing and specialized academic training.
I. Detailed Scope of Geotechnical Services
- Phase I: Subsurface Exploration and Drilling: The primary scope includes the mobilization of a specialized drill rig to the LeRoy Park project site to perform a series of exploratory borings. The proposal specifies the drilling of five (5) borings to depths ranging from 15 to 20 feet below current grade. This field exploration is designed to characterize the vertical and horizontal variability of the soil profile, providing a representative dataset for the proposed community center expansion and park improvements.
- Phase II: Specialized Field Sampling: During the drilling process, RKCI engineers and technicians will collect relatively undisturbed soil samples using standard penetration tests (SPT) and California modified samplers. These samples are critical for evaluating the soil's in-situ density, consistency, and structural properties. The sampling interval is typically every five feet or at every significant change in soil stratigraphy, ensuring a comprehensive map of the subsurface conditions.
- Phase III: Laboratory Analytical Testing: Recovered soil samples will be transported to the RKCI laboratory for a detailed analytical program. This scope includes tests for moisture content, dry density, and Atterberg limits to determine the soil's plasticity and expansion potential. Additionally, sieve analysis will be performed to evaluate the grain size distribution, which is essential for determining the soil's drainage characteristics and suitability for structural fill.
- Phase IV: Engineering Evaluation and Seismicity Analysis: RKCI will perform a formal analysis of the site's seismic risk per the current California Building Code. This includes the determination of the Seismic Design Category and Site Class based on the subsurface findings. The engineers will also evaluate the potential for seismically induced hazards, including liquefaction and surface fault rupture, providing a critical layer of safety for the proposed structures.
- Phase V: Foundation Engineering Recommendations: Based on the laboratory and field data, RKCI will provide specific recommendations for the most efficient foundation system. This includes the determination of allowable soil bearing pressures, recommended embedment depths, and anticipated total and differential settlement. The scope also covers lateral earth pressures for any proposed retaining walls or subterranean elements.
- Phase VI: Pavement and Flatwork Design: For the park improvements and surrounding walkways, RKCI will provide structural pavement sections. This involves evaluating the subgrade's R-Value (Resistance Value) and providing recommendations for aggregate base thickness and asphalt or concrete surfacing to ensure long-term durability under anticipated traffic and pedestrian loads.
- Phase VII: Site Preparation and Earthwork Guidelines: The proposal includes the development of specific earthwork specifications. This covers the removal of unsuitable organic materials, the moisture conditioning of on-site soils, and the required degree of compaction for structural fill. These guidelines are essential for the contractor to achieve a stable building pad and avoid post-construction settlement.
- Phase VIII: Final Geotechnical Report: The culmination of the scope is a comprehensive, PE-stamped Geotechnical Engineering Report. This document will include the final boring logs, a summary of all laboratory results, a site plan showing exploration locations, and all engineering recommendations. This report is used for structural design, agency permitting, and construction-phase verification.
Technical Term: SPT (Standard Penetration Test)
A dynamic penetration test designed to provide information on the properties of soil. The test involves driving a standard thick-walled sample tube into the ground by blows from a hammer of a specified weight.
II. Financial Framework & Payment Milestones
The total lump sum cost for the geotechnical study scope as outlined in the proposal is fixed at $5,355.00. This fee covers the standard exploration and reporting; however, unusual soil conditions requiring a significantly broadened scope will necessitate additional authorization and unit-based billing.
Cost Distribution Note
Historically, field services account for approximately 45% of the total project fee and are predominantly provided by specialized subcontractors.
III. Schedule of Fees for Professional Services
| Personnel Classification | Hourly Rate Range |
|---|---|
| Principal | $135 to $250 / hour |
| Professional | $70 to $200 / hour |
| Auto Cad Operator | $65 to $110 / hour |
| Technical / Clerical / Administrative | $40 to $80 / hour |
Reimbursable Expenses & Markups
Transportation
Company Auto: $1.00 per mile.
Field Sites: $70.00 per day + $1.00 per mile over 50 miles/day.
Direct Costs
Copies: $0.25 per page.
Third-Party: Cost plus 15%.
Hazardous Waste Surcharge: For projects requiring work at any hazardous waste site, a $10.00 per hour surcharge is added to the normal billing rate for all personnel.
Proposal Summary
Lump Sum Cost
$5,355.00
Lead Engineer
RKCI
Project
LeRoy Park & Community Center
Acronym Glossary
RKCI
Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc. The proposing geotechnical firm.
GE
Geotechnical Engineer. A California-specific license for complex soil analysis.
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials. Sets international engineering protocols.
RABA KISTNER
Proposal for Level 5 Architecture
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