1. (a)

   1. (1) When the use of a consultant has been approved, the utility owner will be authorized to have the consultant proceed with preparing a preliminary engineering fee estimate and contract.
   2. (2) The engineer's fee shall not be based on a percentage of the cost of relocation.
2. (b) The preliminary fee estimate, contract documents, and the consulting engineer's certification, in the form designated by the Arkansas Department of Transportation, shall be submitted for Utilities Section approval.

3. (c)

   1. (1) The Utilities Section will then prepare a preliminary engineering agreement (PE agreement) to be executed by the department and the utility owner.
   2. (2) The consultant will be required to begin and complete the preliminary engineering contractual obligations within a specified number of days.

4. (d) Following proper execution of the PE agreement, the Utilities Section will issue a preliminary engineering work order to the utility owner authorizing the consultant to begin the preliminary engineering of the work encompassing the following:

   1. (1) Field surveys and investigations, including any and all work to secure the proper information to prepare plans, specifications, cost estimates, and necessary easements;
   2. (2) Preparation of complete and detailed plans of the existing and proposed facilities with an itemized cost estimate for the relocation work;

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Preparation of contract documents and specifications incident to the advertisement of bids.
      2. (B) One (1) copy of the specifications is required in the initial submittal; and
   4. (4) Submission of all necessary documents through the utility owner to the Utilities Section and to other agencies having jurisdiction when required.
5. (e) After approval of the cost estimate and plans, a relocation agreement will be prepared and submitted to the utility owner for execution.
6. (f) After receiving the fully executed relocation agreement, the Utilities Section will authorize the utility owner to proceed with advertising for bids and/or acquisition of necessary right-of-way.
7. (g) After the bids have been opened, the utility owner will submit one (1) copy of each bid received and the bid tabulation sheet to the Utilities Section with a request for the department concurrence in award of the contract to the lowest qualified bidder.

8. (h)

   1. (1) After concurrence, the utility owner shall submit two (2) copies of the executed contract and two (2) sets of the completed specifications to the Utilities Section.
   2. (2) After these documents have been approved, the Utilities Section will issue a contract work order to the utility owner.

Codification Notes: “PE” means preliminary engineering.