DATE: September 24, 2024
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Award Contract 24-S-04 Reedley Radio Tower and Equipment Shelter
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt plans and specifications for Contract 24-S-04 Reedley Radio Tower and Equipment Shelter and award to the lowest bidder Katch Environmental, Inc. dba Katch General, 929 L St., Fresno, CA, 93721, in the total amount of $2,326,683.
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action, which will approve and adopt plans and specifications for Contract 24-S-04 for the Reedley Radio Tower and Equipment Shelter, and award to the lowest bidder Katch Environmental, Inc. dba Katch General. The contract will be funded by Internal Services Department’s (ISD) Program No. 3, Communication Improvements ($1,500,000) provided under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) and the remaining balance will be funded through ISD’s Information Technology Division (ISD-IT). This item pertains to a location in District 4.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended action is not approved, the project will be delayed until another funding source becomes available to the Department to pursue.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The anticipated construction cost for the project is $2,455,517, which includes $2,326,638 from the low bid and an additional $128,638 from the Director’s allowance for change orders. This project will be partially funded through reimbursements provided by ISD’s ARPA-SLFRF Program No. 3, Communication Improvements, up to $1,500,000, as approved by your Board on May 3, 2022. Additional funding up to $955,517 will be provided through ISD-IT’s Org. 8905. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the ISD-IT’s Org. 8905 FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
This project will install a radio tower and equipment shelter at the Road Maintenance and Operations Yard Facility in Reedley. It is designed to enhance communication coverage in a rural area of the County for public safety and first responders such as Sheriff, Fire, Department of Public Health, and Public Works. The new radio tower will expand the County’s wireless communication and improve voice and data communication signals for first responders’ mobile devices.
The Department anticipates that ARPA-SLFRF will be used to help fund as many of the upfront expenditures related to the tower design, engineering, planning, construction, installation and purchase of associated equipment as the SLFRF budget allows. ISD-IT will provide additional funding support, up to $955,517 to fund the completion of the project.
The work to be done consists, in general, of providing the design, site preparation, and construction of a 250-foot above grade microwave tower, its corresponding equipment, and the construction of a 1,011 sq ft. equipment shelter. The project also includes the installation of a County supplied electrical back-up generator, installation of an automatic transfer switch, communication equipment, and all associated site work, including fencing.
The project was advertised on June 18, 2024, and a bid opening was held on July 25, 2024. Three bids were received. The low bid of $2,326,683, from Katch Environmental, Inc., was $20,443, or 0.89% higher than the engineer’s estimate of $2,306,240. A list of bidders and their respective bid amounts is shown below:
Bidder Bid Amount
Katch Environmental, Inc. $2,326,683
AMG & Associates, Inc. $2,496,000
BMY Construction Group, Inc. $2,784,000
Plans and Specifications were prepared by Department Staff and are on file with the Department.
CEQA Analysis and Conclusion
The Department has determined that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment, and adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration, filed in compliance with Section 21152 of the Public Resources Code, along with Initial Study No. 8193. Per CEQA Guidelines 15071, this study was made available for public review and comment. It is anticipated that construction will commence in October 2024 and will be completed in the Summer of 2025.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #38, May 3, 2022
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Map
CAO ANALYST:
George Uc