DATE: December 9, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Award Contract 25-S-06 Main Jail Accessibility Upgrades
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Make a finding, in accordance with Public Contract Code section 3400, Article 4 Preference for Materials, in order to match other products in use at the Fresno County Main Detention Facility, specific components for lighting and built-in furniture may be designated by specific brand or trade name for the project;
2. Adopt plans and specifications for Contract 25-S-06 Main Jail Accessibility Upgrades;
3. Award to the lowest bidder Katch Environmental, Inc. dba Katch General, in the total amount of $4,111,005; and
4. Authorize the Director to execute contract change orders for Contract 25-S-06, not to exceed $210,000 for any one change order pursuant to Public Contract Code section 20142, and not to exceed a total change order limit of $350,000 or approximately 8.5% of the total compensation payable under Contract 25-S-06.
REPORT
Approval of the first recommended action will authorize the designation of specific components by specific brand name. Approval of the second recommended action will authorize the adoption of the project’s plans and specifications. Approval of the third recommended action will authorize the award of a Capital Projects funded accessibility upgrade project to the lowest responsive bidder. Approval of the fourth recommended action will authorize the Director to execute contract change orders not to exceed $210,000 for any one change order, and not to exceed a total change order limit of $350,000 or approximately 8.5% of the total payable compensation under the recommended contract. Although this item pertains to a location in District 3, the item’s impact is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the first recommended action is not approved, the County of Fresno Main Detention Facility would need to procure unique components each time a fixture is damaged, which would significantly impact daily operations and delay repairs. If the second and third recommended actions are not approved, the project will be delayed or will not be constructed. If the fourth recommended action is not approved, some portions of construction could be delayed due to the time required to return to your Board for approval of individual change orders.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The anticipated construction cost for the project, based on the low bid and Director’s allowance for a maximum change order limit of $350,000, is $4,461,005. This project is funded through the Jail Improvements Capital Projects Fund, which contains funds for necessary jail facility Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant improvements. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget for Public Works and Planning, Capital Projects, Jail Improvements Org 8852 and the balance of the costs will be included in future budget requests.
DISCUSSION:
The County of Fresno Main Detention Facility, located at 1225 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721, was built in 1983 and is one of three detention facilities the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for operating. It requires ADA accessibility improvements that are compliant with the current adopted California Building Codes.
The work to be done consists, in general, of accessibility alterations to the existing housing cells and day room showers on the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th floor which will result in Pods A, B, E, and F each having one alternate roll-in type accessible shower compartment in the day room and one accessible housing cell.
In accordance with Public Contract Code section 3400, Article 4 Preference for Materials, your Board is permitted to make a finding that a particular material may be specified by trade name or brand name in order to match other products in use on a particular public improvement. This project was advertised previously on April 28, 2025, but due to confusion about whether the Plans called for the epoxy coating to require a specified brand name, your Board rejected all bids on August 5, 2025 and the Department rebid the project. Your Board also made a finding to specify by brand name the shower and toilet fixtures, Acorn Secur-Care - Ligature Resistant LR1449 Combination Fixture, and the security doors and frames, Trussbilt Detention Security. The brand specifications were removed from the Plans regarding the epoxy coating for this advertisement, but a separate finding is needed to specify the make and brand of the following lighting and built-in furniture, currently in widespread use throughout the Main Detention Facility:
• Shat-R-Shield Lighting Inc. - VR Pro
o (14) Vandal-Resistant LED Correctional Cell Light (Approximately $1,500 each)
o (14) Junction Box (Approximately $400 each)
• Cortech USA - Endurance (Gray)
o (28) Bed 0.0 (Approximately $2,415 each)
o (28) Wall Bunk (Approximately $3,015 each)
o (28) ADA Desk (Approximately $1,425 each)
o (14) 4 Shelf (Approximately $1,235 each)
o (56) All-Purpose Wall Mount Shelf/Step 2.0 (Approximately $230 each)
These specific components, exact makes and models, are to be acquired and installed as a part of the construction contract and will cost approximately $248,710. The exact total cost to the County for these components will be determined through the competitive bidding process. The use of these brand specified components will allow swift replacement by County staff in case of damage, and it is impractical for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office to keep bulk replacement parts on hand in multiple models and brands due to limited storage area.
The project was advertised on September 10, 2025, and a bid opening was held on October 23, 2025. Three bids were received. The low bid of $4,111,005, from Katch Environmental, Inc. dba Katch General, was $2,888,995 or 41.3% lower than the architect’s estimate of $7,000,000. A list of bidders and their respective bid amounts is shown below:
Bidder Bid Amount
Katch Environmental, Inc. dba Katch General $4,111,005
Bowe Contractors Inc. $4,449,000
Davis Moreno Construction, Inc. $5,205,000
Plans and Specifications were prepared by the Capital Projects Division and are on file with the Department. It is anticipated that construction will commence in January 2026 and will be completed in January 2030. The extended construction schedule is due to controlled access for the contractors to provide accessibility alterations one pod at a time.
CEQA:
Staff have determined that this project is exempt from the provisions of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), therefore a Notice of Exemption has been filed pursuant to CEQA Section 15301(a) - Existing Facilities.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #62, August 5, 2025
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Location Map
Bid Summary
CAO ANALYST:
Maria Valencia