REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 23, 2024
FROM
TREVOR LEJA, Assistant Executive Officer, Flood Control District
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement with Aspen Environmental Group to Conduct Cultural Resource Monitoring Services for the Desert Knolls Wash Phase III Project in the Town of Apple Valley
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Flood Control District, approve agreement with Aspen Environmental Group to conduct cultural resource monitoring services for the Desert Knolls Wash Phase III Project, in an amount not to exceed $720,345, for the term of January 23, 2024 to January 31, 2027.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Chief Flood Control Engineer, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The San Bernardino County Flood Control District (District) is funded by property taxes, fees, and other local, state, and federal funding. The total cost of this agreement is $720,345 and will be funded by property tax revenue. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in the District’s 2023-24 budget (1940002532 F01854) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Desert Knolls Wash Phase III Project (Project) proposes to control flow velocities by constructing bank and invert stabilization improvements within an approximate 0.6-mile segment of Desert Knolls Wash within the Town of Apple Valley. Project activities include grading stream banks to a 2:1 slope and constructing bank stabilization with grouted and un-grouted rock slope protection. The Project also includes constructing a series of grade stabilization structures, or rock invert, with grouted and un-grouted rock across the earthen streambed bottom to prevent erosion.
Additional Project activities include constructing an access road along the southern side of the streambed that may be paved or fenced to facilitate access to the Project and for future maintenance. The access road will continue over the streambed in the northern portion through installation of a culvert with concrete headwalls and wingwalls, and safety barrier.
On July 25, 2017 (Item No. 66), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. Under the proposed agreement, Aspen Environmental Group (Aspen) will conduct cultural resource monitoring during Project construction in order to satisfy mitigation measures that were required in the MND, regulatory permitting processes, and the requirements of the Memorandum of Understanding approved by the Board on March 11, 2014 (Item No. 55), with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and the Lewis Center for Educational Research.
The Project meets the Chief Executive Officer's goals and objectives to provide for the safety, health, and social service needs of San Bernardino County residents by attenuating flows to reduce the potential for downstream flooding in both large and small storm events, and to provide flood protection for the existing structures and residences within the Project area by constructing flood control improvements while working with other agencies to minimize and mitigate for related environmental impacts.
PROCUREMENT
On August 30, 2023, Request for Proposals (RFP) No. PWG124-LANDD-5050 was released to solicit proposals through the County’s Electronic Procurement System (ePro) for cultural resource monitoring services for the Desert Knolls Wash Phase III Project . The RFP was open to any and all vendors who have registered in ePro with San Bernardino County. On September 22, 2023, six proposals were submitted. The six proposals below were submitted in accordance with the requirements of the RFP:
|
Consultant |
Location |
Proposal Amount |
|
Aspen Environmental Group |
Agoura Hills |
$720,345 |
|
Bargas Environmental Consulting, LLC |
San Bernardino |
$579,945 |
|
Chronicle Heritage |
Redlands |
$960,485 |
|
Cogstone Resource Management |
Orange |
$808,490 |
|
H&T Cultural Resource Management, Inc. dba CRM TECH |
Colton |
$688,028 |
|
ECORP Consulting, Inc. |
Redlands |
$ 882,573.95 |
The proposals were evaluated by a committee of three District representatives. Aspen was selected by evaluators as the most qualified, cost-efficient consultant based on its technical approach to the scope of work, understanding of the District’s needs, and immediate availability of staff. No appeals and/or protests were received.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 30, 2023; Purchasing (Jason Cloninger, Buyer, 387-8258) on November 30, 2023; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on January 3, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on January 5, 2024.