REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
January 23, 2024
FROM
TREVOR LEJA, Assistant Executive Officer, Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Construction Contract with Sukut Construction, LLC for the Phase 1A Liner Project at the Landers Sanitary Landfill
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 22-864 with Sukut Construction, LLC, increasing the contract amount by $487,481, from $5,904,842 to $6,392,323, for additional work required due to unforeseen and differing site conditions and necessary changes to facilitate completion of the Phase 1A Liner Project and adding provision for compliance with Executive Order N-6-22 Russia Sanctions and Senate Bill 1439, with no other changes to the contract.
(Presenter: David Doublet, Assistant Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
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) as the Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) is financed by fee revenue. SWMD establishes fees that are charged to the public and other agencies for utilization of the County’s Waste Disposal System. The cost of Amendment No. 1 (Amendment) is $487,481. Funding for this Amendment will be from the existing construction and contingency budget for the Phase 1A Liner Construction Project (Project). Sufficient appropriation for the Project is included in the SWMD 2023-24 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets, as needed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County’s Landers Sanitary Landfill (LSL) is a Class III refuse disposal facility located in the eastern desert of San Bernardino County at 59200 Winters Road, approximately 1.5 miles northeast of the community of Landers. LSL consists of 637 acres of which 92 acres have been designated for disposal. The Project includes the construction of approximately 8.22 acres of composite geomembrane liner on the base, slopes and bench roads, a leachate collection and recovery system, drainage infrastructure improvements, access road improvements, and other various appurtenances.
On September 27, 2022 (Item No. 45), the Board of Supervisors (Board) awarded construction Contract No. 22-864 (Contract) to Sukut Construction, LLC in the amount of $5,776,179 for the construction of the Project. The Board also authorized the Director of the Department of Public Works to order any necessary changes or additions in the work being performed under the construction contract for a total not to exceed $577,618 pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 20142. Since then, the original contract amount has been increased by an additional amount of $128,663 through approval of three administrative change orders. The recommended Amendment will increase the contract by an additional $487,481 for the additional work required due to unforeseen and differing site conditions.
The data provided within the Geotechnical Investigation Report (Report) did not accurately reflect the current subsurface conditions with respect to earth material excavation characteristics within Phase 1A cell limits. The geotechnical and geophysical information provided to the bidders for the Project indicated the alluvium/bedrock was present at approximately 60 feet below the surface with local areas expecting to encounter bedrock at a depth of 50 feet below the surface. However, during excavation, bedrock material was found at shallower depths than anticipated. Therefore, increasing the level of effort needed to excavate. This Amendment addresses additional costs incurred due to subsurface conditions within the Phase 1A cell excavation area differing from the information contained in the Report provided during the bidding process. The bedrock material encountered resulted in lower production and increased wear and damage for tires and ground engaging tools, impacting the Project’s critical path necessary to complete the Project.
Approval of the Amendment will increase the contract amount by $487,481 for a new Contract total of $6,392,323 to compensate the contractor for unforeseen and differing site conditions discovered after the competitive bid process and date of contracting. It will also add a provision for compliance with Executive Order N-6-22 Russia Sanctions and Senate Bill 1439, with no other changes to the contract.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 27, 2023; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on December 29, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Valerie Clay, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on December 29, 2023.