REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 23, 2025
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with Granite Construction Company for the National Trails Highway at 10 Bridges Project in the unincorporated areas of Amboy and Essex
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Addendum No. 1, issued on June 2, 2025, Addendum No. 2, issued on June 16, 2025, and Addendum No. 3, issued on June 18, 2025, to the bid documents for the National Trails Highway at 10 Bridges Project in the unincorporated areas of Amboy and Essex.
2. Award construction contract to Granite Construction Company, in the amount of $24,116,063, for the National Trails Highway at 10 Bridges Project in the unincorporated areas of Amboy and Essex.
3. Authorize a contingency fund of $2,411,606 for the National Trails Highway at 10 Bridges Project in the unincorporated areas of Amboy and Essex.
4. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to approve the expenditure of the contingency fund of $2,411,606 for verified quantity overruns for this unit-priced construction contract.
5. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to order any necessary changes or additions in the work being performed under the contract for a total amount not to exceed $210,000 of the $2,411,606 contingency fund, pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 20142.
6. Approve Escrow Agreement for Security Deposits in Lieu of Retention with Granite Construction Company and U.S. Bank, National Association pursuant to the Public Contract Code Section 22300 for the National Trails Highway at 10 Bridges Project.
7. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to execute the Escrow Agreement for Security Deposits in Lieu of Retention and to provide and receive written notice under the agreement for the National Trails Highway at 10 Bridges Project.
8. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Works to transmit the Escrow Agreement for Security Deposits in Lieu of Retention to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
9. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to accept the work when 100% complete and execute and file the Notice of Completion.
(Presenter: Byanka Velasco, Assistant Director, 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 additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The National Trails Highway at 10 Bridges in the unincorporated areas of Amboy and Essex (Project) is financed by $21,349,950 in Federal Highway Bridge Planning funds (88.53%) and $2,766,113 in Discretionary General Funds (11.47%) allocated to the Department of Public Works (Department) in the 2014-15 through 2016-17, 2018-19, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 recommended budgets.
This item also directs the placement of withheld retention into an escrow account, at no cost to the Department. Sufficient revenue and appropriation are included in the Department’s 2025-2026 Road Operations budget (6650002000 H14853, H14910-H14918) and will be included in future recommended budgets as necessary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Project will replace 10 bridges (Bristol Ditch, Cerro Ditch, Gordo Ditch, Cerulia Ditch, Leith Ditch, Terra Ditch, Sombra Ditch, Beacon Ditch, Larissa Ditch, and Adena Ditch) located between Amboy Road and Kelbaker Road on the National Trails Highway (NTH). The NTH, also known as Route 66, is a two-lane roadway of both historical significance and local circulation importance. These bridges, originally constructed between 1929-1930, are among 133 on the NTH identified for replacement.
The Project will replace the existing timber trestle bridges with new concrete structures engineered to meet legal load requirements and withstand a 100-year storm event.
On May 7, 2024 (Item No. 45), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the Project and determined it to be exempt in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Clerk of the Board was directed to file and post a Notice of Exemption. Accordingly, no further action is required under CEQA.
Additionally, since this Project receives federal funding, the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is the federal lead agency for purposes of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. The FHWA has adopted and issued a Finding of No Significant Impact. Therefore, the NEPA compliance on the Project is complete.
Following Board approval of this item, construction is anticipated to commence in Fall of 2025 and be completed by Spring of 2027.
PROCUREMENT
On January 28, 2025 (Item No. 45), the Board approved the Project’s plans and specifications, as well as authorized the Director of the Department to advertise the Project for bids. The Project was advertised in the San Bernardino County Sun newspaper on May 6, 2025, the Mohave Valley News on May 7, 2025, the Kingman Standard on May 7, 2025, and was released on the County electronic procurement network (ePro) on May 7, 2025. A Notice inviting bids was also provided to specified construction trade journals identified pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22036.
On June 26, 2025, the following seven bids were received:
|
Contractor |
Location |
Total Bid |
|
Granite Construction Company |
Indio, CA |
$24,116,063.00 |
|
Ames Construction, Inc. |
Corona, CA |
$28,385,947.70 |
|
Reyes Construction, Inc. |
Pomona, CA |
$28,551,433.90 |
|
Riverside Construction, Inc. |
Riverside, CA |
$32,960,933.90 |
|
MCM Construction, Inc. |
North Highlands, CA |
Non-Responsive |
|
Beador Construction Company, Inc. |
Costa Mesa, CA |
Non-Responsive |
|
MWC Group, Inc. |
Adelanto, CA |
Non-Responsive |
The following addenda were issued during the bidding phase:
Addendum No. 1: Provided responses to questions asked by potential bidders, amended the project special provisions, amended the project plans, revised the bid opening date, provided the as-built plans.
Addendum No. 2: Provided responses to additional questions asked by potential bidders, amended the project special provisions, amended the project plans.
Addendum No. 3: Provided the soils/foundation report.
Upon receipt of bids, the Department determined that the bid submission from MCM Construction, Inc., Beador Construction Company, Inc., and MWC Group, Inc., were non-responsive because they did not provide a proposal, as required by the instructions to bidders, as part of their submission.
The Department has reviewed the remaining four bids received and determined that they are all responsive, and recommends entering into a contract with Granite Construction Company, the responsive lowest responsible bidder. No appeal/protest letters were received.
Public Contract Code Section 22300 provides for the substitution of securities for money (retention) withheld by a public agency to ensure the performance under the contract. The contractor has requested the substitution of securities via deposits to escrow with U.S. Bank, National Association in lieu of retention withheld by the County. The Escrow Agreement for Security Deposits in Lieu of Retention (Escrow Agreement) is substantially similar to the form provided in Public Contract Code Section 22300. The Escrow Agreement will be signed by the Director of the Department. In addition, the Director of the Department will provide and receive any written notices for the Escrow Agreement.
This Project will have a 10 percent contingency fund of $2,411,606 to compensate the contractor for verified quantity overruns, as well as changes in the contract under certain circumstances. Under an established formula based on the contract amount, Public Contract Code Section 20142 allows the Board to authorize the Director of the Department to order changes in the contract, including for unforeseen conditions or design shortfalls, should they become necessary in the future, for a total amount not to exceed $210,000 of the $2,411,606 contingency fund.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 8, 2025; Purchasing (Dylan Newton, Buyer III, 387-3377) on August 25, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Kathleen Gonzalez, Administrative Analyst, 387-5412) on September 6, 2025.