REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 7, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with Sukut Construction, LLC, for the Unit 4 Phase 2 Composite Liner Construction Project at the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Addendum No. 1, issued on January 13, 2026, Addendum No. 2, issued on January 21, 2026, Addendum No. 3, issued on January 26, 2026, and Addendum No. 4, issued on January 29, 2026, to the bid documents for the Unit 4 Phase 2 Composite Liner Construction Project at the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill.
2. Award a Construction Contract to Sukut Construction, LLC, in the amount of $33,991,006 for the Unit 4 Phase 2 Composite Liner Construction Project at the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill.
3. Authorize a contingency fund of $3,399,101 for the Unit 4 Phase 2 Composite Liner Construction Project at the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill.
4. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to approve the expenditure of the contingency fund of $3,399,101 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 $3,399,101 contingency fund, pursuant to Public Contract Code section 20142.
6. Approve Escrow Agreement for Security Deposits in Lieu of Retention between Sukut Construction, LLC, Banner Bank, and San Bernardino County, pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22300 for the Unit 4 Phase 2 Composite Liner Construction Project at the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill.
7. 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: David Doublet, Assistant Director, 386-8811)
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 Department of Public Works - Solid Waste Management Division (SWMD) establishes fees charged to the public and other agencies for utilizing the County’s Waste Disposal System. The construction contract, in the amount of $33,991,006, and any use of the proposed contingency fund for the Unit 4 Phase 2 Composite Liner Construction Project at the Mid-Valley Sanitary Landfill (Project) will be funded by SWMD fee revenue. This item also directs the placement of withheld retention into an escrow account, at no cost to SWMD. Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the SWMD 2025-26 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County's Mid Valley Sanitary Landfill (MVSL) is located in the City of Rialto, northeast of the intersection of Alder Avenue and State Route 210. The MVSL is a Class III Landfill situated on a 448-acre parcel owned and operated by the San Bernardino County SWMD, of which 408 acres are permitted for refuse disposal. The landfill is divided into five separate waste management units identified as Units 1 through 5. Due to the current rate of waste disposal at MVSL, the installation of additional liner is necessary to expand disposal capacity and ensure continued compliance with regulatory requirements.
The Project consists of the installation of approximately 47 acres of composite liner system in Unit 4, along with entrance facility improvements and Best Management Practice Basin improvements in Unit 3. The work includes miscellaneous grading; unclassified excavation and fill; installation of a composite liner geosynthetics system on slopes and benches; installation of a leachate collection and removal system (LCRS); construction of miscellaneous civil and drainage improvements; installation of landfill gas infrastructure; asphalt paving; and mechanical and electrical upgrades to the existing LCRS facility.
On November 19, 2024, the Department of Public Works environmental staff reviewed the Project and determined that the Project was covered within the scope of the 1998 Environmental Impact Report for the MVSL’s Expansion. Accordingly, no further CEQA action is required.
This item supports the County and the Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of providing for the safety, health, and social service needs of County residents, maintaining regulatory compliance, continuing to provide uninterrupted disposal capacity and solid waste management services for County residents, and to foster sustainable development through strategic partnerships.
Following Board of Supervisors (Board) approval of this item, construction is anticipated to commence in April 2026 and be completed in the summer of 2027.
PROCUREMENT
On November 18, 2025, as allowed per County Policy 11-15, the Assistant Executive Officer approved the Project’s plans and specifications, and authorized the Director of the Department to advertise the Project for bids. The Project was released on the County’s Electronic Procurement Network (ePro) on December 9, 2025, and advertised in the Daily Press and Precinct Reporter on December 9 and 16, 2025. A notice inviting bids was also provided to specified construction trade journals as required by Public Contract Code section 22036. A mandatory pre-Bid meeting and job walk was held on Thursday, January 8, 2026, and was attended by nine (9) firms.
There were four (4) addendums issued during the bidding process, revising and/or clarifying the Project plans and specifications as follows:
1. Addendum No. 1 - Amending Special Provisions to clarify working days, providing a copy of the mandatory Pre-Bid Sign in Sheet and furnishing responses to questions received from potential bidders. (January 13, 2026)
2. Addendum No. 2 - Amending Special Provisions to extend the Bid Open date. (January 21, 2026)
3. Addendum No. 3 - Amending Special Provisions to extend the deadline for submission of questions and the Bid Opening date, replacing the Bid Proposal Checklist and Bid Schedule, revising various sections under the General Terms and Conditions, issuing revisions for multiple Plan Sheets, providing a copy of the Construction Quality Assurance Plan for Earthwork and Geosynthetic Elements, and furnishing responses to questions received from potential bidders. (January 26, 2026)
4. Addendum No. 4 - Amending Special Provisions to provide additional clarifications regarding Miscellaneous Civil Improvements and furnishing responses to additional questions received from potential bidders. (January 29, 2026)
On February 10, 2026, two (2) bids were received:
|
Contractor |
Location |
Total Bid |
|
Sukut Construction, LLC |
Santa Ana, CA |
$33,991,006 |
|
James McMinn, Inc. |
Riverside, CA |
$36,792,540 |
Upon receipt of the bids, SWMD conducted a detailed review of all bids to determine compliance with the bidding requirements set forth in the bid documents. SWMD determined the bids received were responsive and recommends that the Board award the contract to Sukut Construction, LLC, as the lowest responsible bidder. No appeal/protest letters were received.
This Project will have a total contingency fund of $3,399,101 to compensate the contractor for verified quantity overruns, as well as changes in the contract under specific circumstances permitted by the contract or by law. Under an established formula based on the contract amount, Public Contract Code section 20142 allows the Board to authorize the Director of Public Works 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 $3,399,101.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on March 3, 2026; Purchasing (Dylan Newton, Buyer, 387-8258) on March 4, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst 387-4919) on March 23, 2026.