REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
SITTING AS THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE FOLLOWING:
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 6, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, County Administrative Office
SUBJECT
Title
Capital Improvement Program and Construction Contract for the Glen Helen Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Acting as the governing body of San Bernardino County:
a. Approve Contract with County Service Area 70 Countywide to provide funding in the amount of $684,250 from Discretionary General Funding, for the Glen Helen Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station Project, for a contract term of October 6, 2026 through October 6, 2028.
b. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer to extend the term of the contract with County Service Area 70 Countywide, for an aggregate period not to exceed 12 calendar months, with no change to the contract amount, subject to review by County Counsel and the terms of the contract.
c. Direct the Director of the Department of Public Works to transmit any extension of the contract with County Service Area 70 Countywide to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors within 30 days of execution.
d. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
2. Acting as the governing body of County Service Area 70 Countywide:
a. Approve Contract with San Bernardino County to receive funding in the amount of $684,250 from Discretionary General Funding, for the Glen Helen Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station Project, for a contract term of October 6, 2026 through October 6, 2028.
b. Approve the Capital Improvement Program Glen Helen Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station Project, in the amount of $684,250.
c. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
d. Approve Addendum No. 1 issued on August 25, 2026, Addendum No. 2 issued on September 1, 2026, Addendum No. 3 issued on September 2, 2026, Addendum No. 4 issued on September 8, 2026, and Addendum No. 5 issued on September 9, 2026, to the bid documents for the Glen Helen Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station Project.
e. Award Construction Contract to Perry C. Thomas Construction, Inc., for the Glen Helen Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station Project, in the amount of $491,448, with a construction duration of 180 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed.
f. Authorize a contingency fund of $49,144 for the Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station Project.
g. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to approve necessary changes or additions to the work to be performed under construction contract with Perry C. Thomas Construction, Inc., in a total amount not to exceed $37,072 of the authorized $49,144 contingency, pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 20142.
h. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to accept the work when 100 percent complete, and to execute and file the Notice of Completion.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Provide for the Safety, Health, and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Enhance Readiness for Major Emergency Responses.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). This item authorizes a one-time use of $684,250 from the existing Wildfire Prevention Reserve associated with this project. On June 10, 2025 (Item No. 136), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the 2025-26 County Budget, which included General Fund reserves and committed fund balances. The Board set aside Discretionary General Funding to the Wildfire Prevention Reserve to support wildfire prevention efforts. The total project budget of $684,250 includes construction, construction contingency, project management, construction support, county counsel expenses, inspections, and other project related costs.
The following 2026-27 budget adjustments are needed to proceed with the Project:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
General Fund |
|
1161161000 |
55305030 |
Operating Transfers Out |
Increase |
$684,250 |
|
1000 |
37008665 |
Fund Balance - Committed - Wildfire Prevention Reserve |
Decrease |
$684,250 |
|
CSA 70 - Countywide CIP |
|
1050003604 |
54104010 |
Improvements to Land |
Increase |
$684,250 |
|
1050003604 |
40909975 |
Operating Transfers In |
Increase |
$684,250 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Glen Helen Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station Project (Project) consists of constructing a permanent Wildland Firefighting Helitanker Station to enhance regional aerial firefighting capabilities by providing a permanent base for rapid aerial wildfire response and improving the County's ability to protect residents, property, and natural resources. The Project will provide a dedicated water supply and filling station at a strategically selected location within the Glen Helen area, that allows aerial firefighting helitankers to rapidly refill their onboard water tanks in minutes, reducing turnaround time between water drops and allowing aircraft to return to active wildfire suppression operations more quickly.
The specific site will be located on Regional Parks property currently used as overflow parking for the Glen Helen Regional Park. The site is located north of Glen Helen Parkway and west of Glen Helen Road. County Service Area 70 - Countywide will provide operation and maintenance (O&M) under an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Contract No. 26-580, with the Regional Parks Department, which currently covers O&M for water and sewer facilities. The estimated annual O&M costs of $12,975 will be added to the MOU budget at a future date.
The Project serves the public purpose of providing for the health and safety of County residents by enhancing regional aerial firefighting capabilities.
On January 5, 2026, the Department of Public Works - Special Districts’ (Department) environmental staff reviewed the Project and determined that it is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15303(d), Class 3 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures).
On February 2, 2026, pursuant to County Policy 11-15, the Assistant Executive Officer (AEO) approved the CEQA exemption findings, approved the Project as defined in the Notice of Exemption, approved the Project plans and specifications, authorized the Department to advertise the Project for formal bidding, and directed the Department to file and post the Notice of Exemption in accordance with CEQA.
The Project supports the County and the Chief Executive Officer's goals and objectives by improving emergency preparedness and public safety through the construction of a permanent wildland firefighting helitanker station. The competitive procurement process ensures the Project is awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, promoting responsible stewardship of public funds.
The County Chief Executive Officer (CEO) may extend the term of the Contract with County Service Area 70 Countywide, in writing, under the following conditions:
a. In aggregate, all extensions do not exceed 12 calendar months;
b. Is specifically requested by Contractor;
c. Will not change the project goals or scope of services;
d. Is in the best interests of County and Contractor in performing the scope of services under this Contract; and
e. Do not alter the amount of compensation under this Contract.
Recommendation No. 1.b is requested to allow the CEO to extend the Contract, without Board approval, if the Department requires additional time to complete the Project and meets the other Contract extension requirements.
PROCUREMENT
The Department first advertised the Project on March 3, 2026, and received a single bid, which was rejected on April 30, 2026. The Project was advertised a second time through the County’s Electronic Procurement Network (ePro) on June 10, 2026, and three bids were received on August 6, 2026. Following the bid opening, the Department identified an ambiguity in the itemized bid list regarding whether an item was optional or required. While attempting to clarify the ambiguity, an administrative error occurred, and one bid protest was received. On August 17, 2026, the AEO rejected all bids in the best general interest of the County, approved minor revisions to the plans and specifications to remove the ambiguity, and authorized the Department to re-advertise the Project for formal bidding. The Department subsequently re-advertised the Project through ePro that same day.
The following addenda were issued during the final bidding phase:
• Addendum No. 1: Responses to submitted inquiries, issued on August 25, 2026.
• Addendum No. 2: Responses to submitted inquiries, issued on September 1, 2026.
• Addendum No. 3: Revised Schedule of Bid Opening and Submitting Questions, issued on September 2, 2026.
• Addendum No. 4: Responses to submitted inquiries, issued on September 8, 2026.
• Addendum No. 5: Revised Schedule of Bid Opening, issued on September 9, 2026.
On September 14, 2026, the Department received the following bids:
|
Contractor Name |
Location |
Total Bid Amount |
|
Perry C. Thomas Construction, Inc. |
Monrovia, CA |
$491,448 |
|
Narrow Path Engineering Incorporated |
Beaumont, CA |
$505,902 |
|
Glen Chavez Construction |
San Miguel, CA |
$535,600 |
|
Jergensen Construction, Inc. |
Oak Hills, CA |
$1,100,950 |
The Department reviewed the bids submitted for the Project and determined that Perry C. Thomas Construction, Inc. is the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and recommends awarding the construction contract to Perry C. Thomas Construction, Inc. On September 22, 2026, the Department issued the Notice of Intent to Award and notified the unsuccessful bidders. No letters of appeal or protest have been received.
Under an established formula based on the contract amount of $491,448, Public Contract Code section 20142 allows the Board to authorize the Director of Public Works to order changes in the contract, including unforeseen conditions, should they become necessary in the future. Approval of Recommendation No. 2(g) would authorize such changes for a total amount not to exceed $37,072 of the authorized $49,144 contingency fund.
Upon Board approval of this item, construction is anticipated to commence in Fall 2026 and be completed by Summer 2027.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Julie Surber, Principal Assistant County Counsel, and Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 28, 2026; Purchasing (Mike Reyna, Buyer III, 387-2233) on September 24, 2026; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Manager, 382-7022) on September 26, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Scott Bruckner, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on September 25, 2026.