REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 3, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Construction Contract for the County Service Area 70 J Oak Hills Recoating of Tanks and Pump Stations Project
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of County Service Area 70 J Oak Hills:
1. Approve Addendum No. 1 issued on July 1, 2026, and Addendum No. 2 issued on July 10, 2026, to the bid documents for the County Service Area 70 J Oak Hills - Recoating of Tanks and Pump Stations Project.
2. Award Construction Contract to Viking Painting, LLC dba Viking Industrial, in the amount of $877,800, for the County Service Area 70 J Oak Hills - Recoating of Tanks and Pump Stations Project, with a construction duration of 180 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed.
3. Authorize a contingency fund of $87,780 for the County Service Area 70 J Oak Hills - Recoating of Tanks and Pump Stations Project.
4. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to approve necessary changes or additions in the work being performed under the construction contract with Viking Painting, LLC dba Viking Industrial, in a total amount not-to-exceed $56,390 of the authorized $87,780 contingency, pursuant to Public Contract Code section 20142.
5. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Works to accept the work when 100 percent complete and execute and file the Notice of Completion.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, 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 additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). County Service Area (CSA) 70 J Oak Hills (District) is funded by water and sanitation fees charged to customers based on usage. Sufficient appropriations for the CSA 70 J Oak Hills - Recoating of Tanks and Pump Stations Project (Project) have been included in the District’s Capital Improvement Program budget and will be included in future recommended budgets as needed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department of Public Works - Special Districts (Department), through its Water and Sanitation Division (WAS), directly manages, operates, and maintains the District, including the Hesperia and Oak Hills areas.
On January 27, 2025, $990,000 was allocated for this Project’s overall planning and construction activities. The total Project budget includes construction, construction contingency, project management, construction support, inspections, and other Project-related costs.
The Project involves the exterior recoating of several steel storage tanks and booster stations due to coating deterioration, corrosion, and general weathering, with recoating work necessary to restore protective coating systems, maintain structural integrity, and ensure the continued reliability of these critical water system assets. The scope of work includes comprehensive exterior surface preparation; removal and replacement of aging coating systems; repairs to miscellaneous exterior structural components to meet current safety standards; installation of new protective coatings; and proper containment, handling, and disposal of all materials generated during the work. Collectively, these rehabilitation activities will improve long-term durability, reduce maintenance needs, and maintain regulatory compliance across the affected tank and booster station sites.
The Project supports the County and Chief Executive Officer’s goals and objectives of operating in a fiscally responsible and business-like manner and providing for the safety and health of County residents by protecting critical water infrastructure, extending the useful life of existing facilities, reducing future maintenance needs, and supporting the continued reliable operation of the District’s water system.
PROCUREMENT
On December 26, 2025, the Department advertised the Project for bids through the County’s Electronic Procurement Network (e-Pro).
On January 14, 2026, a total of eleven contractors attended the Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting. Due to the large volume of questions received from bidders, the bid deadline was extended to allow the Department to provide responses and bidders sufficient time to incorporate the clarifications into their bids. On March 12, 2026, the Department received a total of two bids which both were deemed non-responsive due to missing required documentation.
On June 22, 2026, the Department readvertised the Project for bids through e-Pro. On June 30, 2026, a total of nine contractors attended the Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting. On July 16, 2026, the Department received the following bids:
|
Contractor Name |
Location |
Total Project Bid (Total Base Bid + Total Additive Base Bid) |
|
Viking Painting, LLC dba Viking Industrial |
La Vista, NE |
$1,959,100 |
|
F.D. Thomas, Inc. |
Central Point, OR |
Non-Responsive |
Although F.D. Thomas, Inc. submitted the apparent low bid, their bid was deemed nonresponsive due to the omission of required documentation, including the Declaration, Non-Collusion Declaration, List of Subcontractors, and Iran Contracting Act Certification. These documents were identified as required for bid responsiveness in Section A of the bid documents and during the mandatory pre-bid meeting. Viking Painting, LLC dba Viking Industrial submitted a responsive bid that met all stated requirements. The Notice of Award letters were issued on August 3, 2026. No bid protests or appeals were received.
Bid evaluation was performed in accordance with Public Contract Code section 20103.8(b), as the lowest total of the base bid plus all additives. The District has elected to move forward with awarding the Base Bid ($104,400.00) plus Additive No. 1 (Tank Site Well 1) ($142,000), Additive No. 2 (Ranchero Booster Station) ($189,800), Additive No. 3 (Tank Site 2A) ($18,600), Additive No. 6 (Tank Site 3B) ($230,800), and Additive No. 8 (Tank Site 4B) ($192,200), for the total contract amount of $877,800.
Upon Board approval of this item, construction is anticipated to commence in Winter 2026 and be completed by Summer 2027.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 29, 2026; Purchasing (Michael Reyna, Buyer, 387-2233) on September 30, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Scott Bruckner, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on October 15, 2026.