REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 9, 2026
FROM
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
SUBJECT
Title
Purchase of Mobile Kitchen Trucks
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve the purchase of two mobile kitchen trucks, as fixed assets, at a cost of approximately $505,258 each, for a total cost of $1,010,516, to assist with emergency response.
(Presenter: Carolina Mendoza, Chief Deputy Director, 387-0640)
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). The Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator’s (Department) 2025-26 budget includes $618,000 of Asset Replacement funds for the purchase of two mobile kitchen trucks; however, the competitive bids came in higher than anticipated, at a cost of $505,258 per truck, for a total amount of $1,010,516. The difference of $392,516 will be funded by the deletion of two vehicles and savings from the purchase of other vehicles.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Department is the primary law enforcement agency for San Bernardino County, including for several contracted cities throughout the County, and it operates the County’s detention facilities. During emergencies, such as natural disasters (e.g., floods and wildfires), the Department deploys its personnel, including volunteers, for long periods of time to assist in evacuating residents and providing protection perimeters of affected areas. In these situations, personnel cannot leave their posts to seek meals. Thus, the Department dispatches mobile kitchen trucks to prepare and serve hot meals to its personnel. The two new trucks will supplement existing mobile kitchen truck utilization. The trucks can be set up quickly in parking lots, staging areas, or remote sites. They are self-contained, with refrigeration, cooking appliances, and sanitation stations, allowing them to operate without relying on any local utility infrastructure.
By serving fresh meals directly on-site, mobile kitchen trucks keep first responders and volunteers nourished during long shifts, improving morale and operation effectiveness.
PROCUREMENT
On December 30, 2025, Invitation to Bid (ITB) No. SHR126-ADMSR-6218 was approved and released through the County’s electronic Procurement Network (ePro) for the provision of two mobile kitchen trucks. The ITB was posted 28 days, and 143 registered vendors were contacted via email notifications. The Department received the following three responses by the submission deadline:
|
Vendor |
City/State |
|
California Cart Builder, LLC |
Lake Elsinore, CA |
|
Legacy Brothers, Inc. |
Douglas, GA |
|
Los Angeles Truck Centers, dba Velocity Truck Centers |
Fontana, CA |
The evaluation committee consisted of representatives from the Sheriff’s Food Services Division, Automotive Division, and its Bureau of Administration, who reviewed and evaluated the three proposals received. The evaluation was based on the proposers’ qualifications and experience, technical review, cost, ability to provide the mobile kitchen trucks, procedures and systems, guarantees, and references. No protests or appeals were received. Through this evaluation process, the committee recommends awarding the bid to Legacy Brothers, Inc.
County Policy 11-04 Standard Practice 2, requires Board of Supervisors approval of substitutions for budgeted fixed assets with a unit valued at $50,000 or more.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 7, 2026; Purchasing (Jason Cloninger, Lead Buyer, 387-0321) on May 7, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Erika Rodarte, Administrative Analyst, 387-4919) on May 22, 2026.