REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
MOE YOUSIF, Interim Director, Project and Facilities Management Department
SUBJECT
Title
Contract with Johnson Controls Building Solutions, LLC for the High Desert Detention Center Smoke Controls System Upgrade Project
End
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation
1. Find that the High Desert Detention Center Smoke Controls System Upgrade Project is exempt pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations section 15301, Class 1, Replacement or Reconstruction, as the project consists of repair, maintenance, and minor upgrades to existing mechanical systems with no expansion of use.
2. Find that the purchase and installation of the Johnson Controls Smoke Controls System, and not allowing substitution of an equal product, is acceptable under Public Contract Code section 3400(c)(2), as installation of this system is required in order to match other products in use on a particular public improvement either completed or in the course of completion.
3. Approve Contract with Johnson Controls Building Solutions, LLC, including non-standard terms, for the High Desert Detention Center Smoke Controls System Upgrade Project in Adelanto, in the amount of $1,421,116, for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
4. Authorize the Director of the Project and Facilities Management Department to accept the work when 100% complete and execute and file a Notice of Completion upon completion of the project.
5. Direct Project and Facilities Management Department to file a Notice of Exemption as required under the California Environmental Quality Act.
(Presenter: Moe Yousif, Interim Director, 387-5000)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The contract award in the amount of $1,421,116 will be fully funded by the High Desert Detention Center Smoke Control System Direct Digital Controls Upgrade Project (Project), WBSE 10.20.0089, which has an approved total project budget of $1,705,225.
County Policy 05-05 authorizes the County Chief Executive Officer and/or County Chief Financial Officer to approve qualifying projects within established Program Budgets. These Program Budgets are designed to expedite delivery of capital projects managed by the Project and Facilities Management Department (PFMD) that extend the useful life of County-owned facilities, mitigate potential hazards, reduce liability exposure, and achieve cost savings when feasible.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The High Desert Detention Center, located at 9330 Commerce Way in Adelanto, has been operational since 2014. The facility’s Smoke Control System, including its direct digital controls, server software, and communication components, remains original to the facility. This system is critical to maintaining life-safety conditions by controlling smoke movement, protecting evacuation routes, and ensuring the safety of inmates and staff during fire events.
Many system components, including field controllers, communication modules, and damper and valve actuators-are now obsolete and no longer supported by the original manufacturer, Johnson Controls Building Solutions, LLC (Johnson Controls). As a result, repair options are increasingly limited, requiring reliance on used or unsupported components or manual system intervention. These alternatives are not sustainable or appropriate for a detention facility with critical life-safety and operational requirements.
To ensure continued reliability, safety, and compliance with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Firefighters’ Smoke Controls Station (UUKL) standards, PFMD proposes a comprehensive upgrade to the Smoke Control System’s controls infrastructure. The Project includes replacement of obsolete field controllers, modernization of supervisory control equipment, and installation of updated UL- and UUKL-listed components. Existing panels, wiring, relays, and field devices will be reused where feasible to minimize costs and operational impacts.
The proposed work consists of repair, maintenance, and minor upgrades to existing mechanical and life-safety systems with no expansion of use and therefore qualifies for a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
The Contract with Johnson Controls for completion of the Project includes terms that differ from the standard County contract and omits certain County standard contract terms. While the parties negotiated most contract terms to County standards, Johnson Controls would not agree to all County standard terms. The non-standard and missing terms include the following:
1. The Contract includes a modified indemnity provision that requires Johnson Controls to indemnify and defend the County from third party claims resulting from bodily injury, death or tangible property damage to the extent the damages are caused by the negligent acts, omissions, or willful misconduct of Johnson Controls.
• The County standard contract indemnity provision requires the contractor to indemnify, defend, and hold County harmless from third party claims arising out of the acts, errors or omissions of any person.
• Potential Impact: Johnson Controls is only required to indemnify the County for a narrow set of claims. If the County is sued for any claim, that falls outside of this narrow indemnification, the County may be solely liable for the costs of defense and damages, which could exceed the total Contract amount.
2. The Contract includes modifications to the standard County insurance provisions, including terminology changes to limit the application of the insurance provisions and removal of the requirement for Johnson Controls to declare all deductibles and self-insured retentions in excess of $10,000.
• The County standard contract requires contractors to carry appropriate insurance at limits and under conditions determined by the County’s Risk Management Department.
• Potential Impact: The modified insurance requirements provide the County less assurance that Johnson Controls will be financially responsible for claims that may arise under the Contract, which could result in expenses to the County that exceed the total Contract amount.
PFMD recommends approval of the agreement, including the non-standard terms, with Johnson Controls to replace the obsolete smoke control system which will ensure continued operational efficiency, safety and compliance with current standards. Upgrades are vital to address the obsolete equipment, including proprietary communications protocols that are no longer supported by the manufacturer. The proposed upgrade is essential to maintain safe, efficient, and reliable operations of the smoke control system at the facility.
PROCUREMENT
Purchasing supports this non-competitive procurement based on equipment compatibility. It is critical to ensure the upgraded equipment and components remain compatible with existing infrastructure as the Smoke Control System is required to maintain safe conditions and prevent loss of life during a fire event. Johnson Controls is the original manufacturer of the program and sole provider for this system, which must be used for the upgrade to maintain system integrity.
Johnson Controls provides the only factory trained and authorized technicians for service on the Johnson Controls Smoke Controls System direct digital controls upgrade project. Warranty coverage is contingent on proper maintenance by factory trained Johnson Controls personnel. This agreement with Johnson Controls will ensure properly maintained control systems resulting in peak performance, maximum energy savings, and continued warranty of the systems.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Kaleigh Ragon, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 17, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 387-2070) on June 17, 2026; Risk Management (Arrissia Beaven, Staff Analyst II, 386-9030) on June 17, 2026; Project and Facilities Management (Jennifer Costa, Chief of Facilities Management, 387-2920) on May 1, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Eduardo Mora, Administrative Analyst, 387-4376) on May 21, 2026.