To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2550
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Construction Contract for Pine Mountain Generator and Battery Backup
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Award the construction contract to Fowler Electric Services Inc., in the amount of $229,456, for Pine Mountain Generator and Battery Backup Project (21CP40026AF), and authorize a contingency up to 10% of the contract amount, in the amount of $22,946 for a total not to exceed value of $252,402.
B) Authorize the Director of Sonoma County Public Infrastructure to execute the construction contract and any other related or required documents, in form approved by County Counsel.
C) Adopt and approve plans and specifications for Pine Mountain Generator and Battery Backup.
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Public Infrastructure (SPI) seeks Board award of a construction contract in the amount of $229,456, and approval of the project plans and specifications. The contract provides for installation of a battery energy storage system (ESS), integration of a generator, and a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. The improvements are intended to enhance system reliability during frequent outages.
Discussion:
Background:
The Pine Mountain Communications Site (ComSite) is located in Northern Sonoma County and is part of a twenty-site network owned or leased by the County and operated by County Sheriff Telecommunications (T-Comm) Bureau, providing communications to law enforcement and emergency responders. The T-Comm Bureau considers the Pine Mountain ComSite a critical facility necessary to maintain radio communications during an emergency.
On June 18, 2021, during the FY 2021-22 Budget Hearings, your Board approved the use of $950,000 in general funds to remove the communication vault at the Pine Mountain ComSite and replace it with a new, fire-resistant vault building. A value engineering analysis of the project scope was performed and determined that significant cost savings could be realized by rehabilitating the vault without loss of performance or functionality.
Project Progress:
With construction of the new vault complete, on April 3, 2025, Brokaw Design (Brokaw) was retained to prepare a complete permit set of construction documents for replacement of an existing backup generator and installation of a new battery backup system. The proposed project also included upgrades to the main electrical service and solar photovoltaic (PV) system integration.
On August 4th, 2026, Permit Sonoma issued the project permit and special inspection statement.
Public Bid:
A notice inviting bids for the Pine Mountain Generator and Battery backup project was issued on Thursday, April 23, 2026. A mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit was held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The bid opening was held on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Three (3) bids were received by the submission deadline.
Evaluation Base Bid of Proposals:
o Fowler Electric Services Inc. - $203,956
o Sonoma Marin Electric, Inc. - $275,000
o Mike Brown Electric Co. - $323,908
In accordance with Public Contract Code Section 20128, SPI recommends award of the contract to Fowler Electric Services, Inc., as the lowest responsible bidder.
In addition, the bid for the project included alternate options for additional project scopes. Fowler Electric Service submitted bids for those options. Based on project site conditions, a ground-mounted solar grid is recommended for inclusion in the project. Fowler’s bid for the ground-mounted solar grid was $25,500, and that amount is included in the contract being recommended for award for a total of $229,456.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal 2: Invest in capital systems to ensure continuity of operations and disaster response.
Objective 1: Strengthen critical communications infrastructure, interoperability, and information technology tools relied upon during disasters.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
6/3/25 - Additional Cost adjustment approval to Contract Change Order and Revised Plans
12/3/24 - Award of construction contract to NG Builders, LLC.
6/18/21 - Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget Hearings
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 26-27 Adopted |
FY 27-28 Projected |
FY 28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$252,402 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$252,402 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$252,402 |
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$252,402 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Appropriations for this contract are available in the Pine Mountain Generator and Battery Backup Project (21CP40026AF; 23010-40801900) Adopted Budget. Sufficient appropriations are available to fund the construction contract amount of $229,456, plus a 10% contingency of $22,946, for a total authorized amount of $252,402.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1 - Pine Mountain Generator and Battery Backup -100%CD
2 - CNI-033- Statement of Special Inspections
3 - Construction Bid Tabulation-Event 2158
4 - Notice of Intent to Award Contract
5 - Contract
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None