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): First
Title:
Title
Reject all bids received for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project (County Project Number M24004).
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Reject all bids received for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project (County Project Number M24004).
end
Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Public Infrastructure Department (SPI) is requesting that the Board reject all bids received at the January 20, 2026, Bid Opening for the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project. The lowest bid significantly exceeded the engineer’s estimate and allocated grant funding of $124,650. Therefore, SPI recommends rejecting all bids and deferring project implementation until conditions are more conducive to successful plant establishment, which is expected to be later this fall 2026 to also allow time for pursue additional funding and rebid the project.
Discussion:
The new Boyes Blvd Bridge over Sonoma Creek in the Sonoma was constructed in 2022. As part of the project, the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife required mitigation planting and long-term monitoring to satisfy permit conditions. The permit requirements include five years of monitoring for most planted species, ten years of monitoring for oak trees, submission of annual monitoring reports, and achievement of established success criteria for vegetative canopy cover and ground cover of plants.
The Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project was advertised for construction bids from December 17, 2025, to January 20, 2026. Bids were opened on January 20, 2026. The bids were received and are as follows:
• Hanford Applied Restoration and Conservation: $481,621
• Bortolussi and Watkin: $969,986
The Engineer’s Estimate for the Project was $300,000 (without contingency). The apparent low bid of $481,621 is 60% higher than the Engineer’s Estimate, while the second bid of $969,986 is 223% higher. The primary cost drivers of the difference include expenses associate with plant materials, long-term plant maintenance, and expected replanting requirements over the duration of the monitoring period.
Caltrans has approved grant funding in the amount of $124,650 for the work, which is significantly less than the lowest bid and would result in a direct cost to the Road Fund of over $350,000. SPI was aware that the available grant funding would not fully cover the anticipated project costs and, prior to bid opening, applied for additional funding through Caltrans to help address the anticipated shortfall. However, the additional funding request remains under review and has not yet been approved. In addition, the initial planting requires adequate soil moisture conditions to support plant establishment and survival in accordance with Resource Agency’s performance criteria.
Given the funding shortfall, bid results, and the need to align planting activities with optimal seasonal conditions, SPI recommends rejection of all bids. Rejecting the bids will allow time to pursue additional funding from Caltrans and rebid the project under more favorable planting conditions to improve plant establishment and long-term success.
In accordance with Public Contract Code Section 22038, the County may reject any bids presented and shall inform the bidder(s) of the County’s intention to reject the bid. SPI recommends rejecting all bids received at the Bid Opening of the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Mitigation, Watering and Plant Maintenance Project and has sent a letter to notify the bidders of the County’s intent to reject all of the bids.
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: Goal 3: Continue to invest in critical road, bridge, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure.
Objective: Objective 4: Identify and retrofit bridges in County that are at high risk for damage during earthquakes.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
2/4/2020: Board approved Second Amendment to the Agreement with Valley of the Moon Water District for Water System Improvements and Water Facility Adjustments for the new Boyes Boulevard Bridge Replacement project.
8/6/2019: Board awarded the administration of the Boyes Boulevard Bridge Replacement construction contract to Ghirardelli Associates, Inc.
7/9/2019: Board awarded the construction contract to Gordon Ball Incorporated for construction of the new Boyes Boulevard Bridge.
7/10/2018: Board approved agreement with Valley of the Moon Water District for water systems improvements. Valley of the Moon Water District agreed to fund $ 253,200 for said water system improvements.
4/4/2017: Board approved Second Amendment to agreement with design consultant Moffatt and Nichol for additional design services to design for Valley of the Moon Water District’s water system improvements and related design services during the construction phase.
9/1/2015: Board approved First Amendment to agreement with Moffatt and Nichol, extending the term of the agreement to June 2019 at no additional cost.
5/7/2013: Board approved agreement with Moffatt and Nichol for engineering design work for Boyes Boulevard Bridge over Sonoma Creek.
6/2007: Board adopted a Mitigated Negative Declaration per CEQA and approved Mitigation and Monitoring Program (Resolution Number 07-0583).
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with this Board Item. SPI intends to rebid the Boyes Blvd Bridge Mitigation, Watering, and Planting Maintenance project at a later date after additional funding has been secured and will return to the Board for contract award at that time.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
No staffing impacts.
Attachments:
Letter notifying bidders that all bids received at the Bid Opening were rejected.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.