To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Karen Davis-Brown, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Alta Archeological Consulting, LLC As-Needed Professional Service Agreement Amendment
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Chair to amend the As-Needed Professional Service Agreement with Alta Archaeological Consulting LLC to provide archaeological consulting professional services in the amount of, $200,000 for an amended contract maximum of $300,000.
end
Executive Summary:
The Board awarded a three-year agreement with Alta Archaeological Consultants LLC, in July of 2019 to provide as-needed consulting services for local, state, and federal regulatory compliance and other archeological services, with two optional one-year extensions. To meet the expected demand for additional archeological series, Regional Parks proposes amending the previously approved, As-Needed Professional Service Agreement with Alta Archaeological Consulting LLC to (1) increase the agreement’s not-to-exceed amount by $200,000, and to the term by one year, with all other terms of the Agreement remaining unchanged.
Discussion:
Background.
Regional Parks manages lands for recreation, protection of habitat and natural resources, and preservation of historical and archaeological resources. Archaeological surveys, reports, and assessments are required for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the preparation of master plans, and resource management plans, and for addressing unanticipated archeological discoveries due to construction, infrastructure maintenance, and land management activities.
Regional Parks’ need for archaeological services continues to increase due to several factors. Regulations to protect cultural resources have increased, as has the number and size of county parklands. The complexity of projects including historically and archaeologically significant lands has grown. Technological advancements in the field of archeology have also expanded the range, cost, and understanding of existing cultural resources that need identification and protection. The involvement of cultural resource stakeholders, including tribes and historical groups, has increased. Recent wildland fires have expanded the need for archaeological services both for post fire surveys for parks affected by catastrophic wildland fires, and as old existing surveys are updated as prescribed fire continues to be pursued as a land-management tool, and so as visitor numbers have increased, it has indirectly required more elaborate and thorough cultural resource protection plans and monitoring.
The Board approved the original professional services agreement with Alta Archeological Consulting LLC, (“Alta” or “the Consultant”) in July 9, 2019, contracting for services using a multi-year, As-Needed Professional Service Agreement consistent with the practice utilized by Regional Parks since 2009.
Need for Amendment.
Extending the Agreement for archeological consulting, which is one of the more frequently needed professional service disciplines in the development of park improvements and land management, will allow the department to successfully manage the current and near-term project demands including management confidential and culturally sensitive projects.
County staff do not possess the required specialized knowledge, skill, or professional license to adequately provide the unique service provided by the archeological consultant Alta. The consultant is currently involved in projects where staff anticipates additional phases of sensitive and confidential work will be necessary, which could not have been predicted at the time the original agreement was executed. Presently, the parties are about half way through the 3 year agreement, which began on July 9, 2019. The Consultant’s services rendered to date are approaching the maximum amount available in the agreement, which is $100,000. The Agreement already requires Consultant to comply with the County’s living wage ordinance.
Summary of Proposed Amendment.
1. Extend Term. The proposed amendment would exercise the first of two one-year options to extend the term of the agreement. The original agreement expiration date is July 8, 2020, which is three years from July 9, 2019. With the one year extension of the term, the expiration of the extended agreement would be July 8, 2023.
2. Increase amount. The Proposed amendment would also increase the total amount that could be paid under the agreement by $200,000, for a total agreement price cap of $300,000.
Staff will continue the practice of obtaining quotes from the multiple firms on the list for particular projects as appropriate, thus ensuring the County is receiving the best price and product. As is standard with County As-Needed Agreements, there is no guarantee of any minimum amount of work for any consultant. The agreements’ maximum shall-not exceed amount is based upon the complexity of culturally sensitive resource projects anticipated within the agreement term. All the funds expended will be consistent with the amount appropriated for each project by the Board of Supervisors. The agreement’s amount also includes contracting capacity for unforeseen projects that arise over the course of the agreement’s term.
Prior Board Actions:
July 9, 2019, Board approves As-Needed contract with fifty-one (51) new multi-year Professional Service Agreements, including with Alta Archaeological Consultants LLC.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
No funds are specifically committed to as-needed contracts. When work is required under an as-needed contract it will be paid for from funds already committed to the specific project for which the contract is being utilized.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
None.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Amendment to existing As-Needed Professional Agreement, extending the contract one-year and new “shall not exceed” contract amount.