To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Amendment and Extension for On-Call Biological Consulting Services, County wide. Project No. Various
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute a contract amendment with Nomad Ecology, LLC, effective December 16, 2025, to increase the payment limit by $600,000 to a new payment limit of $950,000 and extend the term through September 14, 2028, for on-call biological consulting services, Countywide
FISCAL IMPACT:
Local Road and Flood Control Funds. (100% Various Funds)
BACKGROUND:
The County Public Works Department maintains and improves County-owned infrastructure in unincorporated areas of the County which include roads, bridges, flood control channels and basins, buildings, parks, and two airports. Public agency projects must comply with federal, state, and local environmental regulations including but not limited to the National Environmental Policy Act through federal agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration/California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers when there is a nexus; the California Environmental Quality Act as well as regulatory agency permits, including but not limited to, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Regional Water Quality Control Board, and East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation/Natural Community Conservation Plan.
The Environmental Services Division of the County Public Works Department ensures Public Works projects comply with applicable environmental regulations and as such requires support from qualified specialists to assess potential project impacts, document the findings and provide measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential impacts as well as provide monitoring of construction sites when required by regulatory agencies. These on-call biological consulting contracts will provide specialists including but not limited to arboriculturists, botanists, wetland delineation specialists, and wildlife biologists.
In accordance with Government Code section 4526, the Environmental Services Division solicited Statements of Qualifications from biological consulting firms and Nomad Ecology, LLC was one of the consultants awarded for these services. At its September 12, 2023 meeting, the Board approved a contract with Nomad Ecology, LLC , in an amount not to exceed $350,000, for the period of September 15, 2023 through September 14, 2026.
Environmental Services is requesting Amendment No. 1 with Nomad Ecology, LLC to be approved, increasing the payment limit to $950,000 and extending the term through September 14, 2028 to ensure the County has continued access to the consultant’s services.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without approval from the Board of Supervisors, necessary environmental clearances may not be obtained, which may jeopardize funding and delay construction of various Public Works projects and maintenance activities subject to environmental compliance requirements.