To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Contract Amendment for the 2023 On-Call Pest Control Advisor.
☒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 Blankinship & Associates, Inc., to extend the term through May 26, 2028, and update the hourly billing rate with no change in the payment limit, for on-call Pest Control Advisor services for various road, flood control, and airport facilities maintenance, Countywide.
FISCAL IMPACT:
100% Local Road, Flood Control, and Airport Enterprise Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Public Works Department's Maintenance Division manages over 650 miles of roads throughout unincorporated Contra Costa County. As part of this responsibility, contract services are required to provide written pest control recommendations and ancillary services on an on-call basis.
On May 27, 2023, the County awarded Blankinship & Associates, Inc (“Blankinship”) an on-call Pest Control Advisor services contract. The County oversees the application of chemical herbicides and a critical part of the herbicide application process is to have a California Department of Pesticide Regulation (“DPR”) licensed Pest Control Advisor (“PCA”) provide recommendation to the County for safe usage of appropriate herbicides.
To retain the services of Blankinship and ensure timely payment, the Public Works Director recommends that the Board approve Contract Amendment No. 1. This amendment will extend the contract term through May 26, 2028. This amendment will also increase Blankinship hourly billing rate by 3% annually from 2026 through 2028, with no change to the contract payment limit.
This contract includes services provided by represented classifications, and the County has met its obligations with the respective labor partner(s).
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to approve the contract amendment may prevent the Public Works Department from providing vegetation management services for the County in a timely manner.