Council awards $1.77 million construction-management agreement for Fire Station 2 rebuild; project budget set at $15.1 million estimate

The Costa Mesa City Council on April 1 awarded a professional services agreement to Accenture Infrastructure for construction management of the Fire Station Number 2 reconstruction and approved a 10% contingency authorization on the contract.

Public works staff presented a project budget and timeline: an $800,000 design contract is already encumbered; construction cost was estimated at $10.8 million (including a community workforce agreement), with a $1 million construction contingency and a $550,000 estimate for temporary on-site living and operating quarters for fire personnel during construction. The recommended construction-management professional services agreement (PSA) with Accenture was $1,770,000. Staff listed additional utility-agency fees and related expenses of roughly $200,000, producing a total project estimate of about $15.1 million.

Public-works Senior Engineer Arash Rahimi described planned station improvements: roughly a 40% increase in footprint, larger apparatus bay, improved sleeping and privacy accommodations, dedicated utility rooms and exercise and conference spaces. Staff said the temporary living quarters would be modular trailers placed on the existing site with restroom and shower facilities and services, and that the fire department consulted labor representatives on acceptable temporary arrangements.

Staff said they plan to finance part of the project with bond proceeds and will return to council with formal bond authorization later in the year; the tentative timeline calls for design to proceed through June, permitting in July, bidding and award in August–October and construction from November 2025 through November 2027. The council approved the PSA and related authorizations by a 7–0 vote.

During council questions members asked for greater transparency on the procurement evaluation and staffing-level assumptions behind the PSA cost; staff said the recommended firm provided the most comprehensive proposal and that the typical staffing level averages about two full-time-equivalent support staff during construction with specialty inspections and testing added as needed. Staff also said $225,000 of the PSA can be covered within the current budget and that the remaining PSA allocation will follow bond issuance; financing specifics will come back to council when the bond is presented.