Board authorizes progressive design-build delivery for San Geronimo Valley fire headquarters; releases consultant RFP

The Marin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday authorized county staff to proceed with a progressive design-build project delivery method and to release a request for proposals for consulting services for the proposed Marin County Fire Headquarters in the San Geronimo Valley.

Chief Sean Weber and county capital staff presented the project scope and asked the board to select a delivery method after a county-commissioned analysis by Kitchell, a construction consultant. The consultant recommended progressive design-build as the best fit for this complex, multi-use project, citing better cost and schedule control, enhanced opportunities for community engagement, and improved design-quality outcomes compared with traditional design-bid-build.

Kitchell’s analysis presented a comparison of four delivery approaches — design-bid-build, construction-manager-at-risk, traditional design-build and progressive design-build — and recommended progressive design-build as the fastest method with better cost-certainty. County staff emphasized the need to meet state requirements for a skilled-and-trained workforce on alternative delivery projects and proposed a August study session for the board to review workforce-compliance options and the project labor-agreement pathways.

Supervisor Rodoni praised the recommendation, saying faster delivery helps control escalation and inflation risk. The board voted to authorize staff to proceed with the progressive design-build procurement strategy and to issue an RFP for a progressive design-build consultant. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.

Staff said the site comprises several parcels and that the project will include a new fire station, training and warehouse space, vehicle maintenance and logistics areas to replace aging facilities and centralize county firefighting assets. The county intends to continue robust community engagement and to comply with state public-contract requirements, including building a skilled-and-trained workforce plan and addressing conflict-of-interest rules in procurement.

Next steps include hiring the consultant to assist with procurement and compliance, scheduling the workforce-compliance study session in August, conducting design-build procurement and moving toward a guaranteed maximum price negotiation with the selected design-build team. Staff projected construction completion in late 2028, subject to permitting and budget approvals.