Committee ratifies retroactive and new contract modifications for San Francisco General rebuild totaling $1.6 million

The Budget and Finance Committee advanced to the full Board a resolution ratifying modification #7 and authorizing modification #10 to the architectural and engineering agreement with Fong and Chen Architects Inc. for the San Francisco General Hospital rebuild program. Ron Almeida of the Department of Public Works described an administrative oversight that allowed modification #7 to advance without Board review despite crossing the $500,000 threshold required under Charter Section 9.118(b).

"Modification 7, by oversight was not presented and was advanced," Almeida said, acknowledging the error and saying the department has adjusted approval processes so the threshold will be recognized at each level going forward. He said modification #10 will fund additional design services — including value engineering for telecommunications, revisions to the uninterrupted power supply design, and early hybrid operating‑room design work — and will bring the contract to about $53.4 million. Almeida stressed the rebuild is within the overall project budget and the department is not requesting additional project funds.

The Budget and Legislative Analyst reported modification #7 retroactively approves $1,000,000 and modification #10 approves $665,000, for a combined $1,600,000 increase to the contract, and recommended approval noting the increases are covered within the project budget. Public testimony included a brief musical comment from a member of the public. Supervisor Eric Marr moved the favorable recommendation and the committee advanced the item without opposition.

The matter will proceed to the Board for formal ratification and authorization.