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Board recommends $5.84 million change order to advance Jemez Mountain water and utility trenching
Summary
The Board of Public Utilities recommended approval of Change Order No. 4 to IFB 2025-08 with Double E Construction, adding about 11,500 feet of trenching and a $5.839 million change order (contract total $9.818 million); staff said combining phases yields roughly $1.2 million in savings while FEMA reimbursement remains uncertain.
The Board of Public Utilities on Sept. 17 recommended that county council approve Change Order No. 4 to IFB 2025-08 with Double E Construction for the Jemez Mountain Fire Protection Phase 1 project, a move staff said will add roughly 11,500 feet of trenching and allow the county to pave permanent patches this winter rather than incur temporary repair costs.
Project presenter James Allard told the board the contractor’s trencher greatly reduced rock-handling risk and unit costs, producing what he described as “$1,200,000 savings” from combining work into a single, continuous operation. Staff cited lower mobilization costs, a reduced traffic-control estimate and carryover of unit pipe prices among the primary savings drivers.
Allard and staff outlined project budget and schedule details: approximately 72% of the project is contracted, the tank is about 85% complete, contingency after the change order would be roughly $972,000, and the county expects to remain near the original ~$18 million project budget assuming normal weather and limited contingency use. Staff said the Pajarito Recreation Group (partner) will make a planned contribution as prescribed in the cost-share agreement.
Board members asked how the county would proceed if federal FEMA reimbursements do not arrive. Staff said the FEMA request tied to parts of the project is pending and that the county has the option to carry certain electrical costs in the local budget if FEMA funding is not received. Staff also noted long-lead procurement items such as transformers and switches should be ordered quickly to meet target dates.
A member moved the recommendation to council including a budget revision; the motion described the change order at $5,308,536.29 with contingency of $530,853.63 (total change order $5,839,003.89) and a revised total contract amount of $9,818,008.96 plus applicable gross-receipts tax. The board approved the recommendation on roll call 4–0. The item will now be forwarded to county council for final action.
