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Board trims and debates authority on Flood Control on‑call contracts
Summary
Supervisors debated proposed increases to six Flood Control District on‑call construction‑testing contracts and a motion sought to cap additional authority at $500,000 per contract while staff said an ad hoc procurement policy review is being formed.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 9 considered amendments to renew six on‑call construction testing and inspection contracts used by OC Public Works and the Flood Control District. The contracts—covering firms such as Kleinfelder Inc., Group Delta Consultants, GeoCon West Inc., RMA Group, Nino and Moore, and AEASCO Inc.—had originally sought higher authority increases (roughly $1.2 million each).
Supervisor Janet Wynne moved to limit the additional contracting authority to $500,000 per contract, arguing smaller vendors had received little work under previous arrangements and the county should avoid locking in overly large on‑call ceilings. Wynne said staff could return to the board for contract increases based on verified performance and that an interim cap would act as a check and balance.
Other supervisors supported the goal but raised operational concerns. Supervisor Wagner asked staff to include metrics showing how work would be spread among vendors so that specialty needs did not concentrate work with a few firms. Supervisor Sarmiento stressed the need for a methodical, countywide approach to thresholds; he supported convening an ad hoc procurement policy review to determine uniform thresholds across departments.
CEO staff said a procurement policy ad hoc committee (CPM contract policy manual ad hoc) is being formed and that staff already prepared comparative matrices and usage data to inform the ad hoc’s work. Staff warned that if the board lowered authority now, the county could return in the contract term to request increases if needed.
Board members agreed the item would be informed by the upcoming ad hoc’s work and that staff would supply usage data and recommended metrics in future reports. The board moved on to subsequent agenda items after the discussion.
