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Supervisors narrow on‑call contracts to six‑month extensions, defer Contract Policy Manual for further review
Summary
After extended debate about multi‑year and high‑value "on‑call" and job‑order contracts, the board approved six‑month extensions for several contract groups to buy time for a policy review. The Board continued the Contract Policy Manual item to the second meeting in January for additional work and possible workshop.
The Board of Supervisors on Dec. 2 moved to shorten planned contract renewals and to delay broader policy changes while staff and supervisors refine the county's Contract Policy Manual.
Several supervisors, including Nguyen and Wagner, pressed staff about repeated amendments to on‑call architectural and engineering (AE) contracts originally awarded after a 2022 RFQ. Supervisor Nguyen said the practice has led to cumulative contract values in the tens of millions and questioned whether some task orders should be rebid. "We keep on having contracts coming to this board that has amendment 5, 7... and it's not just OC Public Works," Nguyen said.
County staff and the CEO responded that the contracts were RFQ‑based, that task orders are issued against a prequalified slate and that the remaining encumbrances and estimated needs informed the extension request. Staff estimated roughly $13 million in AE services needed for about 80 projects, with typical task orders between $50,000 and $500,000.
To allow time for a comprehensive review, the board approved a shortened, six‑month extension for the contested on‑call and job‑order contracts rather than the longer terms staff initially proposed. The board also continued the Contract Policy Manual (item 39) to the second meeting in January and discussed holding a special meeting or workshop so supervisors could review proposed language and thresholds (several sections referenced $3,000,000 ceilings and $1,000,000 task‑order limits).
Vice Chair Foley proposed the six‑month option and asked staff to return with a plan to reconcile audit controller encumbrance requirements and the board’s policy aims; the motion carried. The board directed staff and the CEO to engage supervisor offices and consider a special session to finalize CPM changes.
