To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:title
Bid Award Authorization for the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project, Project Number 2025-601end
RECOMMENDATION(S):Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive and file the bids for construction of the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project, Project Number 2025-601; and
2. Award the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project, Project No. 2025-601, to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, Adams Commercial General Contracting, Inc., in the amount of Eight Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($875,125); and
3. Authorize the Humboldt County Purchasing Agent, or a designee thereof, to execute the attached construction agreement with Adams Commercial General Contracting, Inc. regarding completion of the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project, Project Number 2025-601; and
4. Authorize the Purchasing Agent, or a designee thereof, to execute contract change orders for the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project up to Eighty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Twelve Dollars and Fifty-Cents ($87,512.50); and
5. Authorize the Risk Manager to sign the agreement upon review and approval of all required insurance documentation and required project bonds; and
6. Approve, and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute, the attached first amendment to the lease agreement at 2420 Sixth Street, Eureka, California; and
7. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return one (1) fully executed original copy of the attached first amendment to the Real Property Division of the Humboldt County Department of Public Works for further processing; and
8. Direct the Clerk of the Board to provide the County Administrative Office with one (1) fully executed certified copy of the Board order related to this item.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 3002 - Invest in county facilities
DISCUSSION:
On September 7, 2016, the County of Humboldt entered into a Consent Decree with the United States Department of Justice requiring the commencement of the Humboldt County Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Project. The purpose of the Humboldt County Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Project is to bring all facilities owned and/or leased by the County of Humboldt that provide programs, services and activities to the public into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project is part of this ongoing compliance effort.
The Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project includes improvements and Americans with Disabilities Act barrier removal for the shared office space located at 2420 Sixth Street in Eureka, currently occupied by Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services programs. The Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project will modify approximately nine thousand five hundred (9,500) square feet of space to meet accessibility requirements and accommodate changing program-specific needs by reducing the overall footprint occupied by the Department of Child Support Services and creating a shared lobby space to support both Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services operations.
Improvements include the redesign and renovation of private and open office areas, Americans with Disabilities Act modifications to the shared conference room and break room, upgrades to two (2) multi-user restrooms and two (2) single-user gender-neutral restrooms, construction of a multi-use space that will function as both a computer lab and meeting area for County of Humboldt staff, commissions and advisory boards, and installation of Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant service counters within the shared lobby. Such improvements are expected to be completed within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following receipt of the Notice to Proceed.
In accordance with the terms and conditions of the current lease agreement, the property owner will continue to assume responsibility for costs associated with Americans with Disabilities Act-related modifications, floor coverings, painting and administrative staff time as outlined in the lease agreement in the amount of Six Hundred Fifty-Nine Thousand One Hundred Thirteen Dollars ($659,113). The bid form was structured to clearly identify the costs that the landlord and the County of Humboldt are responsible for, and to allocate shared costs between Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services. The landlord has agreed to be responsible for the identified costs, which are incorporated in the attached first amendment to the lease agreement. The current monthly rent for 2420 Sixth Street is Forty-Two Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Three Dollars and Fifty-Six Cents ($42,793.56).
On December 16, 2025, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (“Board”) approved the plans and specifications for the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project and authorized the Clerk of the Board to advertise the project for public bid. On January 20, 2026, the County of Humboldt received the following bids for the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project:
|
Contractor |
Base Bid |
|
Adams Commercial General Contracting, Inc. |
$875,125.00 |
|
Belz Construction |
$760,000.00 |
Following receipt of the bids, a bid protest was submitted regarding the bid provided by Belz Construction. The protest alleged that Belz Construction failed to identify a licensed fire sprinkler contractor on its list of subcontractors despite including work requiring a C-16 Fire Protection Contractor license. Upon review of the bid documents and applicable state licensing requirements, County of Humboldt staff determined that neither Belz Construction nor any subcontractor listed in its bid possessed the required license to perform the fire sprinkler work included in the project scope. Since California law requires such work to be performed by a properly licensed contractor, and the omission constituted a material defect in the bid, the bid submitted by Belz Construction was determined ineligible for award.
Accordingly, staff recommend that the Board award the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, Adams Commercial General Contracting, Inc. Approval of the recommended actions will allow construction to proceed, continue the county’s efforts to improve accessibility and modernize facilities, and further the goals of the 2020 Facilities Master Plan by co-locating county services to support more efficient service delivery to the public.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Department of Child Support Services (1380); Economic Development Services (1120-275)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total estimated cost for the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project is One Million Ninety-Six Thousand Four Hundred Nine Dollars ($1,096,409), which includes design services, construction costs, administrative costs, construction contingencies and Certified Access Specialist inspection costs. The construction contract is anticipated to be awarded in the amount of Eight Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Five Dollars ($875,125). Of the total project budget, Sixty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred Twenty-Nine Dollars ($66,829) in California Department of Child Support Services funding has previously been approved for design services provided by Alameda Architecture. Additional funding requests have been submitted to the State of California to support future phases of the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project.
The remaining project costs will be funded through a combination of Economic Development resources, state funding allocated to the Department of Child Support Services and the property owner’s contributions required under the terms of the lease. The total project budget includes funding for project contingencies equal to approximately ten percent (10%) of each department’s construction-related costs. Of the total project budget, Economic Development will contribute Two Hundred Ten Thousand Two Hundred Sixty-Five Dollars ($210,265), Department of Child Support Services will contribute Two Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand Thirty-One Dollars ($227,031) and the property owner will contribute Six Hundred Fifty-Nine Thousand One Hundred Thirteen Dollars ($659,113) pursuant to the funding commitments outlined in the existing lease agreement. The property owner’s contribution includes costs associated with Americans with Disabilities Act-related improvements, flooring, painting and other landlord-responsible project elements.
Sufficient funding has been identified to support the current project budget. Any future budget adjustments required as a result of construction conditions, grant awards or project modifications will be brought into consideration before the Board.
STAFFING IMPACT:
The recommended actions will not impact current staffing levels.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to approve staff recommendations. However, this alternative is not recommended, as the current facility does not meet the operational needs of Economic Development or Department of Child Support Services. The space is underutilized, lacks proper public access for Economic Development and presents barriers to access identified in the Humboldt County Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Plan. The Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project also aligns with the 2020 Facilities Master Plan by co-locating services provided by the County of Humboldt to improve operational efficiency and service delivery. Moving forward with the Economic Development and Department of Child Support Services Tenant Improvement Project will improve functionality, accessibility and overall service delivery to the public.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Bid Results
2. Construction Agreement
3. First Amendment to the Lease Agreement at 2420 Sixth Street, Eureka, California
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 08/08/2025, 12/16/2025
File No.: 23-977, 25-1411