To: Board of Supervisors
From: Aviation
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Resolution Authorizing the Department of Aviation to Accept United States Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Program (AIP) Grant Offer 3-06-0083-15-2026 and Bid Award Authorization for Rohnerville Airport (FOT) Runway 11/29 Rehabilitation, Project Number AV-2024-07
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Waive the requirements of the Humboldt County Nuclear-Free Ordinance with regard to the FAA AIP Grant Offer and subsequent agreement;
2. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Interim Director of Aviation, or designee thereof, to execute any and all documents necessary to secure and accept the AIP Grant 3-06-0083-015-2026 in the amount of $3,694,895, once received;
3. Authorize the Interim Director of Aviation, or designee thereof, to execute any subsequent amendments to, and any other agreements, certifications, attestations and documents necessary directly associated to AIP Grant 3-06-0083-015-2026 after review by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office;
4. Receive and file the attached bid tabulation for Rohnerville Airport (FOT) Runway 11/29 Rehabilitation, Project Number AV-2024-07;
5. Authorize the bid award contract to Mercer-Fraser Company for the total amount of $3,404,095;
6. Authorize the Interim Director of Aviation, or designee thereof, to execute a Construction Project Agreement that is substantially similar to the sample agreement attached with Mercer-Fraser Company for an amount not to exceed $3,404,095, upon submittal of the appropriate bonds and insurances approved by Risk Management;
7. Authorize the Interim Director of Aviation, or designee thereof, to execute construction change orders up to the amount of $340,409.50;
8. Ratify the Interim Director of Aviation’s signature on the first amendment to the Lochner, Inc. agreement for the construction administration of the Rohnerville Airport (FOT) Runway 11/29 Rehabilitation in an amount not to exceed $475,268; and
9. Authorize the Interim Director of Aviation to sign any amendments to the Lochner, Inc. agreement after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Sustainable Natural Resources & Infrastructure Stewardship
Strategic Plan Category: 3002 - Invest in county facilities
DISCUSSION:
On Sept. 10, 2024, your Board adopted a resolution authorizing the acceptance of AIP Grant 3-06-0083-014-2024 in the amount of $359,275 for the design of the Rohnerville Airport (FOT) Runway 11/29 Rehabilitation project. Subsequently, the Department of Aviation contracted with Lochner, Inc. for project design.
On March 24, 2026, the Your Board approved the plans and specifications to bid the Rohnerville Airport (FOT) Runway 11/29 Rehabilitation Project, which includes milling the existing surface and reinstalling new pavement and remarking Runway 11/29. To meet FAA requirements, the public bidding process was conducted prior to receiving AIP Grant 3-06-0083-015-2026. On April 16, 2026, the Department of Aviation received four bids for the project. The results were as follows:
1. Mercer-Fraser Company $3,404,095
2. Granite Construction Company $3,483,298
3. Kernen Construction $3,985,808
4. GR Sundberg, Inc. $4,032,883
Therefore, the Department of Aviation requests your Board to approve awarding the construction phase of this project to the lowest responsive bidder, Mercer Fraser Company, in an amount not to exceed $3,404,095.
Anticipated total project costs are as follows:
Construction $ 3,404,095
Construction Engineering and Administration (Lochner) $ 475,268
Construction Administration (County) $ 10,000
Total Project Cost $3,889,363
Upon receipt of the bid results in April 2026, the Department of Aviation submitted a grant application for the construction phase of the above-mentioned project to the FAA. The FAA has accepted and is reviewing a grant offer with a cumulative maximum obligation of $3,694,895 as follows.
FAA Maximum Obligation (95%) $3,694,895
County Cost (5%) $194,468
On Sept. 10, 2024, the Department of Aviation entered into a professional services agreement with Lochner, Inc. for the engineering (design) of the Rohnerville Airport (FOT) Runway 11/29 Rehabilitation of the project. Upon bid award the FAA requires airports to conduct an Independent Fee Evaluation (IFE) to ensure the proposed fees for professional design and construction administration services rendered are fair and equitable. The fees of $475,268 proposed by Lochner Inc., were 3.5% lower than the fees that would have been charged by a like firm in their IFE analysis. The Department of Aviation signed a first amendment to the Lochner, Inc. agreement for the construction phase of the Rohnerville Airport (FOT) Runway 11/29 Rehabilitation of the project on June 30, 2026.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Aviation Capital Projects (3539); Federal Aviation Administration-Airport Improvement Program Grant Award
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (3539,170) |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$3,889,363 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$3,889,363 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (3539,170) |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
County General Fund |
$58,142 |
|
State Grant Funds - Caltrans |
$136,326 |
|
Federal Grant Funds 95% |
$3,694,895 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$3,889,363 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
This project is being funded through FAA AIP Grant 3-06-0083-015-2026. The grant will provide 95% or $3,694,895 of the total project costs. The Department of Aviation is responsible to cover the remaining 5% or $194,468 of project costs. Your Board approved an Additional Request for General Fund Appropriation in the fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 budget in the amount of $58,142 towards the local match requirement. In addition, the Department of Aviation will submit a grant application to CalTrans for the remaining local match requirement through the Airport Improvement Program Matching Grant. The maximum award is the total match of $194,468. If awarded, this will reduce the need for General Fund and cover the whole match. Total project costs are included in the proposed FY 2026-27 budget in the Aviation Capital Projects budget, 3539-170.
STAFFING IMPACT:
The recommended actions will not impact current staffing levels.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
United States Department of Transportation - Federal Aviation Administration
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board could choose not to adopt the attached resolution, award the contract to Mercer-Fraser Company, or ratify the first amended agreement with Lochner. However, this is not recommended as the runway at Rohnerville Airport (FOT) is at a critical stage of disrepair and the users of the airport including general aviation, medical flights and Cal Fire would be affected. Should your Board not approve the attached resolution the county will not be able to pursue FAA grant funding to assist with this project and the entire cost of the project would be borne by the County of Humboldt.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-________
2. FAA AIP Grant Application No. 3-06-0083-15-2026
3. KFOT Runway Rehab Award Recommendation
4. Sample Construction Agreement with Mercer-Fraser Company
5. 1st Amendment to Professional Services Agreement with Lochner, Inc.
6. IFE Analysis
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 9/10/2024, 3/24/2026
File No.: 24-1324, 26-245