To: Board of Supervisors
From: Aviation
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Professional Services Agreement with Armstrong Consultants, Inc. for Wildlife Hazard Assessments at Rohnerville Airport (FOT) and Murray Field Airport (EKA)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve and authorize the Chair of the Board to execute the attached Professional Services Agreement with Armstrong Consultants, Inc. for the Wildlife Hazard Assessments at Rohnerville Airport (FOT) and Murray Field Airport (EKA);
2. Authorize the Director of Aviation to execute any amendments and successor agreements after review by County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to return the original signed agreement to the Department of Aviation.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Grant No. 3-06-0072-017-2022
Aviation Capital Projects (3539170)
DISCUSSION:
Rohnerville Airport (FOT) and Murray Field Airport (EKA) are both located in rural areas with high volume of wildlife that create potential safety hazards for inbound and outbound aircraft. There have been numerous sightings, and incidents, at both airfields involving numerous wildlife species.
Prior to funding future mitigation efforts, the FAA encourages airports to engage in wildlife hazard assessments (WHA) to help identify risks of aircraft-wildlife collisions. These assessments consist of site visits, 12-month consecutive surveying, and reporting, by an FAA certified biologist. The attached Professional Services Agreement would authorize Armstrong Consultants, Inc. to manage the planning, surveying, preparation, and reporting of the above-referenced project.
The Department of Aviation previously applied for, and accepted, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Grant Number 3-06-0072-017-2022 to cover 90% of the cost, or $260,472, for conducting this assessment, in accordance with FAA regulations. The remaining 10% of the local cost, or $28,941.32 for conducting this project was included in the fiscal (FY) 2022-23 adopted budget.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was conducted in early 2021, in accordance with the FAA regulations, and was presented to, and approved by, the Board of Supervisors on April 27, 2021.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The maximum amount payable for services rendered, and costs and expenses incurred, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this agreement is $279,414. There is no impact to the general fund. These expenses will be reimbursed to the County of Humboldt through the previously accepted FAA AIP Grant No. 3-06-0072-017-2022. The Federal AIP Grant makes up 90% of the total project cost and the remaining 10% was included in the FY 2022-23 adopted budget in Aviation Capital Projects (3539170).
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by seeking outside funding sources to benefit Humboldt County needs; providing for and maintaining infrastructure and providing community-appropriate levels of service.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Federal Aviation Administration
State of California, Department of Transportation
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may decide not to authorize the agreement with Armstrong Consultants, Inc. However, it is not recommended due to potential impacts outlined below:
• The Department of Aviation would be forfeiting an FAA AIP Grant that will reimburse the County of Humboldt for 90% of costs, up to $260,472, for this project; and
• There would be a continued safety concern with wildlife accessing the FOT and EKA airports.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Professional Services Agreement with Armstrong Consultants, Inc.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D1; D4
Meeting of: 04/27/2021; 08/30/2022
File No.: 21-509; 22-1135