CONSULTANT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this 23rd day of September 2025, by the CITY OF GARDEN GROVE, a municipal corporation, (“CITY”), and BUCKNAM INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP, INC., a California Corporation (‘‘CONSULTANT”).
RECITALS
The following recitals are a substantive part of this Agreement:
1. This Agreement is entered into pursuant to Garden Grove Council authorization dated September 23, 2025.
2. CITY desires to utilize th e services of CONSULTANT to provide On-Call Construction Inspection Services.
3. CONSULTANT is qualified by virtue of experience, training, education and expertise to accomplish services.
AGREEMENT
THE PARTIES MUTUALLY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1. Term of Agreement: The term of the agreement shall be for a period of four (4) year s from the date of the agreement, with an option to extend said agreement an additional two (2) years, for a total performance period of six (6) years. This agreement may be term inated by the City without cause. In such event, the City will compensate Contractor for work performed to date in accordance with proposal which is attached as Attachment A as is hereby incorporated by reference. Contractor is required to present evidence to support work performed.
2. Services to be Provided: The services to be performed by CONSULTANT shall consist of the services as further specified in CONSULTANT’S proposa l attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by reference. CONSULTANT agrees that is provision of Services under this agreement shall be within accepted accordance with customary and usual practices in CONSULTANT’S profession. By executing this Agreement, CONSULTANT warrants that it has carefully considered how the work sho uld be performed and fully understands the facilities, difficulties, and restrictions attending performance of the work under this agreement.
3. Compensation. CONSULTANT shall be compensated as follows:
3.1 Amount. Compensation under this Agreement shall be per fee schedule included in the Proposal.
2 3.2 Not to Exceed. Compensation under this Agreement shall not exceed $133,166.00.
3.3 Payment. For work under this Agreement, payment shall be made per monthly invoice. For extra work not a part of this Agreement, a written authorization by CITY will be required.
3.4 Records of Expenses. CONSULTANT shall keep complete and accurate records of payroll costs, travel and incidental expenses. These records will be made available at reasonable times to CITY.
3.5 Termination. CITY and CONSULTANT shall each have the right to terminate this Agreement, without cause, by giving thirty -(30) days written notice of termination to the other party. If CITY terminates the project, then the provisions of paragraph 3 shall apply to that portion of the work completed.
4. Insurance Requirements
4.1 Commencement of Work CONSULTANT shall not commence work under this Agreement until all certificates and endorsements have been received and approved by the CITY. A ll insurance required by this Agreement shall contain a Statement of Obligation on the part of the carrier to notify the CITY of any material change, cancellation, or termination at least thirty (30) days in advance.
4.2 Workers Compensation Insurance For the duration of this Agreement, CONSULTANT and all subcontractors shall maintain Workers Compensation Insurance in the amount and type required by law, if applicable. The insurer shall waive its rights of subrogation against the CITY, its officers, officials, agents, employees, and volunteers.
4.3 Insurance Amounts CONSULTANT shall maintain the following insurance for the duration of this Agreement:
a) Commercial general liability in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence; (claims made and modified occurrence policies are not acceptable); Insurance companies must be admitted and licensed in California and have a Best’s Guide Rating of A-, Class VII or better, as approved by the CITY;
b) Automobile liability in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence; (claims made and modified occurrence policies are not
acceptable) Insurance companies must be admitted and licensed in California and have a Best’s Guide Rating of A -, Class VII or better, as approved by the CITY.
3 c) Professional liability in the amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence; Insurance companies must be acceptable to CITY and have an AM Best’s Guide Rating of A-, Class VII or better, as approved by the CITY. If the policy is written on a “claims made” basis, the policy shall be continued in full force and effect at all times during the term of the agreement, and for a period of three (3) years from the date of the completion of services provided. In the event of termination, cancellation, or material change in the policy, professional/consultant shall obtain continuing insurance coverage for the prior acts or omissions of professional/consultant during the course of performing services under the term of the agreement. The coverage shall be evidenced by either a new policy evidencing no gap in coverage , or by obtaining separate extended “tail” coverage with the present or new carrier.
An Additional Insured Endorsement, ongoing and completed operations, for the policy under section 4.3 (a) shall designate CITY, its officers, officials, employees, agen ts, and volunteers as additional insureds for liability arising out of work or operations performed by or on behalf of the CONSULTANT. CONSULTANT shall provide to CITY proof of insurance and endorsement forms that conform to city’s requirements, as approved by the CITY.
An Additional Insured Endorsement for the policy under section 4.3 (b) shall designate CITY, its officers, officials, employees, agents, and volunteers as additional insureds for automobiles owned, lease, hired, or borrowed by CONSULTANT. CONSULTANT shall provide to CITY proof of insurance and endorsement forms that conform to CITY’s requirements, as approved by the CITY.
For any claims related to this Agreement, CONSULTANT’s insurance coverage shall be primary insurance as respects to C ITY, its officers, officials, employees, agents, and volunteers. Any insurance or self - insurance maintained by the CITY, its officers, officials, employees, agents, or volunteers shall be excess of the CONSULTANT’s insurance and shall not contribute with it.
If CONSULTANT maintains higher insurance limits than the minimums shown above, CONSULTANT shall provide coverage for the higher insurance limits otherwise maintained by the CONSULTANT.
5. Non-Liability of Officials and Employees of the CITY . No o fficial or employee of CITY shall be personally liable to CONSULTANT in the event of any default or breach by CITY, or for any amount, which may become due to CONSULTANT.
6. Non-Discrimination. CONSULTANT covenants there shall be no discrimination against any person or group due to race, color, creed, religion,
4 sex, marital status, age, handicap, national origin or ancestry, in any activity pursuant to this Agreement.
7. Independent Contractor. It is understood and agreed that CONSULTANT, including CO NSULTANT’s employees, shall act and be independent contractor(s) and not agent(s) or employee(s) of CITY, and that no relationship of employer-employee exists between the parties. CONSULTANT’s assigned personnel shall not obtain or be entitled to any righ ts or benefits that accrue to, or are payable to, CITY employees, and CONSULTANT shall so inform each employee organization and each employee who is hired or retained under this Agreement. CITY is not required to make any deductions or withholdings from the compensation payable to CONSULTANT under the provisions of this Agreement, and is not required to issue W -2 Forms for income and employment tax purposes for any of CONSULTANT’s assigned personnel.
CONSULTANT hereby expressly assumes all responsibility and liability for the payment of wages and benefits to its assigned personnel, and all related reporting and withholding obligations. CONSULTANT hereby agrees to indemnify and hold CITY harmless from any and all claims or liabilities that CITY may incur arising from any contention by any third party, including, but not limited to, any employee of CONSULTANT or any federal or state agency or other entity, that an employer -employee relationship exists by reason of this Agreement, including, without limita tion, claims that CITY is responsible for retirement or other benefits allegedly accruing to CONSULTANT’s assigned personnel.
8. Compliance With Law. CONSULTANT shall comply with all applicable laws, ordinances, codes and regulations of the federal, state and local government.
CONSULTANT shall comply with, and shall be responsible for causing all contractors and subcontractors performing any of the work pursuant to this Agreement, if any, to comply with, all applicable federal and state labor standards, including, to the extent applicable, the prevailing wage requirements promulgated by the Director of Industrial Relations of the State of California Depa rtment of Labor. The City makes no warranty or representation concerning whether any of the work performed pursuant to this Agreement constitutes public works subject to the prevailing wage requirements.
10. Disclosure of Documents. All documents or other information developed or received by CONSULTANT are confidential and shall not be disclosed without authorization by CITY, unless disclosure is required by law.
11. Ownership of Work Product. All documents or other information developed or received by CONSULTANT shall be the property of CITY. CONSULTANT shall provide CITY with copies of these items upon demand or upon termination of this Agreement.
12. Conflict of Interest and Reporting . CONSULTANT shall at all times avoid conflict of interest or appearance of conflict of interest in performance of this Agreement.
5 13. Notices. All notices shall be personally delivered or mailed to the below listed addresses, or to such other addresses as may be designated by written notice.
These addresses shall be used for delivery of service of process.
(a) Address of CONSULTANT is as follows:
_________
_________
_________
_________
(b) Address of CITY is as follows (with a copy to):
Engineering:
Mark Uphus City Attorney
City of Garden Grove City of Garden Grove
P.O. Box 3070 P.O. Box 3070
Garden Grove, CA 92840 Garden Grove, CA 92840
14. CONSULTANT’S Proposal . This Agreement shall include CONSULTANT’S proposal, Exhibit “A” hereto, which shall be incorporated herein. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the proposal and this Agreement, this Agreement shall govern.
15. Licenses, Permits and Fees. At its sole expense, CONSULTANT shall obtain a Garden Grove Business License , all permits and licenses as may be required by this Agreement.
16. Familiarity With Work . By executing this Agreement, CONSULTANT warrants that: (1) it has investigate d the work to be performed ; (2) it has investigated the site of the work and is aware of all conditions there; and (3) it understands the facilities, difficulties and restrictions of the work under this Agreement. Should CONSULTANT discover any latent or unknown conditions materially differing from those inherent in the work or as represented by CITY, it shall immediately inform CITY of this and shall not proceed, except at CONSULTANT’S risk, until written instructions are received from CITY.
17. Time of Essence. Time is of the essence in the performance of this Agreement.
18. Limitations Upon Subcontracting and Assignment . The experience, knowledge, capability and reputation of CONSULTANT, its principals and employees were a substantial inducement fo r CITY to enter into this Agreement. CONSULTANT shall not contract with any other entity to perform the services required without written approval of the CITY. This Agreement
6 may not be assigned voluntarily or by operation of law, without the prior written approval of CITY. If CONSULTANT is permitted to subcontract any part of this Agreement, CONSULTANT shall be responsible to CITY for the acts and omissions of its subcontractor as it is for persons directly employed. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall create any contractual relationship between any subcontractor and CITY. All persons engaged in the work will be considered employees of CONSULTANT. CITY will deal directly with and will make all payments to CONSULTANT.
19. Authority to Execute. The persons executing this Agreement on behalf of the parties warrant that they are duly authorized to execute this Agreement and that by executing this Agreement, the parties are formally bound.
20. Indemnification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, CONSULTANT agrees to protect, defend, and hold harmless CITY and its elective or appointive boards, officers, agents, and employees from any and all claims, liabilities, expenses, or damages of any nature, including attorneys' fees, for injury or death of any person, or damages of any nature, including interference with use of property, arising out of, or in any way connected with the negligence, recklessness and/or intentional wrongful conduct of CONSULTANT, CONSULTANT'S agents, officers, employees, subco ntractors, or independent contractors hired by CONSULTANT in the performance of the Agreement. The only exception to CONSULTANT'S responsibility to protect, defend, and hold harmless CITY, is due to the negligence, recklessness and/or wrongful conduct of CITY, or any of its elective or appointive boards, officers, agents, or employees.
This hold harmless agreement shall apply to all liability regardless of whether any insurance policies are applicable. The policy limits do not act as a limitation upon the amount of indemnification to be provided by CONSULTANT.
21. Modification. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any previous agreements, oral or written. This Agreement may be modified only by subs equent mutual written agreement executed by CITY and CONSULTANT.
22. Waiver. All waivers of the provisions of this Agreement must be in writing by the appropriate authorities of the CITY and CONSULTANT.
23. California Law. This Agreement shall be const rued in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Any action commenced about this Agreement shall be filed in the central branch of the Orange County Superior Court.
24. Interpretation. This Agreement shall be interpreted as though prepared by both parties
7 25. Preservation of Agreement . Should any provision of this Agreement be found invalid or unenforceable, the decision shall affect only the provision interpreted, and all remaining provisions shall remain enforceable.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
8 IN WITNESS THEREOF, these parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date set forth opposite the respective signatures.
“CITY”
CITY OF GARDEN GROVE
Dated: , 2025 By:
City Manager
ATTEST "CONSULTANT"
BUCKNAM INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP,
INC.
By:
City Clerk Title:
Dated: , 2025 Dated: , 2025
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
If CONSULTANT/CONTRACTOR is a
corporation, a Corporate Resolution
and/or Corporate Seal is required. If
a partnership, Statement of
Partnership must be submitted to
CITY
Garden Grove City Attorney
Dated: , 2025