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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: July 15, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Lynn Merrill, Director of Public Works
Department: Public Works
Subject: Award an On-Call Professional Services Agreement to Willdan Engineering for On-Call Professional Engineering and Plan Check Services for Land Development in an
Amount Not to Exceed $700,000 Annually for a Three (3)
Year Term With Two (2) optional One (1) Year Extensions Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California;
1. Approve the award of On-Call Professional Services Agreement to Willdan Engineering for On-Call Professional Engineering and Plan Check Services for Land Development with an initial three (3) year term with two (2) optional one year extensions and a not to exceed the amount of $700,000 annually and $3,500,000.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the On-Call Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering and any related contract documents necessary to implement the Agreement
3. Authorize the Director of Finance and Management Services to issue a Purchase Order to Willdan Engineering for a not to exceed amount of $700,000.
City Manager's Comments
This a request for approval of on-call at a not to exceed amount of $700,000 annually.
Executive Summary
The Public Works Department is requesting approval of an On-Call Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering for professional engineering, plan 3 3
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check, inspection, and related land development support services. The agreement provides for a not-to-exceed amount of $700,000 annually and $3,500,000 over the full potential five-year term, consisting of an initial three-year term and two optional one-year extensions.
The Agreement will provide technical support for development engineering review, plan check services, hydrology and hydraulics review, stormwater compliance, subdivision map review, structural review, cost estimate and bond calculations, permit technician services, staff augmentation, and development inspection services.
Services will be utilized on an as-needed basis through individual task orders to support workload demands within the Land Development Division.
Costs associated with these services are anticipated to be recovered through development-related fees, resulting in no anticipated impact to the General Fund.
Background
The City of San Bernardino Public Works Department is responsible for the implementation of the City’s comprehensive General Plan that provides long-range development policies for managed growth and development. The Department is charged with regulating growth and development through the City’s implementation tool referred to as the Development Code that carries out the policies established in the General Plan.
The Land Development Division of the Public Works Department is responsible for reviewing onsite improvement plans for residential, commercial, and industrial projects, and prepares conditions of approval to ensure development in accordance with City standards and ordinances. Land Development specifically focuses on the plan check and inspections required of development projects on private property.
These services are currently provided through a combination of in-house City staff and supplemental consultant support. City staff provides direct oversight, coordination, review, and inspection services; however, due to the volume, complexity, and time-sensitive nature of development activity, consultant support is necessary to maintain timely plan check turnaround, provide specialized technical review, assist with staff augmentation needs, and ensure continuity of service.
Establishing a new on-call consulting agreement will allow the City to continue accessing qualified professional engineering support as needed to meet operational demands within the Land Development Division.
These include site grading, seismic fault investigation, drainage, stormwater management, FEMA flood plain review, Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, onsite utilities, and related onsite improvements. Field inspectors work with developers and contractors to ensure the project is built in accordance with the approved construction drawings. The Division checks subdivision maps, parcel maps, and lot line adjustments to ensure conformance with the State Subdivision Map Act. The Division also ensures compliance with onsite water retention to 3 3
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reduce impacts to the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4).
Staff reviews Preliminary Water Quality Management Plans for projects on private property to meet stormwater quality standards. Public Works staff works closely with the Community and Economic Development Department, Planning Division, for compliance with onsite storm water retention to reduce impacts to the City’s MS4 System. The proposed on-call consulting agreement will support these ongoing services by providing additional technical capacity and flexibility to respond to private development workload demands while ensuring projects continue to be reviewed in accordance with City standards, ordinances, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Discussion
Under this agreement, the consultant will perform the following key services:
•Development Engineering Review
•Engineering Plan Check Services
•Hydrology and Hydraulics Review
•Stormwater Compliance Review
•Subdivision Map Review
•Structural Review
•Cost Estimate and Bond Calculations
•Staff Augmentation
•Permit Technician Services
•On-site Development Inspection Services
Approval of the proposed agreement will allow the City to maintain established plan review timelines, address peak workload demands, reduce potential plan review backlogs, and ensure timely delivery of engineering services to the development community.
Procurement Process
The City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) F-26-1051 through the City’s PlanetBids procurement system seeking qualified consultants to provide On-call Professional Engineering and Plan Check services for Land Development.
The RFP outlined the project scope, proposal requirements, evaluation criteria, and selection procedures in accordance with the City’s Purchasing Ordinance and applicable state and federal regulations.
On April 20, 2026, the City received eight (8) proposals from the following firms:
•Engineering Resources of Southern California, Inc.
•HR Green Pacific, Inc.
•Transtech Engineers, Inc.
•Willdan Engineering
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•Bureau Veritas
•Interwest Consulting Group
•TKE Engineering, Inc.
•Sikand Engineering Associates
City staff conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the proposals based on the criteria established in the RFP, including qualifications, relevant experience, technical approach, project team, and fee proposal.
Based on the results of the evaluation, Willdan Engineering was identified as the top-ranked and most qualified consultant.
In accordance with the RFP guidelines, the City invited the top-ranked consultant to participate in an interview and presentation to further evaluate the firm’s understanding of the project requirements, technical approach, and ability to successfully deliver the required services. The interview panel included representatives from Public Works, Purchasing Division and Risk Management, given the regulatory and compliance-related nature of the project.
Following completion of the interview and evaluation process, City staff selected Willdan Engineering as the most qualified firm for the recommended award.
Willdan demonstrated a strong understanding of professional engineering services, plan check services, staff augmentation needs, and the overall scope of work. The selection was based on Willdan’s qualifications, relevant municipal experience, demonstrated capacity to perform the required services, and comprehensive approach to supporting the City’s Land Development operations.
The negotiated compensation structure is funded through development-related fees collected by the City in connection with permit processing and development review activities. Staff has determined the proposed rates to be fair and reasonable based on the scope of services, required expertise, and prevailing market conditions. Furthermore, the current plan check fee allocation, under which Willdan Engineering receives sixty percent (60%) of the collected plan check fees and the City receives forty percent (40%) is intended to remain in effect on an interim basis. Upon approval and adoption of the updated fee schedule being worked on presently, both parties acknowledge the plan check fee allocation percentage is subject to renegotiation.
Strategic Targets and Goals
The appropriation request is consistent with Key Target No. 1b: Financial Stability.
Implement, maintain, and update a fiscal accountability plan and create a framework for spending decisions, and with Key Target No. 4. Economic Growth and Development. The contract services will assist the City in providing a higher level of services in a shorter amount of time, facilitating economic growth in the community, and improving customer service.
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Fiscal Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund as a result of the proposed action.
Sufficient budget exists in the FY 2026/27 Operating budget to support the requested services.
Funding for Fiscal Year 2026/27 is included in the proposed Public Works operating budget.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California;
1. Approve the award of On-Call Professional Services Agreement to Willdan Engineering for On-Call Professional Engineering and Plan Check Services for Land Development with an initial three (3) year term with two (2) optional one year extensions and a not to exceed the amount of $700,000 annually and $3,500,000.
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the On-Call Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering and any related contract documents necessary to implement the Agreement
3. Authorize the Director of Finance and Management Services to issue a Purchase Order to Willdan Engineering for a not to exceed amount of $700,000.
Attachments
Attachment 1 On Call Professional Service Agreement Willdan Engineering Attachment 2 Willdan Engineering Fee Schedule
Attachment 3 RFP F-26-1051 On-Call Professional Engineering and Plan Check Services for Land Development
Attachment 4 Willdan Engineering On-Call Professional Engineering Proposal Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
September 2, 2014 Resolution 2014-327 approving a Consultant Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering and CSG Consultants, Inc. to provide building inspection and counter technician services to keep pace with the increase in plan check
submittals and building inspections requests. The Agreement also includes services for Plan Review, Inspection,
Stormwater Management, Fire and Life Safety Plan Review, 3 3
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Building Official and Counter Services not to exceed
$355,000.00.
February 7, 2015, Resolution 2015-28 approving amendment two to increase the contract amount of the Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering by $180,000.00 (increases the total amount of the agreement to $535,000.00).
March 21, 2016, Resolution 2016-51 approving amendment three to increase the contract amount of the Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering in the amount not to exceed
$705,000.00.
July 18, 2016, Resolution 2106-147 approving amendment four to increase the contract amount of the Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering in an amount not to exceed
$835,000.00.
July 5, 2017, Resolution 2017-121 approving amendment five to increase the contract amount of the Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering in an amount not to exceed
$1,190,000.00.
June 5, 2019, Resolution 2019-151 approving amendment six to increase the contract amount of the Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering in an amount not to exceed
$1,500,000.00 for a term ending September 30, 2019, with two six-month extensions.
October 7, 2020, Resolution 2020-247 approving amendment seven to the Professional Services Agreement with Willdan Engineering for a period of six months with an additional three months to cover any unforeseen circumstances.
August 18, 2021 Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021- 205 approving the award of a three-year Professional Services Agreements between the City of San Bernardino and
Willdan
Engineering for on-call plan check, inspection, and
stormwater management services.
September 15, 2021 Mayor and City Council adopted Resolution No. 2021-237 approving the authorization of the Director of Finance to amend the FY 2021/22 operational budget and appropriate funds in the amount of $250,000 from the General Fund to the Public Works expense budget for plan check, inspection, and stormwater management services.
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August 17, 2022 Issuance of a Purchase Oder to Willdan Engineering, Inc. for On-Call Plan Check Services
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Eric Levitt, City Manager