September 16, 2025
TO: City Council
REQUESTED BY: Travis Randel, Deputy City Manager, Development Services APPROVED BY: Robert A. Johnson, City Manager
SUBJECT: Award of Contract for Building & Safety Inspection Services to Willdan Engineering
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award a Professional Services Agreement to Willdan Engineering for Building & Safety Inspection Services for an initial four-year term, expiring June 30, 2029, with the option for extensions.
2. Authorize the City Manager, subject to review and approval of the City Attorney, to execute the agreement and approve any necessary change orders within the approved scope and budget.
BACKGROUND:
The City of San Jacinto has seen a sustained period of residential and commercial development, with multiple active subdivisions, housing tracts, commercial centers, and public facility projects currently under construction. These projects have increased demand for timely building inspections to keep pace with construction schedules and ensure compliance with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) and the San Jacinto Municipal Code.
In early 2025, the City’s full-time Building Inspector resigned, leaving the City’s Senior Building Inspector as the sole inspector responsible for all permitted construction activity. This staffing level is not sustainable long term and poses challenges when there are unplanned absences, planned vacation leave, or professional development requirements such as training and conferences. When inspection coverage is unavailable, construction schedules are delayed, which negatively impacts builders, residents, and the local economy.
To address these operational challenges, staff prepared and published a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Building & Safety Inspection Services. The RFP was released on the City’s PlanetBids e-Procurement Portal on August 12, 2025, and remained open until September 2, 2025. The RFP requested proposals from qualified firms to provide inspection coverage on Mondays and Thursdays, approximately 90 hours per year of vacation coverage, and on-call availability to cover unforeseen absences. The RFP also acknowledged that as development activity grows, the City may require full-time inspection coverage during the term of the agreement.
DISCUSSION:
The City received five proposals from the following firms:
• Willdan Engineering
• Bureau Veritas
• 4LEAF
• VCA Code
• JAS Pacific
Proposals were evaluated by City staff based on the criteria published in the RFP as outlined below:
• Understanding of Scope and City Needs (20 points)
• Firm Qualifications (20 points)
• Key Personnel (20 points)
• Project Approach and Responsiveness (15 points)
• References and Past Performance (10 points)
• Cost Proposal (15 points)
Firm
Scope
& City
Needs
(20)
Firm
Qualifications
(20)
Key
Personnel
(20)
Approach &
Responsiveness
(15)
References
(10)
Cost
(15) Total
Willdan 20 19 19 15 8 11 92
Bureau
Veritas 20 18 17 14 7 12 88
4LEAF 19 18 18 13 8 10 86
VCA
Code 18 17 16 13 8 12 84
JAS
Pacific 17 15 15 12 6 14 79
Based on this evaluation, Willdan provides the best combination of qualifications, inspector continuity, system integration, and scalability, while remaining competitively priced.
Key Factors:
• Scalable Service Model: Willdan can provide part-time coverage now and seamlessly expand to full-time inspection services as needed. This flexibility is important as development activity can fluctuate during the contract term. • Qualified Personnel: Willdan identified ICC-certified inspectors with experience in residential, commercial, and solar construction inspections, ensuring the City will receive consistent and knowledgeable field service.
• Integration with City Systems: Willdan has direct experience using EnerGov IG Inspect, the City’s inspection management system, which will allow real-time documentation and efficient routing of inspection requests.
• Regional Experience: Willdan currently provides inspection services for nearby jurisdictions, including Hemet, Beaumont, Banning, Moreno Valley, and Riverside County. Their familiarity with regional codes and development practices will support a smooth transition into San Jacinto operations.
• Responsiveness and Customer Service: Willdan’s proposal described how their inspectors coordinate daily with City staff, respond to same-day inspection requests, and maintain open communication with contractors and homeowners to minimize delays.
This contract will allow the City to maintain inspection coverage even when staff are out, avoid service gaps, and provide a consistent level of customer service for residents and the building community.
The Professional Services Agreement with Willdan is structured as a multi-year contract with an initial three-year term and options for extension, giving the City the ability to maintain continuity of service over time. While the immediate service level is expected to remain at two days per week (Monday and Thursday), the agreement allows for the City to request additional coverage, including temporary full-time inspection services, if needed.
To accommodate this flexibility, the agreement establishes a not-to-exceed limit of $250,000 per fiscal year, which will allow the City to scale up inspection services if development activity or staffing needs change. Staff anticipates that the actual cost for the initial Monday and Thursday coverage will be significantly lower than the annual limit.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for Building & Safety Inspection Services is included in the Building & Safety Division budget and is supported by building permit fees. For Fiscal Year 2025/26, much of the cost will be offset by salary savings from the vacant Building Inspector position, minimizing the immediate financial impact.
In future fiscal years, additional funds will need to be allocated to the Division’s Professional Services budget to ensure ongoing coverage under this contract. These costs will continue to be fully supported by building permit fees and are not expected to impact the General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS:
Request for Proposals
Building Inspection Services Contract - Willdan - DRAFT Willdan Proposal