Item Number: 12
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: September 1, 2026
Submitted By:
Doug Mathews, Director of Public Works and Water
Subject:
Award of Construction Agreements to High Desert Underground, Inc. and Kirtley Construction Inc. for On Call Sewer Lateral and Mainline Repair Services, Project MS26- 135
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council award Construction Agreements to High Desert Underground, Inc. and Kirtley Construction Inc. in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 for on call sewer lateral and mainline repair services.
Fiscal Impact:
Funds for these services were appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2026/27 budget under 4250700-52300 (Sewer – Contract Services) and 4250700-52440 (Sewer – Infrastructure Repairs). No additional appropriation is required.
Each Construction Agreement will be established in an amount not to exceed $500,000; however, aggregate expenditures under both agreements combined shall not exceed $500,000. Staff will track expenditures under each agreement to ensure the total authorized amount is not exceeded.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal E – Invest in Infrastructure: Supporting a healthy and livable community by providing the necessary resources to maintain and repair the City’s sanitary sewer infrastructure.
The proposed on call agreements will provide additional resources to complete timely sewer repairs, minimize service disruptions, and maintain the reliability of the City’s sanitary sewer collection system.
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Background:
The City of Victorville Public Works Department, Wastewater Collection Division, is responsible for maintaining and repairing the sanitary sewer collection system within the public right-of-way, including lower sewer lateral connections and sewer mainlines.
Sewer failures can occur unexpectedly and may require immediate response to restore service and prevent or mitigate sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). Preventing SSOs is critical to protecting public health, the environment, and City infrastructure, while minimizing service disruptions and potential regulatory impacts. Depending on the nature of the repair, specialized equipment, excavation, trenching, traffic control, pavement restoration, or trenchless construction methods may be required.
Although City staff performs routine maintenance and responds to sewer related service calls, certain repairs may require additional staffing, specialized equipment or expertise, or an expedited response. Having qualified contractors available provides Public Works with additional resources to respond promptly to these repairs and helps reduce the potential for service disruptions, SSOs, and further damage to City Infrastructure.
The proposed agreements will provide qualified contractors on an on call, as needed basis for sewer lateral and mainline repairs. Work may include the repair or replacement of residential and commercial sewer laterals, larger diameter sewer mainlines, excavations exceeding five feet in depth, and trenchless repair methods, including pipe bursting and slip lining.
Discussion:
On June 10, 2026, the City released Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. MS26-135 for Qualified Sewer Lateral Pipeline Repair Contractors. Responses were due July 7, 2026, and Statements of Qualifications were received from the following five firms:
• Big Ben Engineering
• High Desert Underground, Inc.
• Kirtley Construction Inc.
• L Showmee Home Solutions LLC dba Murgreen Environmental Company • Mike Prlich and Sons, Inc.
A three-member evaluation panel reviewed the Statements of Qualifications based on the criteria established in the RFQ: Qualifications and Experience (30 points), Client References (30 points), Ability to Provide the Requested Services in a Responsive and Timely Manner (20 points), and Cost Reasonableness (20 points), for a maximum possible score of 100 points.
Following the evaluation, the firms received the following aggregate scores:
Ranking Contractor Score
1 High Desert Underground Inc. 98.33
2 Kirtley Construction 89.67
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3 Big Ben Engineering 70.67
4 Mike Prlich and Sons, Inc. 70.00
5 L Showmee Home Solutions LLC dba Murgreen
Environmental Company
66.33 High Desert Underground, Inc. received the highest overall score of 98.33 points, and Kirtley Construction Inc. received the second highest overall score of 89.67 points. High Desert Underground has more than 30 years of experience, while Kirtley Construction has 22 years of experience. Both firms demonstrated the qualifications, experience, resources, and ability to provide the requested sewer repair services.
Based on the evaluation results, staff recommends establishing High Desert Underground, Inc. and Kirtley Construction Inc. as the City's qualified on call contractors.
Having two qualified contractors provides additional flexibility and capacity for planned, emergency, and time sensitive sewer repairs. Work will be assigned on an as needed basis based on the nature of the repair, contractor availability, qualifications, experience, and ability to respond within the required timeframe.
The agreements will have an initial term of one (1) year, with the option for up to four (4) additional one-year extensions at the City's discretion. Each agreement will be established in an amount not to exceed $500,000; however, aggregate expenditures under both agreements combined shall not exceed $500,000 during the initial one-year term. The authorization does not guarantee a minimum amount of work to either contractor.
Establishing these on call agreements will provide Public Works with additional resources to respond efficiently to planned and unanticipated sewer lateral and mainline repairs, maintain the reliability of the sanitary sewer collection system, and reduce the potential for service disruptions and SSOs.
Accordingly, staff recommends that the City Council award Construction Agreements to High Desert Underground, Inc. and Kirtley Construction Inc. for on call sewer lateral and mainline repair services, with each agreement established in an amount not to exceed $500,000; however, aggregate expenditures under both agreements combined shall not exceed $500,000.
Staff is available to answer any questions the City Council may have.
Prepared By:
Summer Burgess, Management Specialist
Attachments: A. High Desert Underground, Inc. Construction Agreement B. Kirtley Construction Inc. Construction Agreement