TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steven Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Dewey Phan, Assistant Engineer
SUBJECT: Construction Contract Award and Budget Amendment for the “2026 Annual Guardrail Repair, RDS 26-12” Project
RECOMMENDATION
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Award a Construction Contract to Midstate Barrier, Inc. for the 2026 Annual Guardrail Repair, RDS 26-12, and approve a Budget Amendment. (Fiscal Impact: $594, 879 Expense for the construction contract and other project costs; SB-1 Non-Operating Special Revenue Fund; Not Budgeted; Discretionary)
[4/5 vote required]
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BACKGROUND
The Public Works Department maintains 420 miles of roads and about 22 miles of guardrail. Over many years, the County has constructed guardrails to help prevent drivers from driving into the Napa River, into creeks, and down roadway embankments. Every year wayward drivers damage guardrails along County roads. In the past, County staff has hired contractors to repair individual damaged guardrails or the Public Works Roads Division staff repaired the damage as time and funding allowed. With the advent of funding from SB-1, the County now designates about $500,000/year towards guardrail repairs.
The annual guardrail repair program provides safety for the public and is a more cost-effective method by repairing numerous guardrails with one construction contract to take advantage of economies of scale. Staff prioritizes the repairs based on safety and available funding, and will repair the remaining damage (plus any newly damaged guardrails) in future years.
On 10/21/25, the Board of Supervisors approved $110,000 for the engineering design of the 2026 Annual Guardrail Repair and the Engineer’s Estimate for the construction cost is $487,000. This includes 17 County roads and 1 location at the Dry Creek Road Bridge (21C0055) over Dry Creek which is approximately 3.5 miles south of Oakville Grade Road. A northbound driver damaged the guardrails at the southeast corner of the bridge and the other guardrails do not meet MASH requirements. The plans include installing crash cushions and guardrails at the four approaches to the Bridge.
The Board authorized advertising for bids on June 16, 2026, and the Public Works staff opened bids on August 25, 2026, with the results listed below:
Midstate Barrier, Inc. Stockton, CA $367,903
Dirt & Aggregate Interchange, Inc. Fairview, OR $420,281
Coral Construction Company Wilsonville, OR $561,735
Highway Specialty Company, Inc. North Highlands, CA $720,359
Staff recommends awarding the contract to Midstate Barrier, Inc. for their responsive total base bid of $367,903. Construction is anticipated to commence in October 2026 and to be completed by December of 2026, weather and site conditions permitting. A 25% contingency is requested for any unforeseen items of work.
The total project budget with the addition of engineering design, construction management, project management, special inspection and contingency is $704,879 and will be funded with SB-1 fund (see attached project budget).
Midstate Barrier, Inc. is not a local vendor; however, the Public Contract Code requires that the construction contract be awarded to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder regardless of whether the low bidder is local or not. Staff reached out to the local construction contractor community by advertising the request for bids in the Napa Valley Register, Solano-Napa Builder's Exchange, OpenGov and by posting on the County website. Staff also sent "Notices to Contractors" to the local construction community.
Requested Actions:
1. Award of a construction contract for the “2026 Annual Guardrail Repair, RDS 26-12” to Midstate Barrier, Inc. for their low total base bid of $367,903 ; and
2. Approve a Budget Amendment for the following (4/5 vote required):
a. Increase appropriations for Project 26015 - 2026 Annual Guardrail Repair in the Roads Fund (Fund 2040, Sub-Division 2040500) in account 52360 - Construction Services by $459,879 and in account 52145 - Engineer Services by $135,000, offset by an increase of $594,879 in revenue account 48200 - Transfers-In from the SB-1 Non-Operating Special Revenue Fund; and
b. Increase appropriations in the SB-1 Non-Operating Special Revenue Fund (Fund 2440, Sub-Division 1220052) in account 56100 - Transfers-Out by $594,879 offset by use of its available fund balance to fund Project 26015.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Project 26015 will be funded by SB1-SRF. This project was not budgeted as part of the annual budget process. Staff monitors the revenues and cashflow of SB1-SRF and has determined that there’s sufficient funds to move forward with this project. |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Approval of the construction award and budget amendment are necessary to move the project forward toward construction phase to improve public safety. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
The future fiscal impact will be routine maintenance |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If not approved, annual guardrail repair of County roads cannot begin, and the damaged guardrails will result in potential road safety hazards on various roads throughout the county. |
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Strategic Initiative |
Build healthy, connected communities |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: Consideration and possible adoption of a Categorical Exemption Class 1: It has been determined that this type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. [See Class 1 (“Existing Facilities”) which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act of 14 CCR § 15301; see also Napa County’s Local Procedures for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act, Appendix B].