Title
Agricultural Department and Procurement and Contracts, a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Make findings pursuant to Section 3.13.030 (B) of the El Dorado County Ordinance Chapter 3.13, Contracting Out, that specialty skills and qualifications not expressly identified in County classifications are involved in the performance of the work;
2) Make findings in accordance with Procurement Policy C-17, Section 3.4.2 (f), exempting the competitive bidding process, that it is in the best interest of the County to amend contract 9438 with Neighborly Pest Control;
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Amendment I to Agreement 9438 with Neighborly Pest Control, amending the Compensation for Services section, increasing the total compensation by $400,000 for a new compensation amount not to exceed $785,000, with an expiration date of March 11, 2026;
4) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute any necessary amendments relating to Agreement 9438, excluding term extensions and increases in compensation, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management;
5) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to use competitively bid Solano County Contract No. Agriculture, 2024/25,01, with Neighborly Pest Management, Inc. for the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter service of regulatory area insecticide treatment.
(District 1, 2 &4)
FUNDING: 100% California Department of Food and Agriculture Glassy Winged Sharpshooter Program.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Between October 1, 2024 and October 15, 2024, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed the presence of the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS), the invasive vector of the bacterium that causes Pierce’s disease in grapes, in the area of El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County. Based on these detections and recommendations from CDFA GWSS staff entomologists, CDFA concludes that an infestation of GWSS exists in the area. This pest presents a significant, clear, and imminent threat to the natural environment, agriculture, economy, and private and public property. Unless emergency action is taken during these GWSS’s life cycles, there is high potential for sudden future detections in El Dorado County.
The GWSS is a dangerous, invasive, aggressive vector of Pierce’s disease (PD). PD is considered one of the most devastating diseases of grapevines in the world. The bacterium that causes the disease, Xylella fastidiosa, kills grapevines within two to five years of infection. There is no cure for Pierce’s disease. There are currently 274 properties of grape production within the County at risk from the recent GWSS detections. Over the last 10 years, El Dorado has seen grape values fluctuate between $4.2 and $12.1 million dollars. A total of 4,678-acres of grapes, valued at $4,180,365, was grown in El Dorado County in 2022.
Neighborly Pest Management under the supervision of the El Dorado County Agriculture Department has treated over 250 residences and approximately 40 acres of common and roadside areas to begin the eradication of the GWSS. Based on the current treatment area, there are 300 or more residences and more common areas that need to be treated in order to eradicate this invasive pest.
Pursuant to the provisions in El Dorado County Procurement Ordinance 3.4.(4) all the following requirements are met with respect to the services: a) The good may be procured from a vendor that has a contract with another public agency, JPA, or cooperative purchasing agreement, for the purchase of the item; and b) The contract was awarded utilizing a competitive bidding process substantially the same as that utilized by the county; and c) The terms of the transaction are the same, or substantially the same
The Agriculture Department identified that Solano County had recently conducted a RFP to competitively solicit a vendor to provide regulatory area insecticide treatment services. As a result of that RFP, Solano County awarded Neighborly Pest Management’s proposal and issued Contract No. Agriculture,2024/25,01. In accordance with Board of Supervisors Procurement Policy C-17 Section 3.4 (4), the Agriculture Department is requesting the Board exempt these services from competitive bidding due to the use of the competitively bid contract awarded by Solano County to Neighborly Pest Management, Inc. and authorize and approve Agreement for Services #9438 for regulatory area insecticide treatment.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
The Board of Supervisors heard Legistar file 25-0432 and approved funding with notice of department working with Procurement and Contracts to obtain a licensed vendor who could complete the work as specified by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Procurement and Contracts
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no General Fund impact or increase in Net County Cost. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) funds the delimitation efforts, which were added to the FY 2024-25 Budget on 2/4/25 BOS #25-0168.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain the Chair's signature on the contract and forward to Procurement and Contracts for immediate processing to allow treatment to follow on 5/14/25.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Safe and Healthy Communities. Strengthen Emergency Response Capabilities and Effectiveness
CONTACT
Michele Weimer, Procurement and Contracts Manager/Purchasing Agent, LeeAnne Mila, Agricultural Commissioner, and Corrie Larsen, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner