With the Adelanto Detention Center Expansion Project having already exceeded its construction contingency allowance of $9,095,194, the board of supervisors this week ratified increasing the project’s total construction budget to $102,157,109, surpassing the original $90,951,937 construction budget by $11,205,172, in so doing upping the total project budget from $120 million to $126 million.
On December 14, 2010, the county board of supervisors awarded a construction contract to Lydig Construction of Bellevue, Washington for the construction of the Adelanto Detention Center at 9438 Commerce Way in Adelanto.
The original construction contract amount with Lydig was for $90,951,937. Previous to this week, there had been eight change orders and contract amendments that had increased the construction  contract to $99,316,987. On Tuesday, February 26, the board of supervisors signed off on a change order and contract amendment combination that boosted the total construction contract amount by $2,840,122 to $102,157,109.
Subsequent to the original $90,951,937 contract, on August 23, 2011, a first $448,516  amendment to the contract to install approximately 3,000 lineal feet of 5” conduit, pull boxes and electrical vaults as required by Southern California Edison was approved by the board of supervisors; On December 13, 2011 a second $303,773 amendment to the contract for the demolition and installation of concrete and asphalt associated with rerouting of utilities and the modification to 124 handicap combo units together with the rerouting of electrical duct banks was approved by the board of supervisors; On April 24, 2012, a third $834,076 amendment to lengthen holding cell benches and make state fire marshal-mandated design modifications to the construction was approved by the board; on September 11, 2012 a $557,668 amendment to the contract to provide handicap desks in the dayrooms, incorporate a stainless steel well casing for the new well and provide state fire marshal-required additional seismic upgrades to the fire protection lines was approved by the board of supervisors; on February 26, 2013 a fifth $2,472,388 amendment to make state fire marshal-mandated changes to the smoke control evacuation and automatic fire sprinkler systems, increase the number and size of heating and air conditioning structural roof supports as well as additional modifications mandated by the fire marshal and various other regulatory agencies was approved.
Additionally, on August 23, 2011, a first $2,101,536 change order to upgrade the security electronics in the existing facility and the expansion to provide touch screens, digital intercoms, an IP camera system and increased HD video storage capabilities, install frosted security glazing in lieu of the standard clear glazing specified in the sleeping rooms, and install an anti-MRSA and prime coat finish on the floors and walls at the support building was approved by the board of supervisors; on December 12, 2011, a second $2,392,443 change order entailing the installation of a card reader system in the housing units to be utilized by sheriff personnel, the purchase of scheduling licenses for video visitation kiosks and the upgrading of the roofing system to a single ply system was approved by the board of supervisors; on April 24, 2012 a third $824,237 change order to install anti-MRSA coating to the interior handrails in the dayrooms of the housing units and make various security electronics, electrical and plumbing modifications and enhancements was approved by the board; on September 11, 2012 a fourth $902,801 change order for the addition of detention ceilings at the 32-bed dorms, modifications to center core casework, guardrails and exhaust systems, credit the contractor for the modification of the roof system and make various utility modifications and enhancements; on February 26 a fifth $367,734 change order to provide electrical power and venting for dryers, and make various structural, utility and mechanical modifications to the new expansion and existing facility was approved.
In addition to the boosting of the contract with Lydig, the board also approved a recommendation from Carl Alban, the county’s director of architecture and engineering, to increase the existing contract with  C.H.J. Incorporated by $346,000, bringing the not-to-exceed total contract amount with that company from $1,559,293 to $1,905,293 for additional inspection and testing services required during the course of the expansion of the detention facility.
Given that a construction contingency allowance of $9,095,194 was built into the original contract, Alban said most of the more than $12 million in construction increases had already been defrayed. He asked the board to “approve a $6,000,000 increase in the project budget, increasing the total project budget from $120,000,000 to $126,000,000 for the Adelanto Detention Center Expansion Project.” The board did so.
Alban told the Sentinel “Initially the project overall was to cost $120 million. We are now asking to increase the budget to $126 million. Our increases in cost are largely related to construction. This gives us a little larger contingency.”
The change orders and contract amendments, Alban said, apply to costs that are “typically unforeseen at the time of the bid, where the bidder had no knowledge of them. Many of these are requirements imposed on the county by a third party such as the state fire agency or utility companies. These involve factors over which we had no control.”
Alban said that one such unforeseen circumstance was the need for the removal and replacement of an existing freezer found to have a significant amount of mold. “There were no obvious signs of mold that occurred in the freezer box until they partially dismantled it and discovered mold internally. It was not apparent on the external or internal surfaces.”
Alban said the project is rapidly moving forward. “We are looking to be substantially completed toward the end of the year.” He said the facility will be ready for occupancy “in a similar time frame. I cannot speak for the sheriff’s office and they may have internal issues between the time we finish it and the time they will be ready to occupy that facility.”
The expansion will add 1,392 new beds to the jail’s existing 706 inmate capacity.