Title
Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Services with Errol L. Montgomery & Associates, Inc. for CSIP Groundwater Well Consulting Services, to add a dollar increase of $150,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $250,000; and authorize the General Manager to execute Amendment No. 1. (Staff: Pete Vannerus)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Approve Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement for Services with Errol L. Montgomery & Associates, Inc. for CSIP Groundwater Well Consulting Services, to add a dollar increase of $150,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $250,000; and authorize the General Manager to execute Amendment No. 1.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On November 1st, 2024, the Agency entered into an Agreement for Services for groundwater well consulting with Errol L. Montgomery & Associates, Inc. (M&A) for the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project (CSIP). This Agreement is for as-needed services for professional hydrogeological and technical support on groundwater well projects. The services include groundwater well survey review, project repair review and recommendations, well replacement project support, contractor advising and supervision, groundwater investigations and other as-needed supporting tasks.
Since November of 2024, M&A has supported projects for CSIP including Well 10H01 condition investigation & repairs, Well 02C03 condition investigation and support services for the Replacement Well 11B02 Project. M&A assisted in the development of the Technical Specifications for the project as well as preliminary well design. As of August 2025, the contractor has expended approximately $30,000 or 1/3 of the three-year contract.
Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement will fund additional support work anticipated for FY26 which includes a data collection effort for support to the Well Replacement 11B02 Project, and additional CSIP Well repairs and condition investigations at Well 01P01, Well 10H01, and Well 03R02.
The data collection effort to support the Replacement Project will consist of a test borehole drilled to complete the necessary geophysical and hydrological surveying, and data collection at the replacement well site, ahead of the Replacement Well Project. This data will be critical to the analysis that goes into developing the final well design. The completion of the final well design will expedite the Replacement Project by cutting downtime/standby time for the contractor during the wait period from pilot borehole to final drilling during designing. The cost savings will be observed in the lack of standby time for the final well drilling contractor by saving at least two weeks for material procurement and delivery. By finalizing the well design, the project will have a clear and reliable cost estimate, removing uncertainties before work begins. Well construction materials will all be onsite when the Replacement Well Project begins, allowing the smoothest process for construction. This project is estimated to cost an amount of $150,000. The drilling of the test borehole is estimated to occur in October of this year.
The Amendment No.1 for the Montgomery & Associates Agreement for Services will add $150,000 to the contract with a total not-to-exceed amount of $250,000. The Amendment is funded by CSIP Fund 131 under general Operations and Maintenance activities for Well Maintenance, Planning, and Repairs in FY26.
The Finance Committee supported staff’s recommendation, as presented herein, at the September 5, 2025 meeting.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
FINANCING:
Funds from Agency Fund 131- CSIP O&M- Well Maintenance, Planning, and Repairs which are included in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Adopted Budget.
Prepared by: Pete Vannerus, Assoc. Water Resources Engineer, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Original Agreement
2. Amendment No. 1
3. Board Order