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Dive Brief:
- Bozeman, Montana-based Barnard Construction was selected as the construction manager at risk and awarded an initial $1 million pre-construction contract for the Over $6 billion site deposit project in Northern California, according to a Jan. 16 press release. The total cost of the project is estimated between 6.2 billion and 6.8 billion dollarsaccording to the California Water Commission.
- The 1.5 million acre-foot upstream water storage project will divert high flows from the Sacramento River, especially during and after storms, into a man-made basin for use during dry periods. The scope of the project includes the construction of two large dams and nine smaller embankments that will create the Sites Reservoir, according to the announcement.
- However, the project has generated controversy over local recruitment targets. In December, the Nor Cal Carpenters Union challenged Barnard’s expertise with the California dam projects and what he characterized as the company’s lack of local labor ties.
Diving knowledge:
The total cost of the reservoir and road work package that Barnard will oversee as director of construction at risk has a bond capacity of $3 billion, according to JP Robinette, director of engineering and construction for the Sites Projects Authority. That work has not yet been awarded, Robinette told Construction Dive.
The project, which will be located west of the city of Maxwell in the Sacramento Valley, cleared another procedural hurdle as President Donald Trump’s administration. approved plans to continue work through a “record of decision” on January 23. The measure completed federal environmental review of the project and authorized the federal government to pay up to 25% of the total cost of the projectaccording to E&E News. The state of California has allocated $1.1 billion so far for construction, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Pre-construction planning is planned in two phases. In the first phase, the Sites Project Authority, which is overseeing construction, will work with Barnard to advance selected preconstruction work under the $1 million lump sum agreement, according to a Draft contract reviewed by Construction Dive.
This phase will include coordination with the Sites Authority, a haul road constructability review, on-site staff workshops and two local community working group meetings, based on the scope of pre-construction services detailed in the document.
The second phase will commence once all project funding has been secured and all guaranteed maximum price construction packages have been developed and awarded. In addition to the reservoir, the project will also include the three-quarter-mile Sites-Lodoga Bridge and an inlet and outlet structure that will handle water imports and exports from the reservoir and other key facilities.
Engaging early with the CMAR team, the project authority said it aims to use Barnard’s large-scale infrastructure experience and technical strengths to prepare the depot project for a smooth transition to construction, according to the announcement.
Barnard’s portfolio includes heavy civil, hydroelectric and power supply projects, according to its website. Featured works include the chimney deposit in Larimer County, Colorado, and the Gross expansion of the deposit in Boulder County, Colorado.
However, Sites’ selection of Barnard has caused controversy. Jay Bradshaw, executive officer of the Nor Cal Carpenters Union, told CBS News he didn’t think so. Barnard could meet local recruitment targets.
Barnard, in a letter to the Places Project Authorityrejected what he called “disinformation” from the Carpenters Union and said other bidders for the project were also out of state.
“Although based in Montana, Barnard has worked in California for nearly 40 years completing hundreds of projects. The other two proponents are based in Nebraska and New York and abroad,” Mike Fuller, Barnard’s vice president, wrote in the letter.
Barnard did not respond to Construction Dive’s requests for comment.
The project authority’s Robinette said the selection process was rigorous and Barnard will be able to meet hiring goals. At work, 20 percent of the workforce must be from Yolo, Colusa and Glenn counties, while 50 percent of workers must live in the surrounding Sacramento Valley, Robinette confirmed.
“I can assure you that the evaluation committee considered a multitude of factors in making their decision or recommending Barnard for negotiations, and they were the highest ranked contractor based on the variety of criteria prioritized by the board,” Robinette said.
The selection committee came to the same conclusion in a January 16 report.
“After reviewing these materials, the site authority staff has determined that nothing submitted to date changes the recommendation that Barnard is the highest-ranked proposer offering the best value selection,” the report states.
Physical construction is slated to begin in early 2027, according to the Jan. 16 report. Officials hope to have the reservoir up and running by 2033, according to the Sacramento Bee.
