Committee backs forwarding $14.1M design contract for new SFFD training facility

The Budget & Finance Committee on Sept. 20 recommended that the full Board consider a $14.1 million design contract with Ross Julius Kuzinberry Architecture (RDC) for the new San Francisco Fire Department training facility at 1236 Carroll Avenue in the Bayview.

Scott Moran, a project manager in the Department of Public Works, described an 8‑acre consolidated training campus that will bring multiple existing SFFD training functions onto a single modern site. Moran said the department purchased 26 privately held parcels for roughly $39 million and that additional parcels from the Port and State Lands Commission added about $5.8 million; he said three paper streets will be vacated to assemble the site.

The project has grown in estimated cost from about $210 million last year to approximately $270 million this year, Moran said, attributing most of the escalation to permitting delays and schedule cascades. Moran summarized the competitive selection: three proposals were received and RDC was the top-ranked proposer. The proposed agreement covers design through construction for several training buildings and specialized urban search and rescue facilities.

Nick Menard of the BLA noted the $14.1 million design agreement is a component of the larger project budget and recommended a minor technical reduction to the not-to-exceed amount; Moran accepted the adjustment. Committee members expressed support for advancing design while urging Public Works to maintain cost oversight and close coordination with SFFD to ensure facilities meet operational needs. The committee voted to forward the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation.