West Sacramento flood agency approves five-year contract with Helix Environmental

The West Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency voted March 19 to approve a five‑year professional services contract with Helix Environmental to provide vegetation management and related field services, the board announced during its consent agenda.

Board members discussed the contract before the formal vote. Director Dean asked whether Helix would staff work locally and whether the contract was a lump‑sum or time‑and‑materials. Andrew, a staff presenter, said Helix would "bring all their people out from the Roseville office" and that proposed rates are time‑and‑materials, with per‑acre charges for treatments such as herbicide application. He added there is "no escalation for the first five years" and that the firm’s proposed amounts would be valid for that period.

Andrew described the procurement as an RFP selection, explaining a three‑person evaluation team rated proposals on cost, transmittal completeness, qualifications and technical approach; in this case, he said Helix had the best qualifications and also submitted the lowest cost. Director Dean raised operational topics such as mitigation work for beavers near levees, which staff said could be handled under the contract’s scope.

Director Alcala moved to approve the consent agenda, which included the Helix Environmental contract and the board’s Feb. 19 minutes; Director Dean seconded. The Chair called for the vote; the motion carried.

The contract will be used for maintenance, monitoring and other work tied to levee and flood‑project credits, staff said. Specific per‑task costs and any future rate proposals after the initial five‑year period will be subject to future negotiation and review by the agency.