Staff Report.Interwest Consulting Group
PREPARED BY: Joel Paulson
Community Development Director
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 08/17/2021 ITEM NO: 7
DATE: August 6, 2021
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorize the Town Manager to execute an Agreement for Consultant Services
with Interwest Consulting Group for Supplemental Building Division Plan Check
Consultant Services.
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to execute an Agreement for Consultant Services with Interwest
Consulting Group for supplemental Building Division plan check consultant services.
BACKGROUND:
The Town has contracted with outside consultants to provide building permit application plan
checking services for more than 19 years. The Town needs to retain consultant plan check and
structural engineering services because the Town does not have a Plan Check Engineer position.
Staff is recommending that our current Plan Check Consultant, O'Brien Code Consulting, Inc. be
the primary Plan Check consultant. Additional plan check and associated services may be
needed to augment the services of the primary Plan Check consultant due to the volume of
activity in the Building Division. For this reason, staff is recommending entering into an
agreement with Interwest Consulting Group (ICG) for supplemental plan check services. This
firm was selected using the same Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process that identified
O'Brien Code Consulting as the most qualified to be the Town's primary Plan Check consultant.
DISCUSSION:
The Plan Check consultant provides Building Division plan check services to the Town, providing
both non-structural and structural code review for building permit applications. Staff sent out a
Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to learn the quality and costs of services available in the
PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: Interwest Consulting Group DATE: August 6, 2021
DISCUSSION (continued):
marketplace. Staff sent out RFQs to six plan check consultant firms, and proposals were
received from the following firms:
• O'Brien Code Consulting Inc.;
• lnterwest Consulting Group;
• 4LEAF, Inc.; and
• Shums Coda Associates.
Staff evaluated the proposals, and all the proposals were deemed competitive. ICG was
determined to be the most qualified firm based on their staff experience and competitive
pricing to provide supplemental plan check and associated services, including:
• Plan Review services of complex projects;
• On-site Plan Review of less complex projects - two days per week;
• Technical support;
• Miscellaneous support, expedited services, emergency response;
• Pick-up/delivery of plans and comment letters;
• Building Inspection services; and
• Permit Technician services.
The principal and staff of ICG have the experience and qualifications to provide supplemental
plan check services, building inspection services, and permit technician services. ICG has the
following qualifications:
• Licensed Civil and Structural Engineers;
• International Code Council Certified Plans Examiner;
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional Certified;
• California Accessibility Specialist Program Certified; and
• International Code Council / Uniform Building Code Building Inspectors.
ICG also provides similar services to a large number of jurisdictions in California.
CONCLUSION:
ICG is able to provide supplemental plan check and associated services in addition to building
inspection and permit technician services.
Staff recommends that the Town Council authorize the Town Manager to enter into an
agreement (Attachment 1) with ICG for the reasons stated in this report.
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: Interwest Consulting Group DATE: August 6, 2021
COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated with the Town Manager’s Office, Town Attorney’s Office,
Community Development Department, and Finance Department.
FISCAL IMPACT:
All costs for Plan Check Consultant contracts are borne by applicants and no costs to the Town
are incurred.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Draft Interwest Consulting Group Agreement for Consultant Services
2. Consultant Statement of Qualifications