DATE: April 22, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: AMENDMENT 4 TO THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ACCENTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS, LLC FOR FIBER MANAGEMENT, PERMITTING, PLAN REVIEW, AND INSPECTION SERVICES
RECOMMENDATION
title
Staff recommends that the City Council approve Amendment 4 to the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC (“Accenture” which was formerly “Anser Advisory Management, LLC” which was formerly “Wallace & Associates, Inc.”), in the amount of $1,200,000 for a total compensation not to exceed $5,057,100, for fiber program management, including permitting, plan review, and inspection services; increase revenue and expenditures in the amount of $1,200,000, and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment.
body
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On May 4, 2022, the City entered into a Right-of-Way Encroachment Agreement with SiFi Networks Oceanside LLC ("SiFi") to install a Citywide fiber optic network system in the City's public rights-of-way. The agreement includes provisions for an accelerated permitting process that includes SiFi incurring the costs of hiring a temporary permitting technician, plan reviewer, and inspector.
Ubiquity Inc. ("Ubiquity"), a public utility, also applied for fiber optic work within the City's public rights-of-way under an accelerated permitting and construction schedule. Additional other public utilities have also expressed interest in applying for fiber optic work within the City’s public rights-of-way in the near future. The City Engineer has determined this work would require additional consultant review per the City's Excavation and Encroachment Policy.
On April 14, 2023, the City Manager approved a sole-source PSA with Anser Advisory Management, LLC, in the amount of $45,000, for fiber program management, including permitting, plan review, and inspection services for the proposed SiFi and Ubiquity fiber optic projects.
On August 9, 2023, City Council approved Amendment 1 to the PSA with Anser Advisory Management, LLC, in the amount of $913,600, for fiber program management, including permitting, plan review, and inspection services for the proposed fiber optic projects.
On June 5, 2024, City Council approved Amendment 2 to the PSA with Anser Advisory Management, LLC, in the amount of $550,000, for fiber program management, including permitting, plan review, and inspection services for the proposed fiber optic projects.
On September 11, 2024, City Council approved Amendment 3 to the PSA with Anser Advisory Management, LLC, in the amount of $2,348,500, for fiber program management, including permitting, plan review, and inspection services for the proposed fiber optic projects.
In January 2025, Anser Advisory Management changed its name to Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC as part of a brand transition. The company also previously changed its name from Wallace and Associates to Anser in early 2023 prior to the April 14, 2023 PSA mentioned above.
As the scope of fiber optic projects continues to grow, additional permitting, inspection, and management are required. Additionally, other fiber optic utility companies have expressed interest in deployments within the City that would also require additional permitting, inspection, and management services.
Because the proposed fiber optic projects are occurring within a large span of the City's rights-of-way, additional contract personnel have been required to manage the heavy volume of plan submittals, plan reviews, and inspections. Utilizing consultant services allows the City to meet accelerated permitting and construction schedules associated with the proposed fiber optic projects, and allows the City to more easily adjust its staffing levels for other department needs while avoiding the need for additional fully-burdened staff positions.
FISCAL IMPACT
All City costs, including those associated with this professional services agreement, will be reimbursed by the fiber optic companies. The proposed fiber optic projects are each required to post deposits into a developer deposit account to cover all costs for providing additional staffing and services. All expenses associated with these Amendments shall be covered by the deposit accounts, and shall be replenished as needed. Staff is requesting revenue and expenditure budget increases of $1,200,000 appropriated to accounts 425423101.4426.0031 and 425423101.5306.0031.
|
Description |
Amount |
Request to Appropriate FY 25-26 |
Account |
|
Accenture Amendment 4 |
$1,200,000 |
$1,200,000 |
Land Development Revenue 425423101.4426.0031 Expenditure 425423101.5306.0031 |
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
end
Prepared by: Andrew Bartleet, Associate Engineer
Reviewed by: Brian Thomas, Interim Development Services Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Amendment 4 to Accenture PSA