Supervisors authorize bid for new county airports security contract

San Diego County currently contracts with Allied Universal for security services at five county-operated airports, but that contract will expire Aug. 5. An April 21 San Diego County Board of Supervisors action authorized bids for a new security services contract while also delegating the award of the contract to the director of the county’s Department of Purchasing and Contracting.

The supervisors’ 5-0 vote authorized a one-year contract while also authorizing four one-year extension options without the need to return to the county supervisors. The contract will begin Aug. 6, 2020, and if all four extension options are exercised the contract will cover the period ending Aug. 5, 2025. The security contract covers Fallbrook Community Airpark, Borrego Valley Airport, Gillespie Field in El Cajon, Palomar-McClellan Airport in Carlsbad and Ramona Airport.

In addition to patrolling property the security for county airports includes monitoring surveillance equipment, observations, reporting security deficiencies to management and responding to security issues. Some specially-trained security officers also perform limited activities such as runway and taxiway inspections or providing supporting response to aircraft emergencies.

The contractor will be required to provide at least eight hours of on-site training for each new guard at Fallbrook Community Airpark, Palomar-McClellan Airport, and Ramona Airport and at least 12 hours of on-site training for each new guard at Borrego Valley Airport and Gillespie Field. That training will be at the contractor’s expense rather than part of the county’s cost.

The estimated cost of the security contract is $750,000 although if Palomar-McClellan Airport resumes commercial flights the contract could increase to an estimated $1,417,000. The county’s Airport Enterprise Fund, whose revenue is derived from airport leases and concessions, will provide the money for the security contract.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].