REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 8, 2016
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Capital Management Division
LALKUMAR GOONAWARDENA, PE, Design Services Manager
Public Works Department, Design Services Section
ERNESTO GARCIA, Supervising Engineering Technician
Public Works Department, Design Services Section
SUBJECT
Title
Reject the bid for the Traffic Signal Installation at Tulare Avenue and “N” Street - Bid File No. 3489 (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council reject the bid submitted by Kertel Communication Inc., dba Sebastian, in the amount of $945,508 for the Traffic Signal Installation at Tulare and “N” Street and direct staff to rebid the project as soon as possible.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed traffic signal at Tulare and “N” Street will assist the pedestrians crossing Tulare Avenue. Currently, the intersection is uncontrolled with only a crosswalk on Tulare Avenue’s east side where pedestrians can cross to access businesses, governmental offices, parking garages and restaurants. The numbers of pedestrians continue to rise with the increasing addition of establishments to the area. The City is proposing to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Tulare Avenue and “N” Street to allow pedestrians to cross the busy Tulare Avenue with their own dedicated pedestrian phase. This project will enhance safety and alleviate any future pedestrian and vehicle conflicts at the intersection. This project is located in Council District 3.
The only bid submitted by Kertel Communication Inc., dba Sebastian was determined to be over budget due to numerous calculation errors on the bid proposal sheet. Staff recommends the City Council reject the only bid for the Traffic Signal Improvements at Tulare and “N” Street.
BACKGROUND
In 2014, the Federal Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) allocated Federal fiscal year 2015/16 construction funds for the Traffic Signal Installation at Tulare and “N” Street. The downtown area has seen a rise in new businesses, government offices and restaurants causing an influx of pedestrians to the area. To the south of the intersection is a parking garage, businesses and restaurants that require pedestrians cross busy Tulare Avenue to the north and south, subsequently causing traffic conflicts with vehicles that currently do not have a stop sign. This project seeks to alleviate these types of conflicts with dedicated pedestrian and traffic phases that a modern traffic signal provides.
The notice inviting bids was published in the Business Journal on September 9, 2016, and posted on the City’s website and faxed to twelve (12) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to four (4) prospective bidders. Only one (1) sealed bid proposal was received and opened in a public bid opening on October 11, 2016, with the bid reading of $531,508 from Kertel Communications Inc., dba Sebastian. Upon further examination of the bid by staff, it was revealed that the actual bid amount to be $945,508 due to arithmetical errors on the bid proposal sheet. Staff determined the apparent low bidder to be over budget due to bid proposal sheet miscalculations. Awarding the contract to the sole bidder is not possible because it exceeds the project budget. Therefore, staff recommends the Council reject all bids for the Traffic Signal Installation at Tulare Avenue and “N” Street and direct staff to rebid the project as soon as possible.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this item is rejecting all bids.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15378, the rejection of all bids does not qualify as a “project” as defined by the CEQA requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
As the recommendation is for rejection of bids, there is no fiscal impact.
Attachments:
Bid Evaluation
Vicinity Map