REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Public Works Manager
Public Works Department, Design Section
SUBJECT
Title
Reject all bids for the John Muir Elementary Safe Routes Project - Bid File 12301163 (Council District 3)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council reject all bids for the John Muir Elementary Safe Routes Project and direct staff to rebid the project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council reject all bids for the John Muir Elementary Safe Routes Project. Upon rejection of the bids, staff will revise the bid documents to incorporate the Community Workforce Agreement language and proceed with a rebid.
The John Muir Elementary Safe Routes Project includes new construction and reconstruction of improvements along three local streets, Dennett Avenue, Elizabeth Street, and Dudley Avenue, adjacent to John Muir Elementary to provide sidewalks to the school. These improvements total approximately 1,900 feet of local roadway reconstruction, curb and gutter construction, and the placement of sidewalks along the three local residential roads. Other work includes drainage improvements, driveway improvements, and pedestrian ramp improvements.
BACKGROUND
The design phase of the project was initiated in FY20, shortly after City Council approved the budget. The engineering design, project management, and right-of-way acquisition took three years and was completed by City of Fresno staff.
The project’s scope of work includes demolition and reconstruction of approximately 1,900 feet of local streets, including Dennett Avenue, Elizabeth Street, and Dudley Avenue, all of which are immediately adjacent to John Muir Elementary. This will alter the roadways’ configurations sufficient to accommodate the construction of ADA-compliant pedestrian facilities along these three roads. The roadway improvements include sidewalk, curb and gutter, asphalt paving, and storm drain improvements to provide a safe route for residents to access the elementary school, as well as other destinations within the neighborhood. Right-of-way was needed for the construction of the sidewalk, which was acquired by Public Works staff.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on February 13, 2023, posted on the City’s website, and distributed to Twelve (12) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to Twenty-Two (22) prospective bidders. Four (4) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on March 28, 2023, with bids ranging from $1,695,390 to $1,720,460. Avison Construction, Inc. submitted the apparent low bid in the amount $1,695,390 and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. The bids will expire on May 31, 2021.
Upon evaluation of the bid proposals, it was determined that the bid specifications did not contain the necessary Community Workforce Agreement language. Since the project’s engineer’s estimate exceeded one-million dollars, the language should have been included and the bidders allowed to submit bids with pricing that reflected those requirements. Staff recommends that Council reject all bids on the basis that the bid is incomplete without the inclusion of the Community Workforce Agreement requirements. Public Works will immediately revise the specifications to include the Community Workforce Agreement language and rebid the project to ensure construction complies with the agreement.
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.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
The local preference was not implemented because this action is to reject all bids.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed project is located within Council District 3. A rejection of all bids will result in additional staff costs to rebid the project. The adopted project budget has sufficient funding to cover the additional staff costs needed to rebid the project. There will be no impact to the General Fund.
Attachment(s):
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation