REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 20, 2020
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
THROUGH: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
BY: SCOTT P. SEHM, PE, Public Works Manager
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
SUBJECT
Title
Reject all bids for the Maple Avenue Cycle Track and Pedestrian Scramble Improvements - Bid File No. 3740 (Council District 4)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends City Council reject all bids for the Maple Avenue Cycle Track and Pedestrian Scramble Improvements and direct staff to rebid the project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed Maple Avenue Cycle Track and Pedestrian Scramble Improvements Project will improve safety for cyclists along Maple Avenue, between Gettysburg and Shaw Avenues, by converting the existing Class II bike lanes into a Class IV cycle track. In addition, the project will improve pedestrian safety at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Shaw Avenue by placing an exclusive pedestrian phase crossing at the intersection. The project is funded by a combination of sources including the State of California Active Transportation Program (ATP), a lump-sum participation by California State University (CSU) Fresno, Measure C funds, and partially locally funded through Senate Bill 1 (SB1) tax revenue.
BACKGROUND
The Maple Cycle Track Improvements Project was initiated in FY19 when the City allocated Measure “C” funds and a funding contribution provided by CSU Fresno to commence the project’s design phase. The grant funds for construction were obligated and the project was budgeted in the FY20 Capital Budget adopted by City Council. Preliminary engineering design and project management took approximately one and a half years.
The scope of the project includes a complete bike facility alteration along Maple Avenue from Gettysburg Avenue to Shaw Avenue where the existing Class II facility was removed to provide a parking-protected Class IV facility within the project limits. This will be the first such bicycle facility installed in Fresno. The project also includes the restriping, installation of new pedestrian indication heads and signal programing at the Shaw Avenue and Maple Avenue intersection to convert the existing crosswalks into an exclusive pedestrian phase. No Right of Way acquisition was required for this project. Public Works Department staff prepared all the construction documents for the project.
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Fresno Business Journal on March 30, 2020, posted on the City’s website and faxed to ten (10) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to eleven (11) prospective bidders. One sealed bid proposal was received and opened in a public bid opening on April 28, 2020. With a bid of $318,094, American Paving Co. was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the project. American Paving Co. submitted the only bid received for this project, which expired on July 1, 2020.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form.
Staff evaluated the bid submission and concluded that it is not only significantly higher than anticipated, it does not fall in line with past bids for similar projects. Public Works has recently put a number of traffic signal modification and striping projects out to bid, all of which came in higher than anticipated, most likely due to conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place; this project, at approximately 38% more than the latest engineer’s estimate, is abnormally high among the group. To obtain a successful bid, staff will reevaluate the construction scope, industry conditions and contract requirements to help ensure a successful rebid. Staff recommends that Council reject the bid and direct staff to rebid the project.
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 project is state funded.
FISCAL IMPACT
A rejection of the bid will result in additional staff costs to rebid the project. The adopted project budget has sufficient funding to cover the additional staff costs in order to rebid the project. There will be no impact to the General Fund.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation