RPVCCA_CC_SR_2012_11_20_L_San_Ramon_Canyon_Project_Pre-QualificationCITY OF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
JIM HENDRICKSON,INTERIM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
WORKS ~-
DATE:NOVEMBER 20,2012
SUBJECT:SAN RAMON CANYON PROJECT PRE-QUALIFICATION
REVIEWED:CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER ~
Staff Coordinator:Ron Drago~
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the attached Resolution No.2012-_,A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING THE APPEALS PROCESS
REGARDING PRE-QUALIFICATION OF BIDDERS FOR THE SAN RAMON CANYON
PROJECT
BACKGROUND
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes ("City")intends to bid out a project for the construction of
a storm drain and related work,including but not limited to,tunneling,open trench pipe
installations,shoring,bedding,backfill,construction of inlet and outlet structures,grading,
construction of access roads,catch basins,manholes,junction structures,erosion control,
movement monitoring devices,pavement rehabilitation,a temporary storage yard,water
quality measures,miscellaneous surface improvement replacements,traffic control,and
related appurtenances,all on or near the San Ramon Canyon ("Project").Because of the
complexity and scope of the Project,staff has determined that it would be best to pre-
qualify all contractors seeking to bid on the Project.
Pre-qualification is a process whereby potential bidders answer questions and submit
supporting documents regarding the history of their businesses,compliance with labor
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laws,completion of recent projects with similar complexities and quality of performance.
Pre-qualification is intended to ensure that the contractor doing the work is qualified and
competent to take on a particularly unique or complex project such as this one.
The City is authorized to pre-qualify contractors on a specific project pursuant to California
Public Contract Code Section 20101.To ensure the objectivity of the process,the statute
requires the City to create a questionnaire and uniform system of rating the bidders.The
State's Department of Industrial Relations ("DIR")was tasked with creating model
prequalification forms,and City staff's questionnaire and uniform system of rating the
bidders is substantially similar to the model forms.This system allocates points for
particular responses,thereby yielding a pre-qualification rating.A minimum rating will be
required for a contractor to be deemed pre-qualified to bid on the Project.The
questionnaire will be due to the City by December 5,2012,and the City will send
contractors their pre-qualification ratings by December 14,2012.If the City's determination
is that th~application results in a rating below that necessary to pre-qualify,the City shall
include in that notice the basis for the disqualification and all supporting evidence therefor.
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DISCUSSION
Public Contract Code Section 20101 also requires that the City establish a process that will
allow prospective bidders to dispute their proposed pre-qualification ratings prior to the
closing time for receipt of bids.Staff now proposes such an appeals process for the City
Council's approval.The proposed process is substantially similar to the appeals process
suggested by the DIR's prequalification model forms.Staff proposes that the City will not
allow an appeal for the City's refusal of an incomplete or late application.
Where a timely and completed application results in a rating below that necessary to pre-
qualify,the contractor will be allowed to submit a written appeal by December 21,2012.If
a contractor gives the required written notice of appeal and requests a hearing,the hearing
will be conducted no earlier than January 7,2013,and no later than January 11,2013.A
panel with the responsibility to hear such appeals (the "Appeals Panel")will then conduct a
hearing.The Appeals Board will be comprised of the Interim Public Works Director and up
to two (2)of his designees,who are individuals who have a professional understanding of
the Project and can assess the responses of the applicants.No formal rules of evidence or
similar procedures shall apply to the hearing,but the contractor will be given the
opportunity to present information and reasons in opposition to the rating.The Appeals
Panel will render its decision within three (3)business days after the conclusion of the
hearing,and that decision will be final.
The bid packets for the Project are expected to be advertised at the end of November,
2012 or early December,2012.The bid packets will be made available to anyone that
requests one and pays the required fee,regardless of pre-qualification status.The bid
opening is expected to occur on January 24,2013.The City will only accept the bids of
those entities that have been prequalified.
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CONCLUSION
Once the City Council approves the appeals process,staff will be able to advertise the pre-
qualification application and proceed to objectively review the applications that are
received.The City will be one step closer to completing the San Ramon Canyon Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact arising from the approving the pre-qualification appeals
process,other than the expenditure of time that is necessary to hold the appeal hearing
and issue a decision.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Thanks to the efforts of Joel Rojas,the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE)has received a
letter that was needed from the US Fish and Wildlife Service concurring that the San
Ramon project will not adversely affect the California gnatcatcher or its critical habitat.Our
consultant (Saundra Jacobs)followed up with Mr.Daniel Swenson (of ACE),via e-mail,
and asked if the letter was all that he needed before he could review the City's application.
He replied in writing to her that this was the last piece of information that he needed,and
that he should be able to get to the City's permit next week.Staff believes that it is quite
significant,and encouraging,for him to make that statement in writing.Accordingly,Staff is
hopeful that the City will receive the ACE permit by the end of the month.
ATTACHMENT
RESOLUTION NO.2012-__, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING THE APPEALS PROCESS REGARDING
PRE-QUALIFICATION FOR THE SAN RAMON CANYON PROJECT
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RESOLUTION NO.2012-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES APPROVING THE
APPEALS PROCESS REGARDING PRE-QUALIFICATION
OF BIDDERS FOR THE SAN RAMON CANYON PROJECT
WHEREAS,the City of Rancho Palos Verdes ("City")intends to bid out a
complex project for the construction of a storm drain and related work,including but not
limited to tunneling,open trench pipe installations,shoring,bedding,backfill,
construction of inlet and outlet structures,access roads,catch basins,manholes,
junction structures,and erosion control,movement monitoring devices,pavement
rehabilitation,a temporary storage yard,water quality measures,miscellaneous surface
improvement replacements,traffic control,and related appurtenances,all on or near
San Ramon Canyon ("the Project");and
WHEREAS,due to the complexity and scope of the Project,and pursuant to the
City's authority in California Public Contract Code Section 20101,the City will be pre-
qualify all contractors seeking to bid on the Project;and
WHEREAS,City staff has drafted a pre-qualification questionnaire and adopted a
uniform system of rating the bidders;and
WHEREAS,the City Council now wishes to approve a process that will allow
prospective bidders on the Project that do not pre-qualify to dispute their pre-
qualification rating prior to the closing time for receipt of bids;
NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND,DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.The City Council hereby finds that the above recitals are true and
correct and hereby incorporates them into this Resolution by this reference.
Section 2.The prequalification application process shall be as follows:
a.Contractors may submit pre-qualification applications during the City's
regular business hours on any day that the offices of the City are open.All pre-
qualification materials must be completed and submitted to the City by December 5,
2012.
b.The City will send out the pre-qualification determinations for all
contractors who submitted complete and timely pre-qualification applications by
December 14,2012.If the City's determination is that the application results in a rating
below that necessary to pre-qualify,the City shall include in that notice the basis for the
disqualification and all supporting evidence therefor.
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Section 3.The Council hereby approves the following appeals process:
a.There is no appeal arising from the City's refusal of an incomplete or late
application.
b.Where a timely and completed application results in a rating below that
necessary to pre-qualify,the contractor may appeal the decision with respect to its pre-
qualification rating by delivering written notice to the City of its appeal by December 21,
2012.Without a timely appeal,a contractor waives any and all rights to challenge the
City's decision,whether by administrative process,judicial process or any other legal
process or proceeding.
c.If a contractor gives the required written notice of appeal and requests a
hearing,the hearing shall be conducted no earlier than January 7,2013,and no later
than January 11,2013.
d.The hearing shall be an informal process conducted by the Interim Public
Works Director and up to two (2)of his designees,who shall have the responsibility to
hear such appeals (the "Appeals Panel").No formal rules of evidence or similar
procedures shall apply to the hearing.The contractor will be given the opportunity at
the hearing to present information and present reasons in opposition to the rating.
e.Within three (3)business days after the conclusion of the hearing,the
Appeals Panel will render its decision in writing.That decision shall be final.
f.Regardless of the deadlines listed herein or any appeals procedure that
occurs,the date for the submission and opening of bids will not be delayed or
postponed.
Section 4.This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED,APPROVED AND ADOPTED,this __day of ,2012.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES )ss.
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I,Carla Morreale,City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,certify that the
foregoing resolution was adopted by the Council of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes at
a regular meeting held on the _day of ,2012.
AYES:
NAYS:
A!3SENT:
ABSTAIN:
CITY CLERK
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