Title
a. Reject all bids received for construction of the Community of San Ardo Connection Project, Project No. 1178, Bid Package; and
b. Adopt Plans and Special Provisions for the San Ardo Sidewalk Project, Project No. 1178; and
c. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks to advertise the “Notice to Bidders” in the Monterey County Weekly.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Action: A Notice of Exemption was filed with the County Clerk and the State Clearinghouse on July 18, 2024, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations (CCR) Section 15301 (c) Existing Facilities.
Report
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Reject all bids received for construction of the Community of San Ardo Connection Project, Project No. 1178, Bid Package; and
b. Adopt Plans and Special Provisions for the San Ardo Sidewalk Project, Project No. 1178; and
c. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks to advertise the “Notice to Bidders” in the Monterey County Weekly.
SUMMARY:
On April 16, 2026, the County opened sealed bids for construction of the San Ardo Community and School Connections through Active Transportation Project. The bid documents required bidders to include a base bid and bid alternate, and to use consistent unit prices for items included in both. Six of eight bids received did not consider this requirement. The Public Works, Facilities and Parks (PWFP) staff is thus recommending the County reject all bids, implement minor modifications to the contract documents, and re-advertise the project. By doing so, staff believe that lower, more responsive bids will be received with only minor delays in project implementation.
DISCUSSION:
On June 14, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved the submittal of a grant application to the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) for an Active Transportation Program (ATP) Grant. On June 2022, in collaboration with the County of Monterey (County) Health Department, PWFP submitted five applications to CalTrans for ATP grant funds including non-infrastructure projects in San Ardo, Chualar and Castroville. In December 2022, the County received funding for these projects totaling $16,260,000 from CalTrans.
The infrastructure and non-infrastructure project in San Ardo is referred to as the San Ardo Community and School Connections through Active Transportation Project (Project). The infrastructure portion of the Project consists of constructing approximately 2,690 linear feet of sidewalks along one side of three streets, installing curb ramps, curb and gutter, corresponding pavement markings, signage, solar lighting and four beacons to enhance safety and connect the San Ardo Community with safe pedestrian facilities to encourage active transportation.
PWFP staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors reject all bids, adopt the Plans and Special Provisions for the San Ardo Sidewalk Project, Project No. 1178 as modified, and authorize the Director of PWFP to advertise the “Notice to Bidders” for the San Ardo Sidewalk Project, Project No. 1178, in the Monterey County Weekly.
On April 16, 2026, the County opened sealed bids for the project. A bid summary sheet is presented in Attachment C. As shown in Attachment C, six of the eight contractors submitted bids which did not meet the following requirement (Book Two, Bid Form, Item 2, Paragraph 3) which provides as follows:
The basis of award to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder will be the lowest Base Bid plus Bid Alternate. In the event that the lowest Base Bid plus Bid Alternate exceeds
the available funds, a single award will be made based on the lowest Base Bid. All bid items in the Base Bid and Bid Alternate must include equal unit prices. (Book 2, Bid
Form, Item 2, Paragraph 3). Emphasis added.
Based on this information, the County is proposing to reject all bids, implement minor modifications to the contract documents to emphasize and clarify this requirement, and re-advertise. Readvertising the project is scheduled for May 21, 2026, and thus is anticipated to have a relatively minor impact on the project completion date. The bid opening is set for June 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., in the Board of Supervisors Chambers, located in the County Administration Building at the County of Monterey Government Center, 168 W. Alisal Street, First Floor, Salinas, California. Project construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026.
On July 18, 2024, in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the County filed a notice of categorical exemption (NOE) with the County Clerk and the State Clearinghouse (SCH), a division of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (CLI) which coordinates State level review of environmental documents. The NOE was filed with the County Clerk and SCH per Article 19, of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) Section 15301(c) of the CEQA Guidelines which provides a categorical exemption for Class 1 Existing Facilities for repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private highways, streets, sidewalks, gutters, and similar facilities, provided they involve negligible or no expansion of use (i.e., road grading for public safety, adding bike lanes/parking, transit improvements) as long as the project does not create additional automobile lanes.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel-Risk Management and the Auditor-Controller’s Office approved the proposed Plans and Special Provisions for the San Ardo Sidewalk Project, Project No. 1178 as modified, as to form, insurance and indemnification provisions and fiscal provisions, respectively.
FINANCING:
The total estimated cost of the Project, including design engineering, environmental, right-of-way, and construction is $4,104,587. The County has secured Active Transportation Program (ATP) funding for the Project as outlined in Attachment B, Project Budget. The Project is largely funded by State ATP Funds in the amount of $3,448,000. The remaining $656,588 will be funded through Measure X and TOT local funds. The adopted FY 2025-26 Road Fund 002 budget includes $2,800,000 in appropriations to fund the construction of the Project.
The recommended budget for FY 2026-27 Road Fund 002 will be presented to the Board of Supervisors this June for adoption and will include $786,649 to fund the remaining cost of this Project.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS:
The Project will construct sidewalks along one side of three streets, installing curb ramps, curb and gutter, corresponding pavement markings, signage, solar lighting and four beacons to enhance safety and connect the San Ardo Community with safe pedestrian facilities to encourage active transportation. The recommended action supports the following Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiative:
____ Well-Being and Quality of Life
X Sustainable Infrastructure for the Present and Future
X Safe and Resilient Communities
____ Diverse and Thriving Economy
Prepared by: Edgard Rizo, Assistant Engineer (831)755-5158
Reviewed by: T. R. Harty, PE, Senior Civil Engineer
Enrique Saavedra, PE, Chief of Public Works
Crystal Corpuz, Finance Manager II
Mary Grace Perry, Deputy County Counsel
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Attachment A - Location Map
Attachment B - Project Budget
Attachment C - Bid Summary Sheet
Attachment D - Special Provisions Book 1 and Bid Form Book 2