Title
a. Award a contract to Midstate Barrier Inc., the lowest responsible bidder for the Countywide Guardrail Project, Project No. 1149, in the total amount of $654,095; to replace existing guardrails to meet current State standards at seven (7) locations throughout the County;
b. Approve the Performance and Payment Bonds executed and provided by Midstate Barrier Inc.;
c. Authorize a contingency, not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the contract amount or $65,410, to provide funding for approved contract change orders;
d. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks to execute the contract and, subject to the terms of the Public Contract Code, approve change orders to the contract that do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the original contract amount and do not significantly change the scope of work; and
e. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks to execute a Certificate of Completion and record a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder when the Director determines that the contract is complete in all respects in accordance with the Plans and Special Provisions for the construction of Countywide Guardrail Project, Project No. 1149.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Award a contract to Midstate Barrier Inc., the lowest responsible bidder for the Countywide Guardrail Project, Project No. 1149, in the total amount of $654,095; to replace existing guardrails to meet current State standards at seven (7) locations throughout the County;
b. Approve the Performance and Payment Bonds executed and provided by Midstate Barrier Inc.;
c. Authorize a contingency, not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the contract amount or $65,410, to provide funding for approved contract change orders;
d. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks to execute the contract and, subject to the terms of the Public Contract Code, approve change orders to the contract that do not exceed ten percent (10%) of the original contract amount and do not significantly change the scope of work; and
e. Authorize the Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks to execute a Certificate of Completion and record a Notice of Completion with the County Recorder when the Director determines that the contract is complete in all respects in accordance with the Plans and Special Provisions for the construction of Countywide Guardrail Project, Project No. 1149.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The County was awarded a $600,000 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant by Caltrans for a select set of traffic safety improvements in the County. The work to be done, in general, consists of replacing existing guardrails to meet current State standards at seven (7) locations throughout the County (please see Attachment D for the project location map).
On January 26, 2021, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Plans and Special Provisions for the Countywide Guardrail Project, Project No. 1149. The project was subsequently advertised, and bids were received and opened on February 19, 2021. Public Works, Facilities and Parks Department received one (1) bid in the amount of $654,095 from Midstate Barrier Inc. The lone bid is 4.21% over the Engineers Estimate of $627,668. Since the construction cost is more than the original programmed amount of $493,000, the Public Works, Facilities and Parks Department requested an additional $259,209 from Caltrans, which was approved on March 11, 2021. Construction is anticipated to begin in June 2021.
The project has been determined to be categorically exempt (Class 1) from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because the project is to perform repair and maintenance of existing facilities (See CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations (CCR) Section 15301 Existing Facilities). Caltrans, as the designated lead for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), approved the NEPA Categorical Exemption/Categorical Exclusion Determination on August 2, 2018.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel and Contracts/Purchasing attended the bid opening and reviewed the low bid for conformance with applicable regulations. The Office of the County Counsel-Risk Manager, and Auditor-Controller’s Office have reviewed and approved the contract and bonds as to form, insurance and indemnification, and fiscal provisions, respectively.
FINANCING:
The total estimated project cost, including engineering design, environmental documentation and construction is $936,505. The project is funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) in the amount of $859,209 and local fund through Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) in the amount of $77,296. There is sufficient appropriation in the adopted FY 2020-21 Road Fund 002 budget, Appropriation Unit RMA012, to finance the construction phase of the project.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The replacement and upgrade of existing guardrails to meet current State Standards will improve safety for motorists. The recommended action supports the following Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiative:
___ Economic Development
___ Administration
___ Health & Human Services
_X_ Infrastructure
_X_ Public Safety
Prepared by: Isabelo Dela Merced Jr, Assistant Engineer (755-4746)
Reviewed by: Shawne Ellerbee, Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
The following attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board;
Attachment A - Contracts, Insurance, & Bonds
Attachment B - Project Budget
Attachment C - Bid Summary
Attachment D - Location Map