Chapter 3.14
PUBLIC PROJECTS Revised 4/24

Sections:

3.14.010    Definitions.

3.14.020    Formal bid—Public projects more than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). Revised 4/24

3.14.030    Informal bid—Public projects of more than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). Revised 4/24

3.14.040    Public projects—Sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or less. Revised 4/24

3.14.010 Definitions.

A. “Public facility” means any plant, building, structure, ground facility, utility system, real property, streets and highways or other public work improvement, owned, leased, or operated by the City of San Carlos, a municipal corporation.

B. “Public project” means any of the following:

1. Construction, reconstruction, erection, alteration, renovation, improvement, demolition and repair work involving any publicly owned, leased or operated facility.

2. Painting or repainting any publicly owned, leased or operated facility.

3. “Public project” does not include maintenance work such as routine, recurring work for the preservation of a publicly owned facility; minor repainting; landscape maintenance; or resurfacing streets at less than one inch. (Ord. 1452 § 2 (part), 2012)

3.14.020 Formal bid—Public projects more than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). Revised 4/24

Public projects with an estimated value exceeding two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) shall be by written contract with the lowest responsible bidder, except as otherwise provided herein. (Ord. 1612 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 1452 § 2 (part), 2012)

3.14.030 Informal bid—Public projects of more than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000). Revised 4/24

Public projects with a value in the amount of more than sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) shall be governed by the informal bid procedures as follows:

A. A list of qualified contractors, identified according to categories of work, shall be developed and maintained by the Director of Public Works in accordance with the provisions of Section 22034 of the Public Contract Code and criteria promulgated from time to time by the California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission.

B. Where a public project is to be performed, a notice inviting informal bids shall be mailed to all contractors for the category of work to be bid, as shown on the list developed in accordance with subsection A of this section, and to all construction trade journals as specified by the California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission in accordance with Section 22036 of the Public Contract Code; provided, however:

1. If there is no list of qualified contractors maintained by the City for the particular category of work to be performed, the notice inviting bids shall be sent only to the construction trade journals specified by the California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission.

2. If the product or service is proprietary in nature such that it can be obtained only from a certain contractor or contractors, the notice inviting informal bids may be sent exclusively to such contractor or contractors.

3. Notices shall be mailed at least ten (10) calendar days before bids are due.

4. The notice shall describe the project in general terms; how to obtain more information; and state the time and place for submission of bids.

5. The City Manager, Administrative Services Director and Director of Public Works or their designees shall have the authority to award informal bids.

C. If all bids received are in excess of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), the City Council may by four-fifths (4/5) vote pass a resolution awarding the informal contract to the lowest responsible bidder, provided:

1. The Council determines that the original cost estimate by the City was reasonable.

2. The contract is for two hundred twelve thousand five hundred dollars ($212,500) or less. (Ord. 1612 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 1452 § 2 (part), 2012)

3.14.040 Public projects—Sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or less. Revised 4/24

Public projects of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) or less may be performed by the employees of the City by force account, by negotiated contract, or by purchase order without formal or informal bid procedures. (Ord. 1612 § 1 (Exh. A), 2024; Ord. 1452 § 2 (part), 2012)