Section: 2.33.085 Informal bidding procedures
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the following informal bidding procedures may be employed when determined to be appropriate by the purchasing agent:
A. Public projects, as defined by the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act, in excess of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) but less than or equal to one hundred twenty five thousand dollars ($125,000), may be let to contract by informal procedures as set forth in Section 22030 et seq. of the Public Contract Code and shall be subject to those provisions and the provisions of this section.
B. As authorized by Public Contract Code Section 22032, subdivision (a), public projects of thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) or less may be performed by county employees by force account, by negotiated contract, or by purchase order, without formal or informal bidding procedures.
C. Purchasing agent shall as soon as is practicable after the time for the renewal of contractors' licenses, notify each contractor of the county of the opportunity to register with the county to be subsequently notified of informal bidding proceedings. This list of such contractors shall be a public record. The list of contractors shall be maintained by the Purchasing Agent 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.
D. Notice Inviting Informal Bids. Where a public project subject to the provisions of this section is to be performed, a notice inviting informal bids shall be mailed by the purchasing agent to all contractors on the list developed pursuant to subsection B of this section and to all construction trade journals as specified by the California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission pursuant to Section 22036 of the Public Contract Code. Additional contractors and/or construction trade journals may be notified at the discretion of the department soliciting bids; provided, however:
1. If there is no list of qualified contractors maintained by the purchasing agent 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 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.
All mailing of notices to contractors and construction trade journals shall be completed not less than ten calendar days before bids are due; provided, however, that reasonable efforts will be made to give contractors sufficient time to respond to the notices calling for informal bids. The notice inviting informal bids shall describe the project in general terms, how to obtain more detailed information about the project, and state the time and place for the submission of bids.
E. Award of Contracts. The board of supervisors will award contracts pursuant to this section.
F. Bids in Excess of one hundred twenty five thousand dollars ($125,000).
If the bids are in excess of one hundred twenty five thousand dollars($125,000), the Board may, by passage of a resolution by a four-fifths vote, award the contract at one hundred thirty seven thousand dollars ($137,000) or less to the lowest responsible bidder, if it determines the cost estimate of the county was reasonable.
G. Failure to Receive Bids. If no bids are received, the project may be performed by the employees of the county by force account, or negotiated contract without further complying with the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act procedures. (Ord. 2005-09 § 2 (part), 2005; Ord. 2005-01 § 2 (part), 2005; 2002-004 §§ 3,4, 2002; Ord. 93-13 § 2, 1993.)