HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-07-22; City Council; 02; Rejection of Bids Received for the Ponto Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation ProjectCA Review TL
Meeting Date: July 22, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Staff Contacts: Keri Martinez, Utilities Principal Engineer
keri.martinez@carlsbadca.gov, 442-200-7376
Dave Padilla, Assistant Utilities Director
dave.padilla@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2356
Subject: Rejection of Bids Received for the Ponto Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation
Project
District: 3
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution rejecting the bids received for construction of the Ponto Sewer Manhole
Rehabilitation Project.
Executive Summary
This project will rehabilitate aging sewer access holes along the North Ponto Interceptor
sewer line. The sewer access holes are about 50 years old and experiencing significant
corrosion.
Staff received two bids for construction of the project on May 27, 2025. Staff
determined the low bid to be non-responsive because the bidder failed to demonstrate
the required project experience or identify a subcontractor that would perform more
than 0.5% of the work.
Considering one bid was non-responsive and both bids significantly exceeded the
estimated cost, staff recommend that the City Council reject the bids received for the
project, consistent with Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 3.28.080(I)(3).
Explanation & Analysis
Project overview
The Ponto Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation Project, Capital Improvement Program Project
No. 5503-17, will rehabilitate nine sewer access holes on the North Ponto Sewer
Interceptor, a 27-inch-diameter gravity sewer pipeline that conveys approximately 4.7
million gallons per day of Carlsbad’s wastewater to the Encina Wastewater Treatment
Plant, about a half mile north of the project site.
The site is bound by the Poinsettia Transit Station parking lot, the Waters End residential
development on the east and the railroad tracks on the west, as shown in Exhibit 2.
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The sewer access holes are within a sewer easement established in 1973 in the North
County Transit District’s right-of-way. (Easements provide the city with access to private
property to install or maintain public infrastructure.) The access holes are also located
within a conservation easement that protects vegetation and wildlife species. The
conservation easement includes the 7.4-acre Poinsettia Station Vernal Pool Preserve at
the Transit District-owned Poinsettia transit station. The preserve is protected under the
city’s Habitat Management Plan.
Given this constrained location and the environmental sensitivity of the project site, the
project design incorporates minimally invasive tools and equipment for site access, site
preparation and lining operations. Site preparation will be completed using hand tools
or small portable equipment. The rehabilitation activities must be done during the dry
season, specifically during mid-August to mid-October, to avoid impacts to sensitive
wildlife species and bird nesting. A full-time environmental consultant/inspector will be
employed onsite during all construction activities.
Bid process
•The City Council approved the plans, specifications and contract documents on
April 22, 2025, authorizing the City Clerk to advertise for bids. (Resolution No. 2025-083)
•Two bids were received on May 27, 2025.
•The bids received exceeded the engineer’s estimate of $440,000, with bids of $867,400
and $1,157,700.
The city uses estimates by experienced and qualified professional engineers to obtain an
estimate that will be as close to the actual costs as possible. The constraints on this
project and a compressed bidding period to meet the defined construction schedule
contributed to the bids significantly exceeding the engineer’s estimate. Additionally,
staff determined one bid to be non-responsive for failing to demonstrate the required
project experience or identify a subcontractor performing more than 0.5% of the work,
in accordance with California Public Contract Code Section 4106.
Fiscal Analysis
There is no fiscal impact for rejection of the construction bids.
Next Steps
Staff will revise the contract bidding documents to further clarify the requirements for
the contractor’s statement of technical ability and experience in sewer rehabilitation
work. Staff will revisit the engineer’s estimate and revise as needed per current and
expected construction cost increases.
Staff plan to rebid the project with the specification clarification and a longer bidding
period that will possibly attract additional bidders and result in more competitive bids.
Staff will return to the City Council in early 2026 to request approval of revised plans,
specifications and contract documents and authorization to rebid.
Environmental Evaluation
The proposed action is not a “project” as defined by California Environmental Quality
Act Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(a) and does not require
environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2) because the action is
July 22, 2025 Item #2 Page 2 of 6
Docusign Envelope ID: 60E55B93-680C-4580-A807-CC2A0128BD7A
limited to rejection of construction bids. The action has no potential to cause either a
direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical
change in the environment.
Exhibits
1. City Council resolution
2. Location map
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Docusign Envelope ID: 60E55B93-680C-4580-A807-CC2A0128BD7A
Exhibit 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-172 .
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, REJECTING THE BIDS RECEIVED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE
PONTO SEWER MANHOLE REHABILITATION PROJECT
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, has determined that it is
necessary, desirable and in the public interest to complete the Ponto Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation
Project, Capital Improvement Program, Project No. 5503-17, or Project; and
WHEREAS, the sewer pipeline and access holes are owned and operated by the city and are vital
components of the wastewater collection system; and
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2025, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2025-083, approving
plans, specifications and contract documents and authorizing the City Clerk to advertise for bids for
construction of the Project; and
WHEREAS, on May 27, 2025, staff received two bids in response to the bid advertisement; and
WHEREAS, one bid received for the project was deemed non-responsive and the bids
significantly exceeded the engineer’s estimate; and
WHEREAS, the city may, in its sole discretion, reject all bids presented pursuant to Carlsbad
Municipal Code, or CMC, Section 3.28.080(I)(3).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1.That the above recitations are true and correct.
2.That the City Council has determined that the proposed action is not a “project” as
defined by CEQA Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(a) and does not
require environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2) because the
action is limited to rejection of construction bids. The action has no potential to cause
either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect
physical change in the environment.
3.That the City Council rejects all bids received for the Ponto Sewer Manhole
Rehabilitation Project, CIP Project No. 5503-17, in accordance with CMC Section
3.28.080(I)(3).
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Docusign Envelope ID: 60E55B93-680C-4580-A807-CC2A0128BD7A
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City
of Carlsbad on the 22nd day of July, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin.
NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
______________________________________
KEITH BLACKBURN, Mayor
______________________________________
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)
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Docusign Envelope ID: 60E55B93-680C-4580-A807-CC2A0128BD7A
LOCATION MAP
VICINITY MAP
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PROJECT NAME PROJECT EXHIBIT
NUMBER
PROJECT SITE
REHABILITATION
PONTO SEWER MANHOLE 5503-17 1
PROJECT SITE
2 PROJECT
Exhibit 2
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Docusign Envelope ID: 60E55B93-680C-4580-A807-CC2A0128BD7A