REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL September 15, 2016 FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director Public Works Department THROUGH: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, PE, Assistant Director Public Works Department, Capital Management Division BY: RANDY BELL, PE, Capital Program Manager Public Works Department, Capital Management Division SUBJECT ..Title Reject all bids for the Herndon right turn lane improvements at the intersection of Herndon and Blackstone Avenues - Bid File No. 3461 (Council District 6) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council reject all bids for the Herndon Right Turn Lane Improvements and direct staff to rebid the project as soon as possible. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Fresno seeks to extend the right turn pocket for westbound Herndon Avenue at Blackstone Avenue to improve traffic flow. The project will lengthen the turn lane from 100' to 400' and will include right turn phasing on the westbound traffic signal. This project is located in Council District 6. The apparent low bidder was determined to be non-responsible due to numerous claims of not paying prevailing wages. During the appeal period, the second low bidder could not hold their bid due to other commitments. Staff recommends the City Council reject all bids for the Herndon Right Turn Lane improvements. BACKGROUND In Fiscal Year 2014, the Federal Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) allocated funds for the Herndon Right Turn Lane Improvements. The existing right turn pocket for westbound Herndon Avenue is 100' long causing significant traffic delays to vehicles in the adjacent lane when a number of vehicles are making right turns. This project will lengthen the right turn pocket for westbound Herndon Avenue to 400' which will increase storage capacity to minimize this impact. Additionally, the westbound traffic signal will be modified to include right turn phasing which will improve traffic flow. This project also includes constructing a barrier wall between Herndon Avenue and the frontage road immediately to the north. In order to accommodate the space required for the turn pocket, the frontage road will be shifted to the north approximately 6 feet. The Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Business Journal on March 25, 2016, and posted on the City's website and faxed to nine (9) building exchanges. The specifications were distributed to thirty-three (33) prospective bidders. Five (5) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on May 3, 2016, with the bids ranging from $430,569 to $668,495. After the bid opening, the apparent low bidder was determined to be non-responsible due to numerous claims of not paying prevailing wages. During the appeal period, the second low bidder could not hold their bid due to other commitments. Awarding the contract to the third lowest bidder was not possible because it exceeded the project budget. Therefore, staff recommends the Council reject all bids for the Herndon Right Turn Lane improvements and direct staff to rebid the project as soon as possible. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS A categorical exemption was adopted for this project by the Council on May 1, 2014, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act; no further environmental review is required at this time. LOCAL PREFERENCE The local preference was not implemented because this project is funded with federal funds. FISCAL IMPACT Rejecting bids for this project, which is located in District 6, will not impact the General Fund. The project is funded by Regional Surface Transportation Program Lifeline (RSTP) and Proposition 111 Gas Tax funds. Attachments: Bid Evaluation Vicinity Map