Article 4 - Cities

California Public Contract Code — §§ 20160-20175

Sections (17)

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

The provisions of this article shall apply to contracts awarded by cities subject to Title 4 (commencing with Section 34000) of the Government Code.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

As used in this chapter, “public project” means:

(a)A project for the erection, improvement, painting, or repair of public buildings and works.
(b)Work in or about streams, bays, waterfronts, embankments, or other work for protection against overflow.
(c)Street or sewer work except maintenance or repair.
(d)Furnishing supplies or materials for any such project, including maintenance or repair of streets or sewers.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

When the expenditure required for a public project exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000), it shall be contracted for and let to the lowest responsible bidder after notice.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

It shall be unlawful to split or separate into smaller work orders or projects any public work project for the purpose of evading the provisions of this article requiring public work to be done by contract after competitive bidding. Every person who willfully violates this provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

The notice inviting bids shall set a date for the opening of bids. The first publication or posting of the notice shall be at least 10 days before the date of opening the bids. Notice shall be published at least twice, not less than five days apart, in a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in the city, or if there is none, it shall be posted in at least three public places in the city that have been designated by ordinance as the places for posting public notices. The notice shall distinctly state the project to be done.

Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 383, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2006.

Any notice inviting bids, which specifies locations of possible materials, such as a borrow pit or gravel bed, for use in the proposed construction project which would be subject to Section 1602 of the Fish and Game Code, shall include any conditions or modifications established pursuant to Section 1603 of the Fish and Game Code.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

In its discretion, the legislative body may reject any bids presented and readvertise. If two or more bids are the same and the lowest, the legislative body may accept the one it chooses. If no bids are received, the legislative body may have the project done without further complying with this chapter.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

After rejecting bids, the legislative body may pass a resolution by a four-fifths vote of its members declaring that the project can be performed more economically by day labor, or the materials or supplies furnished at a lower price in the open market. Upon adoption of the resolution, it may have the project done in the manner stated without further complying with this chapter.

Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 803, Sec. 1.2. Effective January 1, 1995.

In case of an emergency, the legislative body may pass a resolution by a four-fifths vote of its members declaring that the public interest and necessity demand the immediate expenditure of public money to safeguard life, health, or property. Upon adoption of the resolution, it may expend any sum required in the emergency without complying with this chapter. If notice for bids to let contracts will not be given, the legislative body shall comply with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 22050).

Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1450, Sec. 10.

In any city that has agreed to permit the transfer of prisoners or parole violators under Section 2910 or 2910.5 of the Penal Code, or of wards under Section 1753.3 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the city council may contract for the construction or expansion of facilities to be used for that purpose without the formality of obtaining bids, adopting plans and specifications, or complying with other requirements of this article, except as required by this section. The person to whom the contract is awarded shall execute a bond for faithful performance. The award of the contract shall be made after a public hearing on the basis of a request for proposals advertised in accordance with Section 6062 or 6062a of the Government Code. The contract may be awarded only to a contractor who has responded to the request for proposals and who is licensed to do the work in accordance with Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 7000) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code. The contract shall be upon terms which the city council determines are necessary for the expeditious completion of the work. A contract shall not be entered into unless at least three proposals to do the work have been evaluated by a competitive process established by the city council and the lowest bid is selected.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

Annually before the beginning of the fiscal year, in cities where there is more than one newspaper of general circulation printed and published, the legislative body shall publish a notice inviting bids and contract for the publication of legal notices required to be published in such a newspaper. The contract shall include the printing and publishing of all such legal notices during the fiscal year.

If there is only one such newspaper, the legislative body may contract with it without advertising for bids.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

All bids shall be presented under sealed cover and accompanied by one of the following forms of bidder’s security:

(a)Cash.
(b)Cashier’s check made payable to the city.
(c)A certified check made payable to the city.
(d)A bidder’s bond executed by an admitted surety insurer, made payable to the city.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

The security shall be in an amount equal to at least 10 percent of the amount bid. A bid shall not be considered unless one of the forms of bidder’s security is enclosed with it.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

If the successful bidder fails to execute the contract, the amount of the bidder’s security shall be forfeited to the city except as hereinafter provided.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

The cash or proceeds shall be deposited in the fund out of which the expenses of preparation and printing of the plans and specifications, estimates of cost, and publication of notice are paid.

Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 465, Sec. 11.

The city council may, on refusal or failure of the successful bidder to execute the contract, award it to the next lowest responsible bidder. If the legislative body awards the contract to the second lowest bidder, the amount of the lowest bidder’s security shall be applied by the city to the difference between the low bid and the second lowest bid, and the surplus, if any, shall be returned to the lowest bidder if cash or a check is used, or to the surety on the bidder’s bond if a bond is used.

Added by Stats. 2024, Ch. 593, Sec. 1. (SB 739) Effective September 25, 2024.

(a)Notwithstanding any other law, the City of Elk Grove, with approval of the city council, may utilize construction manager at-risk construction contracts for the city’s zoo project. A construction manager at-risk construction contract may be awarded using either the lowest responsible bidder or best value method to a construction manager at-risk entity that possesses or that obtains sufficient bonding to cover the contract amount for construction services and risk and liability insurance as may be required by the city. Any payment or performance bond written for the purposes of this section shall be written using a bond form developed by the city.
(b)(1) A construction manager at-risk entity shall not be prequalified or

shortlisted or awarded a contract unless the entity provides an enforceable commitment to the city that the entity and its subcontractors at every tier will use a skilled and trained workforce to perform all work on the zoo project or contract that falls within an apprenticeable occupation in the building and construction trades, in accordance with Chapter 2.9 (commencing with Section 2600) of Part 1.

(2)This subdivision shall not apply if any of the following conditions are met:
(A)The city has entered into a project labor agreement that will bind all contractors and subcontractors performing work on the project or contract to use a skilled and trained workforce and the entity agrees to be bound by that project labor agreement.
(B)The project or contract is being performed under the City of Elk Grove Community

Workforce and Training Agreement executed in January 2023, or an extension or renewal of that agreement.

(C)The entity has entered into a project labor agreement that will bind the entity and all its subcontractors at every tier performing the project or contract to use a skilled and trained workforce.
(c)Subcontractors that were not listed by a construction manager at-risk entity as partners, general partners, or association members in a partnership, limited partnership, or association in the entity’s construction manager at-risk bid submission shall be awarded by the construction manager at-risk entity in accordance with the process set forth by the city. All subcontractors bidding on contracts pursuant to this section shall be afforded the protections contained in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 4100) of Part 1. The construction manager at-risk entity shall do both of the

following:

(1)Provide public notice of the availability of work to be subcontracted in accordance with the publication requirements applicable to the competitive bidding process of the city.
(2)Provide a fixed date and time on which the subcontracted work will be awarded in accordance with the procedure established pursuant to this section.
(d)If the city elects to proceed under this section and uses a construction manager at-risk contract for a construction project, it shall make a copy of the contract available for public inspection on its internet website.
(e)(1) If the city elects to award a project pursuant to this section, retention proceeds withheld by the city from the construction manager at-risk entity shall not

exceed 5 percent if a performance and payment bond issued by an admitted surety insurer is required in the solicitation of bids.

(2)In a contract between the construction manager at-risk entity and any subcontractor, and in a contract between a subcontractor and any subcontractor thereunder, the percentage of the retention proceeds withheld shall not exceed the percentage specified in the contract between the city and the construction manager at-risk entity. If the construction manager at-risk entity provides written notice to any subcontractor that is not a member of the construction manager at-risk entity, before or at the time the bid is requested, that a bond may be required, and the subcontractor subsequently is unable or refuses to furnish a bond to the construction manager at-risk entity, then the construction manager at-risk entity may withhold retention proceeds in excess of the percentage specified in the contract between the city

and the construction manager at-risk entity from any payment made by the construction manager at-risk entity to the subcontractor.

(f)As used in this section:
(1)“Best value” means a value determined by objective criteria related to the experience of the entity and project personnel, project plan, financial strength of the entity, safety record of the entity, and price.
(2)“City” means the City of Elk Grove.
(3)“Construction manager at-risk contract” means one or a successive combination of competitively procured contracts entered into by the city with an individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation, or other recognized legal entity, that is appropriately licensed in this state, including holding a contractor’s license issued by the

Contractors State License Board, and that guarantees the cost of a project and furnishes construction management services, including, but not limited to, preparation and coordination of bid packages, scheduling, cost control, value engineering, evaluation, preconstruction services, and construction administration.

(4)“Project labor agreement” means a prehire collective bargaining agreement covering employees in the building and construction industry that establishes terms and conditions of employment for the project or contract.
(5)“Zoo project” or “project” means the new zoo proposed to be relocated from the City of Sacramento and constructed over time, with buildings, including repair of structures, landscaping, habitat, site work, and flatwork, in the City of Elk Grove and its associated public infrastructure, including, but not limited to, roadway in the vicinity of the new

zoo, excluding any roadway owned and maintained by the State of California through the Department of Transportation, and utility improvements in any way associated with the new zoo.