Agenda Item Wording:
title
Award East Side Regional Park Basin D Construction Project - Authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract to Avison Construction for the East Side Regional Park Recharge Basin D Project in the amount of $2,608,150; approve Change Order Number One for a scope change in the reduction amount of ($89,800); and appropriate an additional $831,530 from the funds identified in this report.
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Prepared by:
Rebecca Keenan, Senior Civil Engineer, 713-4541; Rebecca.Keenan@visalia.gov
Christopher Crawford, City Engineer, 713-4331; Chris.Crawford@visalia.gov
Jason Huckleberry, Eng & Bldg. Director, 713-4495; Jason.Huckleberry@visalia.gov
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract to Avison Construction, Inc., for the East Side Regional Park Recharge Basin D Project in the amount of $2,608,150; approve Change Order Number One for a scope change in the reduction amount of ($89,800); and appropriate an additional $831,530 from the funds identified in this report.
Summary:
The City obtained a $1.9 million Green Infrastructure Grant for the construction of Basin D at the East Side Regional Park (ESRP). The project is designed to construct Recharge Basin D, pipes, structures, dry wells, trails, a small parking lot, a half street entrance, and a picnic arbor. However, staff is recommending that the Council authorize staff to defer the construction of the picnic arbor until a later construction project because it will not be easily monitored until more park/basin development occurs in that area. Approval of Change Order No. 1 will remove the bid items related to the picnic arbor. Construction of Basin D will go towards the goal of completing the seven (7) groundwater recharge basins master planned to be located at this site.
On October 8, 2025, the City Purchasing Division received and opened five (5) bid packages for this project. JT2 Inc. Todd Companies submitted the apparent low bid of $2,033,750.00, which is the total of the Base Bid + Alternate Bid “A”. However, as requested by JT2, this bid was withdrawn from consideration due to a mistake/clerical error. Avison was the second low bidder, based on their total bid of $2,619,150 for the Base Bid + Alternate Bid “A”. After reviewing their bid package, staff determined that they are the successful low bidder.
At this time, staff recommends that the City Council award the Base Bid only to Avison Construction, Inc. in the amount of $2,608,150, approve reductive Change Order No. 1; and to appropriate $831,530 as further described in this report. The work related to Alternate Bid “A” will be performed by the Sequoia Community Corps (CSET), as explained further in this report.
Background Discussion:
This project is part of the master planned East Side Regional park (ESRP) which consists of approximately 286 acres, including 40 acres of planned street & infrastructure improvements; approximately 148 acres of active recreational park uses; and approximately 100 acres of dedicated groundwater recharge elements. The basins are planned to receive allotted water deliveries to help replenish the area’s groundwater. Basin D will be the second groundwater recharge basin to be constructed at the site. This current project will construct approximately 6.5 acres of open space including the basin, approximately 3 acres of landscaping and vegetated swales, approximately 0.3 mile of trail, and two dry well recharge systems. The project will also provide public access from the west side of Road 152, along a new paved half-street and paved parking lot.
In 2021, the City was awarded a Proposition 68 Green Infrastructure Program Grant in the amount of $1,907,244. On September 11, 2025, the City of Visalia issued (Request for Bids) RFB 25-26-05 to obtain construction bids for the Basin D Project. The project, as shown in the solicitation included a Base Bid and one (1) Alternate Bid. The following explains the process involved with the Avison contract, including the bid solicitation scope of work, establishment of the low bidder, bid cost analysis, and the recommended construction award.
1. Bid solicitation scope of work: The solicitation for this project included a Base Bid and an Alternate Bid “A”. The Base Bid includes all the work related to construction of the basin, access road, trails, parking lot, and landscape & irrigation. Alternate Bid “A” includes installation of mulch in various landscape areas. This alternate was included as a back-up in case the local community corps (CSET) was unable to provide the service. This grant includes a requirement to use labor provided in part by either the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and/or California Association of Local Conservation Corps (CALCC). Staff coordinated with the Sequoia Community Corps (CSET), which is affiliated with the CALCC and they have confirmed that they will provide the installation of the mulch, which will meet the grant requirement. For that reason, the Alternate Bid “A” will not be awarded to the contractor.
2. Establishment of Low Bidder: As allowed by the California Contract Code, Section 20103.8, this bid solicitation specified that the method to be used to determine the apparent low bidder would be based on the “LOWEST TOTAL OF THE BASE BID + ALTERNATE BID “A” AMOUNT. For this project, JT2 Inc. Todd Companies submitted the apparent low bid of $2,033,750.00, which is the total of the Base Bid + Alternate Bid “A”. However, after the bid opening, JT2 submitted a request to withdraw their bid due to a clerical error. Staff reviewed their bid package and found that the request was within the guidelines of Public Contract Code Section 5103 which allows for withdrawing a bid within 5 days of the bid opening. Based on this, staff accepted the request and the JT2 bid was withdrawn from further consideration. Avison Construction was the second low bidder based on their total bid of $2,619,150 for the Base Bid + Alternate Bid “A”. After reviewing their bid package, staff determined that they are the successful low bidder.
TABLE 1
|
No. |
Contractor |
Location |
Total Sum Bid |
|
1. |
JT2 Inc. Todd Companies (Withdrawn) |
Visalia, CA |
$2,033,750.00 |
|
2. |
Avison Construction Inc. |
Madera, CA |
$2,619,150.00 |
|
3. |
Cal Valley Construction |
Fresno, CA |
$2,869,862.20 |
|
4. |
American Paving Co. |
Fresno, CA |
$3,098,743.50 |
|
5. |
Eclipse Construction Services Inc. |
Bakersfield, CA |
$3,559,444.00 |
The Bid Package for Avison Construction was reviewed and found to be in compliance with the City’s requirements. Staff also contacted Avison’s listed references at the County of Tulare, City of Clovis, and the City of Fresno. All three agencies expressed satisfaction with the contractor’s past performance and recommended them. They reported that the contractor did a good job and completed the work in accordance with the project plans and specifications. Avison previously worked on the City of Visalia’s Visalia Parkway Widening at Mooney Boulevard project in 2024. City staff reports that the contractor performed well on that project. They are also currently working on the Caldwell Widening Santa Fe to Lovers Lane and the Shirk Capacity Enhancement projects in Visalia. Based on the reviews and previous experience with City projects, Avison Construction is the Low Bidder for the project.
3. Bid Cost Analysis: The lowest responsive bid from Avison Construction Inc. is $2,619,150 or 4% below the Engineer’s Estimate. The engineer’s estimate and the submitted bids (excluding JT2 Inc.) can be seen in the following table:
TABLE 2
|
Bid Items |
Engineer’s Estimate |
Avison |
Cal Valley |
American Paving |
Eclipse |
|
Base Bid |
$2,694,279.08 |
$2,608,150.00 |
$2,855,862.20 |
$3,084,743.50 |
$3,531,444.00 |
|
Alternate Bid “A” |
$32,600.00 |
$11,000.00 |
$14,000.00 |
$14,000.00 |
$28,000.00 |
|
TOTAL Base Bid + Alternate Bid “A” |
$2,726,879.08 |
$2,619,150.00 |
$2,869,862.20 |
$3,098,743.50 |
$3,559,444.00 |
4. As allowed by the code section, the local agency may add or deduct from the contract any of the additive or deductive items after the lowest responsible bidder has been determined. Therefore, based on review of the bid package, staff recommends award of the Base Bid only to Avison Construction. The work included in Alternate Bid “A” will be performed by CSET. The total contract award to Avison Construction is $2,608,150.
Fiscal Impact:
Following is the updated Budget Estimate for this project, including award of the Base Bid to Avison Construction. There are currently insufficient funds in the project budget for the award of the Basin D project (CP0396), so staff requests the indicated appropriation from the funds shown below.
TABLE 3
Budget Estimate
|
Design |
Estimated Cost |
|
Environmental, Permitting, Legal |
$31,298 |
|
Project Management, drafting, etc. (City Staff) |
$73,518 |
|
Urban Tree Foundation |
$9,456 |
|
CWE Design Consultant |
$275,266 |
|
Design Subtotal |
$389,538 |
|
Construction |
|
|
Construction Base Bid (This Award to Avison) |
$2,608,150 |
|
Change Order No. 1 - Delete Bid Items Related to Picnic Arbor |
-$89,800 |
|
Construction Contingency (10%) |
$251,835 |
|
CSET (mulch installation) |
$32,420 |
|
CSET Contingency (10%) |
$3,242 |
|
Construction Management (City Staff) |
$73,423 |
|
Staking, Drafting, and Inspections (City Staff) |
$101,734 |
|
Materials Testing Services |
$38,031 |
|
Biological & Cultural Observations |
$35,000 |
|
Landscape Construction Management |
$19,350 |
|
Construction Subtotal |
$3,073,385 |
|
Community Access (grant requirement) |
$22,000 |
|
CP0396 New Budget |
$3,484,923 |
Authorization of the actions recommended in this staff report will require an additional appropriation of $831,530 from the funds identified below.
TABLE 4
|
Basin D CP0396 |
Funding % |
Amount Needed |
Current Budget |
Additional Appropriation Needed |
Additional Appropriation This Request (Rounded) |
|
Match Funding: |
45% |
|
|
|
|
|
132 Measure R Trails |
3% |
$42,237 |
$28,010 |
$14,227 |
$14,230 |
|
211 Rec Facilities Park Impact Fund |
33% |
$524,675 |
$39,630 |
$485,045 |
$485,050 |
|
224 Groundwater Recharge Fund |
63% |
$989,670 |
$667,480 |
$322,190 |
$322,190 |
|
261 Waterways Capital Fund |
1% |
$21,097 |
$11,040 |
$10,057 |
$10,060 |
|
Total |
100% |
$1,577,679 |
$746,160 |
$831,519 |
$831,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State Prop 68 Green Infrastructure Grant |
55% |
$1,907,244 |
$1,907,244 |
$ - |
$ - |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Totals |
100% |
$3,484,923 |
$2,653,404 |
$831,519 |
$831,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
$831,519 |
$831,530 |
It should be noted that the percent distributions shown in Table 4 have changed from the initial budget presented in 2022. As the project progressed through design several recreation and related facilities were incorporated into the design, such as a paved trail, paved parking lot, round benches, and trash receptacles. In addition, costs for mutually shared features, such as the paved access road, design, and construction management were proportionately applied, resulting in a redistribution of percentages among each applicable city fund, as shown in Table 4. The new percentages reflect the bid amounts received from Avison Construction.
Prior Council Action:
June 20, 2022: The City Council authorized the City Manager to award a sole-source professional design services contract to CWE for design of the East Side Regional Park’s (ESRP) Basin D for an amount not to exceed $275,265.18, and to approve an appropriation of $324,070 from the various funds outlined within the report. (3010-72000/CP0396-999).
April 4, 2020: The Council authorized the City Manager to accept and execute a grant for $1,907,244 from the Proposition 68 Green Infrastructure Program through the State of California Natural Resources Agency to construct a groundwater recharge basin with habitat improvements, create a new CIP, and appropriate associated funds.
Other: None
Alternatives: None recommended
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the City Manager to award the construction contract to Avison Construction, Inc. for the East Side Regional Park Recharge Basin D Project in the amount of $2,608,150; approve Change Order No. 1 in the reduction amount of ($89,800): and to appropriate an additional $831,530 from the funds identified in this report.
end
CEQA Review: Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration No. 2019-73 were prepared for the Green Infrastructure Grant.
Attachments:
1. Vicinity Map
2. Location Map
3. Site Master Plan B1
4. Avison Construction, Inc. Ownership Disclosure
5. Avison Construction, Inc. Contract