SR 06-26-2018 3B
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 26, 2018
Agenda Item: 3.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Susan Cline, Director, Public Works, Architecture Services
Subject: Award Construction Contract for the Airport Lighting Retrofit Project
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Award Bid #SP2523 to Clear Blue Energy Corporation, a California-based
company, for construction services for the Airport Lighting Retrofit Project;
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Clear Blue
Energy Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $419,786 (including a $69,965
contingency); and
3. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any necessary change orders to
complete additional work within contract authority.
Executive Summary
Until the end of 2028, the City of Santa Monica is responsible for the safe and secure
operation of Santa Monica Airport. The Airport Lighting Retrofit Project would enhance
the sustainability and the security of Airport facilities by replacing the existing exterior
lighting systems and reducing their overall energy consumption. This project would
replace incandescent light fixtures located in parking lots and on buildings with Light-
Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures. The state-of-the-art replacement fixtures are anticipated
to produce significant energy savings and require less maintenance in future years. In
addition, parking lot photovoltaic (PV) light fixtures would be replaced. Staff
recommends awarding a contract to Clear Blue Energy Corporation for this project in an
amount not to exceed $419,786 (including a $69,965 contingency).
Discussion
Historically, Airport buildings and parking lots utilized incandescent fixtures to light
public outdoor spaces. The fixtures at the Santa Monica Airport do not meet the City’s
sustainability goals and many are in need of replacement. In 2010, the City of Santa
Monica installed solar-powered LED lights and poles in parking lots along Airport
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Avenue. They were donated by manufacturer Jenn Feng, and over the years have
become inoperable. The Airport Lighting Retrofit Project would include the removal,
disposal, and replacement of various lighting and PV fixtures throughout the Airport.
These fixtures are located in parking lots, on hangars and building exteriors. Roughly
254 incandescent light fixtures would be converted to LED fixtures, and 41 PV LED
fixtures would be operational once again. The replacement of these lighting fixtures
would result in operating cost savings in utility bills and would decrease the City’s
energy consumption. Roughly estimated, the new LED fixtures consume 52% less
energy than the existing fixtures. At current electricity rates, the City can expect to save
an estimated $2,100 a year. Additionally, this project would enhance security throughout
the Airport by improving visibility, while being dark-sky friendly where possible. All
proposed parking lot fixtures will limit upward and visual glare to minimize any potential
effects to human sensitivity.
Vendor Selection
On March 28, 2018, the City published Notices Inviting Bids to deliver construction
services to remove various incandescent light fixtures and to replace them with LED
fixtures in accordance with City specifications. The bid was posted on the City’s on-line
bidding site, and notices were advertised in the Santa Monica Daily Press in
accordance with City Charter and Municipal Code provisions. Seventy-five vendors
downloaded the bid documents. Nine bids were received and publicly opened on April
26, 2018.
Vendor Amount
Regreen, Inc. $317,158.88
Luminos Global, Inc. $348,255.00
Clear Blue Energy, Corp. $349,820.89
Crown Electrical, Corp. $390,860.00
Golden Sun Firm & Co., Inc. $398,777.12
PV Guru, Inc. $409,000.00
Alco Construction & Electrical Services, Inc. $448,520.00
Thomas International Company $455,000.00
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Baker Electric, Inc. $541,917.39
Bids were evaluated based on the criteria in SMMC 2.24.072, including price, previous
experience, quality of product and compliance with City specifications. Clear Blue
Energy Corporation is not the lowest bidder, but was deemed the best bidder because
their bid included products which best matched the requirements set forth by the City.
They also showed experience in successfully completing similar projects of this
magnitude, and their quality of work was confirmed through reference checks. Based on
these criteria, Clear Blue Energy Corporation is recommended as the best bidder.
On May 18, 2018, the City received a bid protest from ReGreen Inc. stating their bid met
all submission requirements and was the lowest. Staff consulted with the City Attorney’s
office and pursuant to the Municipal Code, the City shall have absolute discretion in
determining the applicability and weight or relative weight of some or all of the criteria
listed on Santa Monica Municipal Code 2.24.072 and is not required to select the lowest
monetary bidder. In this case, determining criteria included cost, previous project
experience and reference checks, and fixture submittals. ReGreen Inc. did not submit
fixture submittals to the City in their bid submission, and Clear Blue Energy Corp.
scored higher in overall bid evaluation. Therefore, staff recommends Clear Blue Energy
Corp. as the best bidder.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The contract to be awarded to Clear Blue Energy Corporation is for an amount not to
exceed $419,786 (including contingency). Funds are available in the FY 2017-18
Capital Improvement Program budget in the Airport Fund at account
C339188.589000/C5706760.689000 - Airport Lighting Retrofit.
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Prepared By: Phillip Ticun, Construction Specialist
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Clear Blue Energy Oaks Initiative Form
REFERENCE:
Contract No. 10700
(CCS)