Item 21 - Construction Contract for the Santa Ana Zoo Hive Building

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Construction Contract for the Santa Ana Zoo Hive Building September 16, 2025 Page 3 Hub. Upon completion, the Hive will provide a welcoming, functional, and modern space that enhances the Zoo's ability to deliver high -quality educational experiences. The final site will include supporting infrastructure improvements, with maintenance coordinated by PWA staff and Zoo management. The Project reflects the City's continued investment in public infrastructure, educational equity, and long-range community enrichment. It will directly benefit residents, visitors, and partner organizations by providing a dedicated space for lifelong learning and engagement. Funding History The City received funding from the State of California in the FY21-22 budget through the advocacy of Senator Tom Umberg, 34th District, in the amount of $2,000,000 towards the completion of this project. On May 3, 2022, Council adopted a resolution approving the acceptance of grant funds from the State of California Natural Resources Agency, and a contract for architectural services was advertised on February 22, 2023 and awarded on August 1, 2023 to LOC Architects. The original design concept proposed a single large building; however, site and subsurface investigations revealed the presence of mature trees and underground utilities, including a Southern California Edison easement, which conflicted with the initial design. As a result, a revised approach was necessary. On April 16, 2024, the City Council approved an amended agreement with LOC Architects, modifying the scope of work to include the design of two separate buildings and a layout compatible with the site constraints. To date, $350,000 of the grant funds have been spent on design and the deadline to expend the State funds is March 1, 2026. City staff has been in communication with the State throughout this process and provided updates as the project has moved along. Staff may need to request an extension to the spending deadline. Project Advertisement and Contractor Procurement To provide an opportunity for local vendors to submit bids, the City notified a total of 219 regional vendors via PlanetBids, many of which are Santa Ana based. Furthermore, staff specifically reached out to Santa Ana vendors to encourage their participation in bids. A total of 13 bids were received and deemed responsive. One bid was received from a Santa Ana contractor. As legally required, a Notice Inviting Bids was advertised in the Orange County Register newspaper on May 7, 2025 and May 14, 2025. The project was also advertised in PlanetBids from May 7, 2025 to July 2, 2025. Bids were received electronically via PlanetBids on July 2, 2025. No bid protest was submitted by any of the bidders during the bid protest period. A copy of construction plans, contracts, specifications, and all related reference materials (such as The Greenbook) are available for public review at the City's Public Works Agency, Central Files office located in City Hall.