HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 24 - Ordinance Amending City Manager’s Contracting Authority for Non/Public Works Contracts & Construction Finance and Management Services Agency
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Item # 24
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
March 1, 2022
TOPIC: Ordinance Amending City Manager’s Contracting Authority for Non-Public Works
and Public Works Contracts and Public Works Construction Rules and Regulations
AGENDA TITLE:
Ordinance Amending City Manager’s Contracting Authority for Non-Public Works and
Public Works Contracts Under Chapter 2, Article VII and Public Works Construction Rules
and Regulations Under Chapter 33, Article VIII of the Santa Ana Municipal Code
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve first reading of an ordinance amending City Manager’s contracting authority for
non-public works and public works contracts under Chapter 2, Article VII, Sections 2-748,
2-800 to 2-808 and public works construction rules and regulations under Chapter 33,
Article VIII, Sections 33-200 to 33-203 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code as follows:
i) Amending Section 2-748 of Chapter 2, Article VII concerning the City Manager’s
contract authority:
(1) non-public works contracts to increase from $50,000 to $250,000;
(2) emergency public works construction to increase from $100,000 to $750,000;
(3) non-public works and public works contracts change orders authority increase
from 10 percent or $25,000, whichever is greater, to 15 percent or $50,000,
whichever is greater; and
(4) add language codifying contract limits will be applied on a fiscal year basis by
departments.
ii) Amending Section 2-800 to 2-808 of Chapter 2, Articles VII.II concerning the
Purchasing Rules and Regulations:
(1) clarifying language administrative in nature;
(2) extending local vendor preference to increase from procurement involving
$5,000 and one $100,000 to procurement involving $10,000 and $100,000;
(3) for reporting requirements to increase from $500 to $1,000;
(4) for administrative contracts to increase from $5,000 to ten $10,000;
(5) for informal contracts to increase from $5,000 and $25,000 to $10,000 and
$50,000);
(6) for formal contracts to increase from $25,000 to $50,000;
(7) add language to coincide with current practices for awarding services
contracts; and
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(8) for non-bid purchases add City-owned software upgrades, maintenance, or
additional licenses.
iii) Amending Sections 33-200 to 33-203 of Chapter 33, Article VIII concerning the Public
Works Construction Rules and Regulations:
(1) housekeeping language administrative in nature; and
(2) for non-emergency public works construction incorporate informal procurement
process:
a) administrative contracts up to $50,000
b) informal construction bid for contracts between $50,000 and $250,000
c)formal for bid for contracts in excess of $250,000
Executive Summary
Revisions to both the City Manager’s contract authority and purchasing requirements
regarding its informal and formal bidding process is recommended to modernize the City’s
procurement process, while increasing the pool of companies who bid on City projects,
including local vendors. If approved, the City Manager will have authority to enter into
non-public works and public works contracts up to $250,000. Bidding requirements will
increase (formal bid process) to $50,000 for both non-public works and public works
contracts.
If approved, revisions to both the City Manager’s contract authority and bidding
requirements will closely align the City’s purchasing requirements with newly enacted
federal and state guidelines.
Quarterly report of contracts will continue to be required to be submitted and include
contracts entered into that exceed $1,000, an increase from the current requirement of
contracts that exceed $500.
Revisions to the City’s local preference is not recommended at this time. The City’s
current local preference of seven percent matches the State’s local preference
percentage amount.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City’s Municipal Code includes authority for the City Manager to bind contracts,
purchasing thresholds for informal bids and formal bids, and local preference allowances.
The City Council last updated the City Manager’s contracting authority in March 2019,
increasing it from $25,000 to $50,000 for non-public works contracts, and from $25,000
to $250,000 for public works contracts. The City Council last updated the purchasing (i.e.
informal and formal bid requirements) thresholds in 2012.
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Comparison to Other Cities and Proposed Thresholds
The following table summarizes the contracting and purchasing authority for charter cities
in Southern California with populations from 300,000 to 500,000. The table includes the
current and proposed thresholds for Santa Ana.
City CM Authority Informal Bids Formal Bids Local Preference
Anaheim All:
Up to $200,000
Public Projects:
$10,000-$50,000
require up to 3 quotes
All Other:
>$500-$20,000
Public Projects:
Over $100k
All Other:
>$20,000
5% maximum $2,000
Irvine All:
Up to $1,000,000
Public Projects:
>$60,000-$200,000
All Other:
$10,000 – $45,000
Public Projects:
>$200,000
All Other:
$45,000-$200,000
5% maximum $2,000
Long
Beach
All:
Up to $200,000
None Required Public Projects:
$25,000
All Other:
>$100,000
10% maximum $10,000
Riverside All:
Up to $50,000
Public Projects:
Up to $25,000
All Other:
Up to $50,000
Public Projects:
>$50,000
All Other:
>$50,000
5%
Santa Ana
Current
Public Works
Contracts:
Up to $250,000
All Other:
Up to $50,000
Public Works
Construction:
Not Applicable
All Other:
>$5,000-$25,000
Public Works
Construction:
>$500
All Other:
>$25,000
7% small Santa Ana
business or 4%
Orange County
business, for
purchases up to
$100,000
Santa Ana
Proposed
Public Works
Contracts:
Up to $250,000
All Other:
Up to $250,000
Public Works
Contracts:
>$50,000-$250,000
All Other:
>$10,000-$50,000
Public Works
Contracts:
>$250,000
All Other:
>$50,000
No Change
City Manager Contracting Authority
Staff publishes a quarterly report of all contracts issued by the City Manager in excess of
$500, as required by SAMC 2-804, to ensure full transparency and accountability. The
quarterly report includes vendor name, issuing department, and description of items or
services, and amount of the contract. The only recommended change to the quarterly
report is to increase the reporting threshold from $500 to $1,000.
Agenda process time is the primary reason behind the recommended change to the City
Manager’s contract authority. Departments must submit proposed City Council staff
reports two weeks prior to the City Council meeting, then execution of City Council
approved contracts is coordinated with the Mayor’s schedule. The proposed ordinance
would increase efficiency, reduce staff time, and allow the City Manager to issue small
contracts up to three weeks faster.
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If the City Manager had previously had the authority to sign contracts up to $250,000,
staff identified 102 contracts, totaling $11.8 million (an average of $115,700 each), that
could have been signed by the City Manager in FY 2020-21.
The FY 2021-22 citywide budget is $758 million, with approximately $300 million subject
to contracts for purchase of services, construction, and commodities.
Formal and Informal Bid Threshold
The City has a formal process to advertise for and collect bids and proposals for
purchases of goods and services over $25,000, and public projects over $500.
To ensure the City acquires goods and services at the best price, staff documents at least
three informal quotes gathered via phone or email for purchases in excess of $5,000 and
up to $25,000, unless unique circumstances dictate the goods or services are only
available from less than three vendors.
Staff recommends increasing the threshold requiring formal procurement procedures for
all other purchases (non-public works contracts) to $50,000. It is time-consuming and
costly for vendors to submit bids and proposals via a formal process. Increasing the
threshold would enable more local small vendors to compete for the City’s business.
The City does not have an informal procurement process for public works construction
projects. Adopting the proposed informal bid procedure will streamline the process to
execute public works contracts and agreements involving expenditures up to $250,000,
thereby expediting delivery of maintenance, repairs and services to public assets such as
streets, sewer, water facilities, parks, etc.
Local Preference
Most cities have a very limited local preference program. To support a significant
preference or a preference for large contracts, a vendor would need to demonstrate a
disadvantage by operating in the jurisdiction.
At this time, staff does not recommend changes to the City’s current local preference
program, as it is very competitive with other comparable cities. Furthermore, in November
2018 the State increased the local preference from five percent to seven percent,
matching the City’s current preference amount awarded to Santa Ana based business.
The recommendation to increase the threshold for formal bids will help small local
vendors compete for City business. In addition, staff has developed an outreach program
on the City’s website to educate local vendors about the City’s competitive procurement
process and opportunities to participate.
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During April 2021, staff called 400+ Santa Ana businesses registered with Planet Bids.
Businesses were invited to participate in the upcoming virtual workshop, which included
training on how to register in the City’s bid management system.
On July 22, 2021, the City conducted a virtual workshop to show Santa Ana businesses
how to submit bids to the City. Staff also expanded the information presented on the
“Doing Business with the City” webpage on the City’s website to include the video and
updated FAQs.
The City’s bid platform, Planet Bids, allows the City to solicit bids by invitation only based
on geographic location, with direct communications going to those vendors. The City’s
Buyers encourage departments to solicit informal bids from local vendors whenever
practical. When departments ask the Buyers where to procure goods or services, the
Buyers respond with Santa Ana vendors first. Finally, as part of the formal bid process,
Buyers use Planet Bids to contact local vendors if they have not submitted a bid three
days prior to bid closing.
Housekeeping Adjustments
Revisions are proposed to Section 2-748 and Section 2-800 thru 2-803 (Article VII.11
Purchasing Rules and Regulations of the Santa Ana Municipal Code clarifying the City’s
current practice and additional clean-up language, which is administrative in nature.
Specifically, additional language regarding how the City Manager’s contract authority is
applied on both a fiscal year and department basis. Multiple Departments can enter into
a contract with the same vendor who may or may not be providing different type of
services. Splitting of contracts for avoiding the City purchasing requirements is prohibited.
The rationale is the City Council authorizes a new budget each Fiscal Year and through
that budget provides policy direction on the work it desires the City Manager to complete.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no quantifiable fiscal impact associated with the proposed ordinance. However,
the City would be able to utilize staff resources more efficiently for other public services.
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EXHIBIT(S)
1. Ordinance including Santa Ana Municipal Code Chapter 2, Article VII, Sections 2-
748 and 2-800 to 2-808 and Chapter 33, Sections 33-200 to 33-203, red-line
Submitted By: Kathryn Downs, Executive Director Finance and Management Services
Approved By: Kristine Ridge, City Manager
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 1 of 15
ORDINANCE NO. NS-XXX
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA AMENDING ARTICLES VII AND VII.II OF
CHAPTER 2 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE
REGARDING CITY MANAGER’S CONTRACTING
AUTHORITY AND CITY PURCHASING RULES AND
REGULATIONS, AND ARTICLE VIII OF CHAPTER 33 OF
THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING PUBLIC
WORKS CONSTRUCTION RULES AND REGULATIONS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA HEREBY ORDAINS AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines,
and declares as follows:
A. Sections 421 and 422 of the Santa Ana City Charter provide that the City
Council may by ordinance authorize the City Manager to bind the City on non-public works
contracts and public works contracts for such amounts as may be established from time
to time.
B. Sections 421 and 422 also provide that the City Council may by ordinance
establish rules and procedures for competitive bidding for non-public works contracts and
public works contracts.
C. On March 19, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. NS-2963, by
which the City Manager’s contracting authority was increased to $50,000 for non-public
works contracts and to $250,000 for public works contracts.
D. The City Council is regularly presented with a voluminous amount of
contracts and agreements for approval annually. The process to obtain City Council
approval can be lengthy and requires a substantial amount of City staff time. This process
can also adversely impact the City’s ability to provide efficient and timely delivery of
services to its constituents and businesses.
E. Further increasing the City Manager’s contracting authority for both non-
public works and public works contracts and other housekeeping changes to the City’s
procurement rules and procedures are desirable because they will free staff time to
devote to other necessary public services and facilitate participation of small local vendors
for the City’s business, as the formal process can be time-consuming and costly.
F. Further increasing the City Manager’s contracting authority for both non-
public works and public works contracts and change orders to such contracts will also
further streamline the process to execute Public Works Agency contracts and agreements
for the construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, testing and inspection of public
EXHIBIT 1
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 2 of 15
infrastructure, thereby improving the delivery of services necessary for the continued
enhancement and preservation of such public infrastructure.
Section 2. Section 2-748 of Article VII (City Manager’s Contracting Authority) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-748. – City manager’s contracting authority.
(a) Non-public works contracts.
(1) The city manager is authorized to bind the city on a fiscal year basis
by department to any one (1) or more written non-public works
contract, per vendor, in an amount or amounts not exceeding
the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) two hundred fifty thousand
dollars ($250,000). For purposes of this section, a non-public works
contract shall mean any contract not deemed to be a public works
contract under subsection (b)(1).
(b) Public works contracts.
(1) The city manager is authorized to bind the city on a fiscal year basis
by department to any one (1) or more written public works contract,
per vendor, in an amount or amounts not exceeding the sum of two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000.00). For purposes of
this section, a public works contract shall be deemed to mean a
project for the erection, improvement, and/or maintenance,
inspection, testing and repair of public buildings, streets, drains,
sewers, or parks.
(2) The city manager is authorized to bind the city to any one (1) written
contract for emergency public works construction in an amount not
exceeding the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00)
seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000).
(3) The city manager is hereby authorized to bind the city on change
orders to any one (1) public works contract, per vendor, without
previous city council approval when such change order for any one
(1) public works contract, together with any previously approved
change orders for said contract, do not cumulatively amount to an
increase of the city's expenditure obligation under said contract of
more than ten (10) percent of the original contract amount, or the
amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00), whichever is
the greater.
(c) Change Orders
(1) The city manager is hereby authorized to bind the city on change
orders to any one (1) non-public works or public works contract, per
vendor, without previous city council approval when such change
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 3 of 15
order for any one (1) non-public works or public works contract,
together with any previously approved change orders for said
contract, do not cumulatively amount to an increase of the city's
expenditure obligation under said contract of more than fifteen (15)
percent of the original contract amount, or the amount of fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000.00), whichever is the greater.
Section 3. Section 2-800 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-800. Purposes of purchasing system.
These purchasing rules and regulations are hereby adopted in order to:
(1) Establish efficient procedures for purchasing of materials, supplies, labor
and equipment for non-public works contracts and public works contracts;
(2) Secure maximum quality goods, services or performance at minimum cost
for the city;
(3) Exercise positive financial control over the city's purchases; and
(4) Establish the necessary procedures for the selection of providers of all
ranges of goods and services so as to avoid favor or prejudice.;
(5) To sSimplify, clarify, and modernize the law governing procurement by the
City;
(6) To pProvide for increased public confidence in the procedures followed in
public procurement;
(7) To eEnsure the fair and equitable treatment of all persons who deal with the
procurement system of the City;
(8) To fFoster effective broad-based competition within the free enterprise
system;
(9) To pProvide safeguards for the maintenance of a procurement system of
quality and integrity, and
(10) To oObtain in a cost-effective and responsive manner the materials,
services, and construction required by City agencies in order for those
agencies to better serve the City's businesses and residents.
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 4 of 15
Section 4. Section 2-802 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-802. Definitions
For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
Agency shall mean the executive director of the city agency or department which
has responsibility for awarding a contract for services.
Agreement or contract shall mean a legal contract which complies fully with the
provisions of Section 421 of the City's Charter and this article. The words agreement
and contract may be used interchangeably in this article.
Electronic shall mean electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or any
other similar technology.
Local business shall mean a business certified by the state department of
general services as a small business, which has a substantial presence through either a
headquarters or branch office within the geographical boundaries of the city, and which
headquarters or branch office was established prior to the city inviting bids for the
respective procurement. Said business must possess a current business license and
certificate of occupancy. For purposes of this article, a post office box address within the
city shall not qualify as a valid business location.
Materials, supplies, labor and equipment shall mean those goods or services, but
excluding services as defined below and public works construction, that are readily
ascertainable and measurable by an objective standard in terms of quantity or quality
so as to be susceptible to competitive bidding.
Orange County business shall mean a business certified by the state department
of general services as a small business, which has a substantial presence through
either a headquarters or branch office within the geographical boundaries of Orange
County, and which headquarters or branch office was established prior to the city
inviting bids for the respective procurement. Said business must possess a current
business license to perform work in Santa Ana. For purposes of this article, a post office
box address within the county shall not qualify as a valid business location.
Public notice shall mean the distribution or dissemination of information to
interested parties using methods that are reasonably available. Such methods can
include publication in newspapers of general circulation, electronic or paper mailing
lists, and web site(s) designated by the city and maintained for that purpose.
Purchasing manager shall mean that city employee or official so designated by
the city manager and authorized to carry out the responsibilities under this article,
including the promulgation and enforcement of administrative procedures.
Purchase order (PO) shall mean that standardized contract developed pursuant
to subsection 2-803(j) issued to the vendor of materials, supplies, labor and equipment.
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 5 of 15
Services shall mean the furnishing of labor, time, or effort by a contractorfirm or
individual, not involving the delivery of a specific end product other than reports which
are merely incidental to the required performance. Services are of an advisory nature,
provide a recommended course of action or personal expertise, have an end product
comprised of a transmittal of information, written or verbal, and that is related to the
governmental functions of administration, management, program management or
innovation. The product may include anything from answers to specific questions to
design of a system or plan, and includes provision of workshops, seminars, retreats,
and conferences for which expertise is necessary. This term shall not include
employment agreements or collective bargaining agreements. This term shall not
include contracts for the construction, alteration, improvement, repair, or maintenance of
real or personal property.
Section 5. Section 2-803 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-803. Powers and duties of the purchasing manager.
The city manager is directed to establish and maintain a centralized purchasing
system, and in connection therewith, the city manager shall designate a purchasing
manager for the city whose duties shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a) Act to procure for the city the needed quality in materials, supplies, labor,
and equipment, and services including professional services, at the least
expense to the city.
(b) Recommend execution of contracts.
(c) Endeavor to obtain as full and open competition as possible on all
purchases.
(d) Keep informed of current developments in the field of purchasing
procurement, prices, market conditions and new products.
(e) Establish rules and procedures governing the purchase of materials,
supplies, labor, equipment and services, for the city through the preparation
and adoption of an administrative code policy which shall provide for the
review of such alternative sources of supply or performance as may be
available in competition with one another and selection therefrom on the
basis of obtaining maximum quality at minimum costs.
(f) Prescribe and maintain such forms as are reasonably necessary for the
operation of this article.
(g) Keep or cause to be kept an inventory of all municipal property in his or her
custody.
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 6 of 15
(hg) If required by federal, state or other law, cause notices inviting bids to be
published.
(ih) Endeavor to establish standards in the variety of articles, materials,
supplies, labor, and equipment, commonly used by the various departments
and agencies, as will make possible uniform purchases, when consistent
with efficiency.
(ji) Prepare, with the approval of the city attorney as to form, a pre-printed
purchase order to be utilized in contracts for materials, supplies, labor and
equipment.
Section 6. Section 2-803.1 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations)
of Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to
read in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-803.1. Local preference in contracts for materials, supplies, labor and
equipment.
Except for those contracts for which the Charter of the City of Santa Ana prohibits
the provision of a local preference, and/or those contracts funded through programs or
partners which prohibit the use of a local preference, the city council authorizes the
purchasing manager to extend a preference to local business and Orange County
business as set forth herein.
(a) In the procurement of material, supplies, labor and equipment involving
expenditures a contract award between five thousand dollars ($5,000.00)
ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000.00), the purchasing manager shall extend a preference to each
local business and each Orange County business, which preference shall
be applied to the bid which provides maximum quality at minimum price.
Said preference shall be set by resolution of the city council.
(b) If the bidder submitting the maximum quality at minimum cost bid is not a
local business or an Orange County business, and if a local business or an
Orange County business has submitted a responsive and responsible bid,
and with the benefit of the applicable preference, the bid submitted by local
business or Orange County business is equal to or less than the original
maximum quality at minimum cost bid, the contract shall be awarded to the
local business or the Orange County business at its submitted bid price. If
two (2) or more low bids received are equal after the application of the
preference, the contract shall be awarded in the following order:
(1) To a local business.
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 7 of 15
(2) To an Orange County business.
(3) To the bidder submitting the maximum quality at minimum
cost bid.
The city shall reserve the right to reject any or all bids.
(c) In order for the preference to apply, a bidder must certify under
penalty of perjury, that the bidder qualifies as a local business or
Orange County business. The preference is waived if the
certification does not appear on the bid.
Section 7. Section 2-804 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code hereby is amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-804. Reporting requirements
The city manager reporting requirements mandated by Section 421 of the City
Charter shall only include contracts let that exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00)one
thousand dollars ($1,000),. aAll other contracts let by the city manager under five
hundred dollars ($500.00) one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be provided to the city
council if requested by a councilmember.
Section 8. Section 2-805 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-805. Procurement of materials, supplies, labor, and equipment
between five hundred dollars ($500.00) and twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000.00) up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).
(a) For those agreements exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) but not
exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), tThe city manager may bind
the city on contracts for materials, supplies, labor, and equipment in
amounts not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5000.00)ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) in any one contract or in the aggregate with any one
vendor or service provider. These contracts can be entered into
administratively without the need for informal or formal bidding.
(b) Unless exempt from bidding pursuant section 2-807, all contracts involving
an expenditure between five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) ten thousand
dollars ($10,000) and twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000) for materials, supplies, labor, and equipment
shall be let on the basis of obtaining maximum quality at minimum cost in
accordance with procedures established by the purchasing manager.
Those procedures shall provide for at a minimum the following:
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 8 of 15
(1) There shall be a written or verbal invitation for bid which shall
include the following information: A general description of the things
to be purchased or project specifications, the time and place for bid
opening when applicable, bid instructions, and the terms and
conditions of the bid and any resulting contract. The purchasing
manager shall make a good faith effort to notify all businesses
engaged in providing such materials, supplies, labor, and
equipment located within the boundaries of the city of the
opportunity to bid.
(2) Where required by state or federal law or regulations, or upon
request by a bidder, the bids shall be opened, if sealed, and
declared in public at the time and place stated on the "Invitation for
Bid."
Section 9. Section 2-806 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-806. Procurement of materials, supplies, labor, and equipment in
excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) fifty thousand dollars
($50,000).
Unless exempt from bidding pursuant to section 2-807, all contracts involving an
expenditure in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00)fifty thousand dollars
($50,000) for materials, supplies, labor, and equipment shall be let on the basis of
obtaining maximum quality at minimum cost, in accordance with procedures established
by the purchasing manager. Those procedures shall provide for at least the following:
(a) Public notices inviting bids shall include a general description of the
things to be purchased or project specifications and the date, time and
place for bid opening (if applicable). Adequate public notice of the invitation
for bids shall be given a reasonable time prior to the date set forth therein
for the opening of bids, in accordance with regulations established by the
purchasing manager. To the extent that public notice is by way of
publication in a newspaper of general circulation, such publication shall be
for at least two (2) days, the first of which shall be at least ten (10) days
before the date set for opening bids.
(b) Invitation of bids shall be mailed or transmitted by other means established
by the administrative codepolicy but not recited over the telephone or in
person. Any interested bidder may obtain an invitation for bid.
(c) All bids shall be submitted sealed in accordance with the instructions
contained in the "Invitation for Bid" form.
(d) The bids shall be opened in public, at the date and time and place stated
on the "Invitation for Bid." All bids shall be publicly declared.
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 9 of 15
Section 10. Section 2-807 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-807. Non-bid purchases.
The following contracts may be exempted from competitive bidding through an
open market purchase by the purchasing manager, and confirmed by the city council in
the case of contracts for over twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00)two hundred
thousand dollars ($200,000), but shall nevertheless be entered into only after compliance
with the rules established by the purchasing manager, which shall include the review of
such alternative sources of supply or performance as may be available in competition
with one another and selection therefrom on the basis of obtaining maximum quality at
minimum costs:
(a) Purchases of materials, supplies, labor, and equipment whenever it shall
appear that there is only one (1) reasonably available source or where
solicitation of bids would for any reason be an idle act.
(b) Purchases of materials, supplies, labor, and equipment necessary for the
preservation of life, health or property, following the declaration of a state of
emergency or disaster in the city. A full written account of emergency
procurements made during the declared emergency or disaster shall be
submitted to the city council within thirty (30) days as soon as practical but
no later than ninety (90) days after their procurement.
(c) Situations where no bids are received or all bids are rejected and the city
council determines, upon the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (⅔) of its
members, that the materials, supplies, labor or equipment can be obtained
at a lower cost.
(d) Purchases from vendors whose names are on current established lists and
have been awarded the same type of purchase contract by a federal agency
(including the general services administration), a state agency, county, city
or other public agency after a competitive bidding process determined by
the purchasing manager to be substantially equivalent to that prescribed by
this article.
(e) Contracts for services, which may be awarded on the basis of demonstrated
competence and on the professional qualifications necessary for the
satisfactory performance of the services required or other process
established by administrative policy.
(f) City-owned software upgrades, maintenance, and/or additional licenses.
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 10 of 15
Section 11. Section 2-808 of Article VII.II (Purchasing Rules and Regulations) of
Chapter 2 (Administration) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended to read
in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 2-808. Local preference in contracts for services.
Except for those contracts for which the Charter of the City of Santa Ana prohibits
the provision of a local preference, and/or those contracts funded through programs or
partners which prohibit the use of a local preference, the city council authorizes the
agency to extend a preference to local business and Orange County Business as set forth
herein.
(a) Contracts for services shall be awarded on the basis of demonstrated
competence and on the professional qualifications necessary to for the
satisfactory performance of the services required. In evaluating proposals
for service contracts in amounts up to one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000.00), proposers which qualify as local business or Orange County
business shall be eligible for preference points. The preference shall be
added to the proposal to reach a final score in determining the most
advantageous proposal. Said preference shall be set by resolution of the
city council.
(b) A non local proposer associating with a local business or Orange County
business, shall be eligible for the local preference if a minimum of fifty (50)
percent of the contract value will be performed by the local business or
Orange County business.
Section 12. Section 33-200 of Article VIII (Public Works Construction Rules and
Regulations) of Chapter 33 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Works) of the Santa Ana
Municipal Code is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 33-200. Purposes.
(a) These rules and regulations for the contracting of public works construction
services are to comply with section 421 422 of the city charter to:
(1) Establish efficient procedures for construction of public works;
(2) Distinguish between traditional public works construction and other
more innovative modes of project management and project delivery
which still comply with the city's charter; and
(3) Establish procedures to allow for the efficient and fair construction
of public works without favor or prejudice.
(b) The city council finds that the city's charter, including but not limited to
sections 200, and 421, and 422 conflict with existing state law set forth in
the California Public Contract Code. Said charter provisions, this article
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 11 of 15
and the administrative procedures adopted by the executive director of
public works pursuant to section 33-204, are intended, and shall be
interpreted, to constitute a complete statement of the city's public works
construction rules and regulations. The city council declares there exists a
fundamental conflict between the city's charter, ordinances, administrative
rules and regulations, on the one hand, and the California Public Contract
Code provisions regulating public works construction, on the other hand,
both generally and specifically. This conflict infringes on the city's
constitutional authority to govern its municipal affairs. The city council
intends to and does hereby exempt public works construction from being
subject to any provision of the California Public Contract Code, except to
the extent that any such provisions may be expressly incorporated in
applicable administrative procedures.
Section 13. Section 33-202 of Article VIII (Public Works Construction Rules and
Regulations) of Chapter 33 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Works) of the Santa Ana
Municipal Code is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 33-202. Definitions.
For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:
Construction manager shall mean an agent of the city who provides the city with
professional services in the fields of technology, scheduling, ability to construct, and/or
management of the fiscal aspects of a public works project. A construction manager
shall be responsible for some or all of the following:
(1) Overseeing a public works project through completion of
construction;
(2) Assumption of financial responsibility;
(3) Hiring of an architect/designer, if necessary, through a qualification
process consistent with procedures established pursuant to section
2-803; and/or
(4) Contracting for actual construction work by award of a contract to
the lowest and best bidder in conformance with section 421 422 of
the city's charter.
Design-build-bid shall mean a procurement process in which both the design and
construction manager professional services for a public works project are procured from
a single entity, while the actual construction work is awarded by the entity to the lowest
and best bidder in conformance with section 421 422 of the city's charter.
Professional services shall have the same meaning as in section 2-802 of this
code.
Public works shall have the same meaning as in California Labor Code sections
1720, 1720.2, 1720.3, and 1771 and as may be amended from time to time.
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 12 of 15
Public works construction shall have the same meaning as in section 421 422 of
the city's charter.
Public works project shall mean the totality of a project, including both
professional services and public works construction, which ultimately results in the
erection or improvement of public buildings, streets, drains, sewers, parks or
playgrounds.
Purchasing manager shall have the same meaning as in section 2-802 of this
code.
Section 14. Section 33-203 of Article VIII (Public Works Construction Rules and
Regulations) of Chapter 33 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Works) of the Santa Ana
Municipal Code is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
Sec. 33-203. Procurement of public works construction.
(a) Contracts involving expenditures not exceeding fifty thousand dollars
($50,000) may be entered into administratively without informal or formal
bidding.
(b) Contracts involving expenditures between fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)
and two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) shall require informal
bidding. The informal bidding process shall provide for at a minimum the
following:
(1) There shall be a written invitation for bid which shall include the
following information: A general description of the public works
construction, the place to obtain the plans and specifications, the
date, time, and place for bid opening when applicable, bid
instructions, and the terms and conditions of the bid and any
resulting contract.
(2) Where required by state law or federal law or regulations, or upon
request by a bidder, the bids shall be opened, if sealed, and
declared in public at the time and place stated on the “Invitation for
Bid.”
(c) The following procedure shall apply to every contract for which final plans
and specifications are available involving an expenditure of more than five
hundred dollars ($500.00) two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) for
non-emergency public works construction:
(a1) Notice inviting bids. Notice inviting bids shall include a general
description of the public works construction, the place to obtain the
plans and specifications, and the date, time and place for opening
bids. The notice shall be published in a newspaper of general
circulation in the city for at least two (2) days, the first of which shall
be at least ten (10) days before the date set for opening bids. The
city shall make a good faith effort to send a notice inviting bids to all
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 13 of 15
businesses engaged in providing labor and materials for such
construction located within the boundaries of the city.
(b2) The bid. Included with the plans and specifications for a work of
public works construction shall be the following documents:
Instructions to bidder, proposal, bond samples and the contract. The
bidder shall execute the proposal and contract, and submit them
sealed with at least a ten (10) per cent bid bond, cashier's check or
certified check.
(c3) Award of contract. Upon opening the bids at on the date, time and
place stated in the notice, the aggregate bid of each bidder shall be
publicly declared. Following the determination of the lowest and best
bidder, the proposal and agreement from this bidder shall be sent to
the city attorney for approval as to form. The documents shall then
be presented to the city council for approval and authorization for
execution. If two (2) or more bids received are the same and the
lowest, the council may accept the one it chooses.
(d4) Notification of award. A notification letter, a request for bonds, when
necessary, and a copy of the fully executed contract shall be
delivered to the successful bidder.
(e5) Performance bonds. To secure faithful performance of the contract,
the city manager is authorized to require security in the form of cash,
cashier's check, certified check or corporate faithful performance
bonds, in the following percentages of the aggregate amount bid:
One hundred (100) per cent bond for faithful performance, and fifty
(50) per cent contractor's payment bond.
(f6) Rejection of bids. The right to reject all bids is expressly reserved to
the city council. After rejecting such bids, or if no bids are received,
the city council may determine and declare that, in its opinion based
on estimates submitted by the city manager, the public works
construction may be performed better or more economically by the
city with its own employees, and after the adoption of a motion to this
effect by the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds (⅔) of the
members of the city council, the council may proceed to have said
work done in the manner stated without further observance of the
provision of this article.
Section 15. The City Council finds and determines that this Ordinance is not
subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections
15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it will not result in a
direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, as there is
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 14 of 15
no possibility it will have a significant effect on the environment and it is not a "project",
as defined in Section 15378 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Section 16. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this
ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby declares that
it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause,
phrase or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections,
subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or
unconstitutional.
Section 17. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days after its
adoption.
Section 18. The Clerk of the Council shall certify the adoption of this ordinance
and shall cause the same to be published as required by law.
ADOPTED this _______ day of ___________, 2022.
_________________________
Vicente Sarmiento
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney
By:_________________________
John M. Funk
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers ______________________________________
NOES: Councilmembers _______________________________________
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers _______________________________________
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers _______________________________________
Ordinance No. NS-XXX
Page 15 of 15
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, Daisy Gomez, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Ordinance No. NS-____________ to be the original ordinance adopted by the City
Council of the City of Santa Ana on _______________, and that said ordinance was
published in accordance with the Charter of the City of Santa Ana.
Date: ________________ ____________________________________
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
New City Website Project
City Manager’s Office
December 1, 2021Slide1
Contracting Authority and
Bid Thresholds
March 1, 2022 agenda item #24
New City Website Project
City Manager’s Office
December 1, 2021Slide2
The Procurement Framework
City Manager
Contract Authority
Requires City
Council approved
budget
Requires a report
of all transactions
to City Council
current $500+
proposed $1,000+)
Informal Bids
A faster, less
formal process
Must solicit at
least 3 bids
Allows us to
solicit only Santa
Ana vendors
Formal Bids
Significant
increase in
administrative
process
Bid opening
date/time,
protest period
Open to all
vendors
New City Website Project
City Manager’s Office
December 1, 2021Slide3
SoCal Charter Cities 300-500k pop
City Manager
Contract Authority
Up to:
Informal Bids
Public Projects
Informal Bids
All Other
Anaheim $200,000 $10,000-$50,000 $500-$20,000
Irvine $1,000,000 $60,000-$200,000 $10,000-$45,000
Long Beach $200,000 None <$25,000 None <$100,000
Riverside $50,000 $25,000 $50,000
Santa Ana Current Public Works:
250,000
All Other:
50,000
None <$500 $5,000-$25,000
Santa Ana Proposed $250,000 $50,000-$250,000 $10,000-$50,000
Formal bids required for all amounts greater than the informal bid thresholds
New City Website Project
City Manager’s Office
December 1, 2021Slide4
Benefits
Perform work faster, without lengthy administrative
process and agenda preparation time
Would have saved time for 102 contracts totaling
11.8 million (1% of the City’s budget) during FY20-21
Extends existing contract authority for public
projects to all other projects
Aligns City thresholds closer to peer cities, and
state and federal guidelines
Enhances our ability to do business with Santa Ana
vendors and contractors
New City Website Project
City Manager’s Office
December 1, 2021Slide5
Doing Business Locally
Santa Ana has a competitive local preference of 7% for Santa
Ana and 4% for Orange County
We contacted 400+ local businesses to participate in a July
2021 virtual workshop for education to do business with the
City
The virtual presentation video, FAQs and other expanded info
to help local vendors is on the City’s website
Planet Bids allows the City to solicit bids by invitation only
based on geographic location with direct communications
going to those vendors
We contact qualified local vendors if they have not submitted
formal bids three days prior to the bid window closing
New City Website Project
City Manager’s Office
December 1, 2021Slide6
Questions?