Project No: CP 20-10 SNIP Phase II Pipeline and Pump Station

NIB-1 Notice Inviting Bids June 2026

NOTICE INVITING BIDS

FOR

SNIP Phase II Pipeline and Pump Station Project [the “Project”]

Project Number: CP 20-10

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Antelope Valley - East Kern Water Agency (the “Agency”) invites sealed Bids for the Project. The Agency will receive such Bids at its Administrative Office, 6500 West Avenue N, Palmdale, CA 93551 up to 2:00 p.m. on August 14, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud.

SCOPE OF WORK. The Project includes, without limitation, furnishing all necessary labor, materials, equipment and other incidental and appurtenant Work necessary to satisfactorily complete the Project, as more specifically described in the Contract Documents. This Work will be performed in strict conformance with the Contract Documents, permits from regulatory agencies with jurisdiction, and applicable regulations. The quantity of Work to be performed and materials to be furnished are approximations only, being given as a basis for the comparison of Bids. Actual quantities of Work to be performed may vary at the discretion of the Agency Engineer. A brief summary of the Work is as follows:

• Furnish and install approximately 6.6 miles of 48-inch cement mortar lined and coated welded steel pipe, including all excavation, backfilling, paving, pipeline appurtenances, and other items as required by the Contract Documents.

• Furnish and install three pumps for the existing pump station, including all mechanical and electrical improvements, and other items as required by the Contract Documents.

OBTAINING BID DOCUMENTS. Bidders may obtain copies electronic of the Plans, Specifications and other Contract Documents by emailing Benjamin Melendez, at bmelendez@avek.org. Hard copies of Contract Documents will not be provided.

MANDATORY PRE-BID MEETING AND SITE VISIT. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on July 20, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at 6500 W Avenue N, Palmdale. CA 93551, followed by a mandatory site visit. Every Bidder is required to attend the pre-bid meeting and Project site visit.

Failure of a Bidder to attend will render that Bidder’s Bid non-responsive. No allowances for cost adjustments will be made if a Bidder fails to adequately examine the Project site before submitting a Bid.

PRE-BID QUESTIONS. Discrepancies in, and/or omissions from the Bid or Contract Documents or questions as to their meaning shall be immediately brought to the attention of the Agency by submission of a written request for an interpretation or clarification to the Agency. Such submission, if any, must be sent to Benjamin Melendez at bmelendez@avek.org. Questions must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on July 31, 2026. Questions received after this date and time may not be answered.

REGISTRATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS. In accordance with Labor Code Sections 1725.5 and 1771.1, no contractor or subcontractor shall be qualified to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal, subject to the requirements of Section 4104 of the Public Contract Code, or engage in the performance of any contract for public work, unless currently registered

Project No: CP 20-10 SNIP Phase II Pipeline and Pump Station

NIB-2 Notice Inviting Bids June 2026 and qualified to perform public work pursuant to Section 1725.5 [with limited exceptions for bid purposes only under Labor Code Section 1771.1(a)].

PREVAILING WAGES. In accordance with Labor Code Section 1770 et seq., the Project is a “public work.” The selected Bidder (Contractor) and any Subcontractors shall pay wages in accordance with the determination of the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (“DIR”) regarding the prevailing rate of per diem wages. Copies of those rates are on file with the Director of Public Works, and are available to any interested party upon request. The Contractor shall post a copy of the DIR’s determination of the prevailing rate of per diem wages at each job site.

This Project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the DIR.

BONDS. Each Bid must be accompanied by a cash deposit, cashier’s check, certified check or Bidder’s Bond issued by a Surety insurer, made payable to the Agency and in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the total Bid submitted. Personal or company checks are not acceptable. Upon Contract award, the Contractor shall provide faithful performance and payment Bonds, each in a sum equal to the Contract Price. All Bonds must be issued by a California admitted Surety insurer using the forms set forth in the Contract Documents, or in any other form approved by the Agency General Counsel. Failure to enter into the Contract with the Agency, including the submission of all required Bonds and insurance coverages, within fifteen (15) Days after the date of the mailing of written notice of contract award to the Bidder, shall subject the Bid security to forfeiture to the extent provided by law.

LICENSES. Each Bidder shall possess a valid Class A General Engineering Contractor’s license issued by the California State Contractors License Board at the time of the Bid submission, unless this Project has any federal funding, in which case the successful Bidder must possess such a license at the time of Contract award. The successful Contractor must also possess a current business license issued by the City of Palmdale.

RETENTION SUBSTITUTION. Five percent (5%) of any progress payment will be withheld as retention. In accordance with Public Contract Code Section 22300, and at the request and expense of the Contractor, securities equivalent to the amount withheld may be deposited with the Agency or with a State or federally chartered bank as escrow agent, which shall then pay such moneys to the Contractor. Upon satisfactory completion of the Project, the securities shall be returned to the Contractor. Alternatively, the Contractor may request that the Agency make payments of earned retentions directly to an escrow agent at the Contractor’s expense. No such substitutions shall be accepted until all related documents are approved by the Agency General Counsel.

BIDDING PROCESS. The Agency reserves the right to reject any Bid or all Bids, and to waive any irregularities or informalities in any Bid or in the bidding, as deemed to be in its best interest.

By:

06/30/2026

Matthew Knudson General Manager Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency

Date