CMAR - Santa Ana River (E01) Avio Tide Gates Replacement

The County of Orange, OC Public Works, is soliciting proposals from qualified firms through a Construction Manager at-Risk (CMAR) delivery method for the Santa Ana River (E01) Avio Tide Gates Replacement project, with RFP #080-2878902-TV. The project involves the replacement of two existing "Avio-style" mechanical level control tide gates located in Huntington Beach, California, which currently suffer from corrosion, failing coatings, and damaged trash racks that compromise safe and reliable operation and flood control protection of the Santa Ana River Marsh. Respondents must possess a minimum of five years of direct general contracting experience, successfully complete similar-sized projects for at least three public agencies, hold a current Class A California Contractor's License, and demonstrate sufficient bonding capacity equal to 100 percent of the contract value. The CMAR will execute a Pre-Construction Services Contract with a negotiated Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), followed by potential negotiation of a Construction Services Contract GMP, with construction anticipated in summer or fall 2027, contingent on permit acquisition and environmental constraints. A mandatory pre-submittal meeting and site visit is scheduled for March 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at 1299 Victoria Street, Costa Mesa, California, with RSVP required by 2:00 p.m. on March 9, 2026, and all questions must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on March 17, 2026, through the County's online bidding system. Electronic proposals are due by 2:00 p.m. on March 31, 2026, and award is anticipated in August 2026. Evaluation criteria consist of three phases with a maximum 1,000 points: written responses (500 points), presentations or interviews (400 points), and cost proposals (100 points), with scoring addressing qualifications and experience (150 points), proposed work plan and project approach (85 points), proposed staffing and project organization (85 points), financial condition and safety record (80 points), proposal organization and completeness (80 points), and compliance with County model contracts (20 points).

The County of Orange Local Small Business (OCLSB) Preference provides a five percent cost score deduction for certified OCLSB businesses, with an additional eight percent deduction available for businesses certified as both OCLSB and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), though DVBE preferences do not apply to public works projects. All contractors and subcontractors must comply with California Labor Code Section 1771.1(a) regarding contractor registration and prevailing wage requirements under Labor Code Section 1773, with electronic payroll records subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations. The project budget is estimated at approximately $4,220,000. Respondents must furnish both a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond, each equal to 100 percent of the construction contract value, subject to approval by the County Counsel and Risk Manager, and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability of $5,000,000 per occurrence, Automobile Liability of $1,000,000, Workers' Compensation at statutory limits, and Contractor's Pollution Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence. All work must comply with CEQA environmental requirements, NPDES permits, Section 401 and 404 permits, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Section 1603 Agreements, and California Coastal Commission permits, with the County securing these permits and all compliance costs included in bid items. The CMAR must perform at least 51 percent of the work with its own forces and employ a licensed professional civil engineer in California with a minimum of ten years of experience as the design engineer.