Materials Testing and Inspection Services, Project #126748

The California Department of General Services (DGS), Real Estate Services Division (RESD) is soliciting bids for Materials Testing and Inspection Services (MT&IS) for the Grass Valley Field Office Replacement project located in Nevada County. The project involves constructing an 8,032 square foot Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) branch office facility, including associated parking, off-site improvements, landscaping, utilities, and infrastructure on a 1.42 acre site. Bidders must possess a DSA Laboratory Evaluation Acceptance (LEA) program approved laboratory within 100 MapQuest miles of the project site and provide comprehensive testing and inspection services across multiple construction disciplines including soils, aggregate, asphalt concrete, reinforcing steel, concrete, masonry, structural steel, structural lumber/roofing, and cladding/curtain walls. The invitation for bids (IFB number RESD PMDB-15-005M) was released on March 14, 2016, with bids due on April 5, 2016 at 2:00 PM. The construction term is estimated at one year and two months, with an anticipated project start date of June 2016, and bidders are required to provide unit costs for various testing and inspection services that meet prevailing rates published by the Department of Industrial Relations.

The procurement is being conducted informally under the Small Business Procurement and Contract Act, with five specific firms invited to bid: Holdrege & Kull, Youngdahl Consulting Group Inc., Wallace-Kuhl & Associates Inc., Blackburn Consulting, and Neil O. Anderson & Associates Inc. While Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation is not mandatory (set at 0%), it is strongly encouraged, with a potential DVBE incentive available for 1-5% participation. The maximum contract amount will be determined based on the State's budget estimate, with funding subject to availability through the State's normal budget process or transfer through the Architecture Revolving Fund. Bidders must account for potential additional costs such as travel time, auto mileage (capped at $0.56/mile), and per diem expenses (maximum $131/day), which are only applicable for off-site fabrication facility inspections beyond 100 miles. Travel and per diem rates must align with Department of Personnel Administration (DPA) rates. The cost worksheet requires detailed pricing for numerous specific testing and inspection activities, with bidders expected to provide comprehensive and competitive unit costs for the required services.