Power Poles

The City of Ukiah Electric Utility Department is soliciting bids for wood utility poles through a Request for Bid (RFB) E40915, targeting a specific procurement of electrical infrastructure components. The solicitation seeks a total of 48 utility poles with varying specifications: 20 45-foot Class 3 poles, 20 50-foot Class 3 poles, 5 60-foot Class 3 poles, 3 60-foot Class 1 poles, and 4 70-foot Class 2 poles. All poles must be full-treat Douglas Fir with radial pre-drilling at the butt, conforming to the City's 2011 utility pole technical specifications. Bids are due by 1:30 p.m. on September 15, 2025, and can be submitted via email, fax, or hand delivery to Dave Mendez at 1320 Airport Road. Vendors must adhere to strict technical requirements including specific material standards from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Rural Electrification Administration (REA), and American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA). Evaluation criteria include price, terms, delivery point, and delivery date, with the City reserving the right to reject any or all bids.

The solicitation includes a local vendor preference provision that provides Mendocino County-based businesses a 5% bid advantage up to $2,500, contingent on meeting specific local business criteria. Delivery is restricted to Monday through Thursday between 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM, with no Friday deliveries accepted. Payment terms are Net 30, and vendors must supply Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) at delivery. In the event of a bid tie, the local vendor will be awarded the contract. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the procurement involves multiple pole classifications suggesting a potentially significant infrastructure investment. Vendors must demonstrate compliance with detailed technical specifications, including precise requirements for pole materials, moisture content, pressure treatment processes, and specific handling and shipping guidelines. The solicitation allows for alternate wood species and treatment methods, provided they meet or exceed the base requirements established in the 2011 utility pole specification document.