To: Board of Supervisors
From: Lewis Broschard, Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
Report Title: Introduce Ordinances Setting Informal Bidding Limits Consistent with Public Contract Code
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting as the governing body for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Protection District, INTRODUCE Crockett-Carquinez Fire Protection District Ordinance No. 2024-15 and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Ordinance 2024-16, increasing the limit for informal bidding and informal contracts for public projects, as authorized by the State Public Contract Code; WAIVE the reading; and FIX September 24, 2024 for adoption.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
In 1993, the County, the Crockett-Carquinez Fire Protection District (Crockett), and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (District) elected to become subject to the Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Procedures (UCCAP), which sets the regulations and requirements for public projects. At that time, an ordinance implementing the informal bidding procedures of the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (UPCCAA) was adopted. In 2004, the Ordinance was updated to reflect the higher amount allowed by the UPCCAA. Since 2004, the UPCCAA has increased the amount allowed for informal bidding and Ordinance Nos. 2024-15 and 2024-16 update the amount to what the UPCCAA allows.
Additionally, this Ordinance grants the authority to award informal contracts to the Fire Chiefs of each fire protection district, the Public Works Director, and the County Administrator.
If approved by the Board, this ordinance will go into effect on October 24, 2024.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If these Ordinances are not adopted, both Crockett and the District will operate under a more restrictive ordinance than the Public Contract Code. Additionally, if not adopted, the Fire Chiefs will not have the authority to award informal contracts.