Chapter 3.14 — PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS

The provisions of this chapter and the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (UPCCAA), Public Contract Code § 22000, et seq., shall govern the procurement by the City of public works, referred to and defined in the UPCCAA as "public projects." The informal and formal bidding limits for public projects shall be as set forth in § 22032, as those limits may be amended from time to time, or in such lower amounts as may be established by the current City Council Purchasing Policy (Purchasing Policy). In accordance with the foregoing bidding limits and the Purchasing Policy, public works projects may be: (i) performed by City employees by force account, by negotiated contract, or by purchase order; (ii) let to contract by informal bid procedures set forth in this chapter; or (iii) let to contract by formal bidding procedures set forth in this chapter.

(Ord. 1216, 3/10/2026)

A list of contractors shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of Public Contract Code § 22034 and criteria promulgated from time to time by the California Uniform Construction Cost Accounting Commission. (Ord. 1216, 3/10/2026)

• A. All contractors on the list, developed in accordance with § 3.14.020 for the category of work being bid, and construction trade journals, as referenced in Public Contract Code § 22036, shall be mailed a notice inviting informal bids.

• B. Additional contractors and/or construction trade journals may be notified at the discretion of the department soliciting bids.

• C. If there is no list of qualified contractors maintained by the City for the particular category of work to be performed, the notice inviting bids shall be sent to the construction trade journals specified in Public Contract Code § 22036.

• D. If the product or service is proprietary in nature such that it can be obtained only from one source or contractor(s), the procedures set forth in Public Contract Code § 3400 shall be followed.

• E. All mailing of notices to contractors and construction trade journals pursuant to this section shall be completed not less than 10 calendar days before bids are due.

• F. The notice inviting informal bids shall describe the project in general terms and how to obtain more detailed information about the project, and state the time and place for submission of bids.

• G. If, following informal bidding, all bids received are in excess of the informal bid limit amounts specified in Section 3.14.010, the City Council may, by adoption of a resolution by a four-fifths vote, award the contract, up to the higher amount set forth in Public

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City of Paramount, CA

PARAMOUNT CODE

§ 3.14.030

§ 3.14.060

Contract Code § 22034(d), as the same may be amended form time to time, to the lowest responsible bidder, if it determines the City's cost estimate was reasonable. (Ord. 1216, 3/10/2026)

The notice inviting formal bids shall state the time and place for the receiving and opening of sealed bids and distinctly describe the project. The notice shall be published at least 14 calendar days before the date of opening the bids in a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in the City; or, if there is no newspaper printed and published in the City, then in a newspaper of general circulation which is circulated within the City. If there is no such newspaper circulated in the City, then publication shall be by posting the notice in at least three places within the City as have been designated the posting of its notices. The notice inviting formal bids shall also be sent electronically, if available, by either facsimile or email and mailed to all construction trade journals specified in Public Contract Code § 22036. The notice shall be sent at least 15 calendar days before the date of opening the bids. In addition to notice required by this section, the City may give such other notice as it deems proper. (Ord. 1216, 3/10/2026)

• A. In its discretion, the City may reject any bids presented, if the City, prior to rejecting all bids and declaring that the project can be more economically performed by employees of the agency, furnishes a written notice to an apparent low bidder informing the bidder of the City's intention to reject the bid. The notice shall be mailed at least two business days prior to the hearing at which the City intends to reject the bid. If, after the first notice inviting bids, all bids are rejected, after reevaluating its cost estimates of the project, the City shall have the option of either of the following:

  1. Abandoning the project or readvertising for bids in the manner described by this chapter.

  2. By passage of a resolution by a four-fifths vote of the City Council declaring that the project can be performed more economically by the employees of the City, may have the project done by force account without further complying with this chapter.

• B. If a contract is awarded, it shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. If two or more bids are the same and the lowest, the City may accept the one it chooses.

• C. If no bids are received through the formal or informal bidding procedure, the project may be performed by the employees of the City by force account, or negotiated contract without further complying with this chapter.

• D. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the City Manager or designee is authorized to award informally bid contracts pursuant to this section.

• (Ord. 1216, 3/10/2026)

• A. Pursuant to Civil Code § 9550 et seq., a payment bond is required for all public works contracts over $25,000.

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City of Paramount, CA § 3.14.060

REVENUE AND FINANCE

§ 3.14.060

• B. All public works projects over $1,000 require payment of prevailing wages and compliance with Labor Code §§ 1720 through1861.

• C. All contracts for public works projects require compliance with applicable provisions of the Public Contract Code whether or not informal or formal bidding, or no bidding, is required.

• (Ord. 1216, 3/10/2026)

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City of Paramount, CA

REVENUE AND FINANCE

§ 3.16.010

§ 3.16.040