Title
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, requesting the Board receive a presentation on the current process for advertising and distributing contract documents for bidding and the alternative of using Quest Construction Data Network for electronic distribution of contract documents for bidding. (Est. Time: 45 Min.)
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Background
The Transportation Division (Division) handles the advertisement for bid and bid process (bidding process) for the Capital Improvement Program projects. The transition to using Quest Construction Data Network (Quest) will reduce this effort. Currently the Division prints and sells paper copies of the contract documents to potential bidders. Quest is an on-line service that provides for the electronic distribution of contract documents for bidding. Using Quest will save time and effort by County employees with no obligation or cost to the County for the service. Using Quest will also reduce the cost to potential bidders and allow the bidder to obtain the contract documents anytime during the bid period.
The Division has researched how other counties and cities are handling the bid process, has involved County IT staff in the selection process, and has consulted with County Counsel about the use of Quest and the changes to the specifications and bidding process as a result of the use of Quest. County IT supports the use of Quest and County Counsel had no objections to the changes that will result from its use. The requirements for the bidding of Public Works projects are provided for in the Public Contract Code. Adherence to these code requirements and the competitive bid process is not affected by the use of Quest.