Contractors must pre-qualify to bid on California Public School Districts' construction projects if the contract value is $1 million or more and the project is funded, in whole or in part with State bond funds.
The pre-qualification process will begin with on-line registration at Sign Up. Once registered, Contractors will be directed to an on-line pre-qualification questionnaire.
Contractor may submit questionnaire and financial statement to one or more participating School Districts.
Financial statement to include a complete statement of the Contractors financial ability and experience in public works.
Each School District will review the questionnaire and financial statement and use these documents in order to determine the size and scope of contracts upon which each Contractor is qualified to bid The District(s) reserves the right to check other sources available.
The District's decision will be based on objective and uniform evaluation criteria and references.
It is mandatory that all Licensed General Contractors who intend to submit bids fully complete the pre-qualification questionnaire, provide all materials requested herein, and be approved by the District(s) to be included on the District's final Bidders list. No bid will be accepted from a Contractor that has failed to comply with these requirements.
Pre-qualification approval will remain valid for one year, with the following exception: the District(s) reserves the right during that calendar year to adjust, increase, limit, suspend or rescind the pre-qualification ratings based on subsequently learned information and after giving notice of the proposed action to the Contractor and an opportunity for a hearing consistent with the hearing procedures described below for appealing a pre-qualification determination.
While it is the intent of the pre-qualification questionnaire and documents required therewith to assist the District(s) in determining bidder responsibility prior to the submission of bids and to aid the District(s) in selecting the lowest responsible bidder, neither the fact of pre-qualification, nor any pre-qualification rating, will preclude the District(s) from a post-bid consideration and determination on a specific project of whether a bidder has the quality, fitness, capacity and experience to satisfactorily perform the proposed work, and has demonstrated the requisite trustworthiness. Contractors are encouraged to submit pre-qualification questionnaire as soon as possible, so that they may be notified of pre-qualification status well in advance of the bid process.
The pre-qualification questionnaire and attachments submitted by Contractors are not public records and are not open to public inspection. All information provided will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law, although the contents may be disclosed to third parties for the purpose of verification, investigation of substantial allegations, and in the process of an appeal hearing. State law requires that the names of Contractors applying for pre-qualification status shall be public records subject to disclosure, and the first page of the questionnaire will be used for that purpose.
The pre-qualification questionnaire must be completed and certified by an individual who has the legal authority to bind the Contractor. If any information provided by a Contractor becomes inaccurate, the Contractor must immediately notify the District(s).
The District(s) reserves the right to waive minor irregularities and omissions in the information contained in the pre-qualification application submitted and to make all final determinations.
A Contractor who has submitted a pre-qualification questionnaire, and who receives a rating of "not qualified" from a District may appeal that determination. There is no appeal from a finding that a Contractor is not pre-qualified because of a late applications or a failure to submit required information, but re-application during one of the designated time periods is permitted. A Contractor may appeal a District's decision with respect to its request for pre-qualification, and request a hearing, by giving notice to the District no later than ten business days after receipt of notice of its qualification status. Notice(s) shall be sent to the appropriate District's address. The District's addresses will be displayed on the Pre-qualification questionnaire. Unless a Contractor files a timely appeal, the Contractor waives any and all rights to challenge the qualification decision of the District, whether by administrative process, judicial process or any other legal process or proceeding.
If the Contractor gives the required notice of appeal and requests a hearing, the hearing shall be conducted so that it is concluded no later than ten business days after the District's receipt of its Notice of Appeal. The hearing so provided shall be an informal process conducted by a panel to which the District has delegated responsibility to hear such appeals (the 'Appeals Panel'). At or prior to the hearing, the Contractor will be advised of the basis for the District's pre-qualification determination. The Contractor will be given the opportunity to present information and present reasons in opposition to the pre-qualification determination. At the conclusion of the hearing or no later than one day after completion of the hearing, the Appeals Panel will render its decision. The date for submission and opening of bids for a specific project will not be delayed or postponed to allow for completion of an appeal process.