1 FELDMAN & ASSOCIATES, INC.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
11030 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD
SUITE 109
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90025
(310) 312-5401
FACSIMILE (310) 312-5409
February 26, 2024
VIA E-MAIL ONLY
Raja Sethuraman
Public Services Director
City of Costa Mesa
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
[email protected]
Re: CALIBA / COSTA MESA – FIRE
CALIBA, INC.’S RESPONSE TO KAZONI, INC.’S BID PROTEST
PROJECT: Fire Station 4 – Training Facility, City Project No 23-04.
Dear Mr. Sethuraman:
Our office represents Caliba, Inc. (“Caliba”) with regard to its bid to the City of Costa Mesa (“City”) for the above referenced project (“Project”). This letter serves as Caliba’s response to Kazoni, Inc.’s (“Kazoni”) bid protest dated February 23, 2024. Caliba’s bid is responsive because it did not omit anything that would render the bid non-responsive.
I. CALIBA WILL SELF-PERFORM MOST OF THE SCOPE OF WORK
WITHOUT A LISTED SUBCONTRACTOR
In its bid protest letter, Kazoni lists a number of trades for which Caliba listed no subcontractors for. This was intentional on Caliba’s part. Caliba intends to self-perform the following scope of work:
• Electrical
• Plumbing / Site Utilities
• The installation of:
o 3,000-gallon Jensen Clarifier
o 13,000-gallon Xerxies Fiberglass underground tank
o Gas / Propane piper for training tower
ATTACHMENT 3
2 o Water detention system.
There is nothing in the law that limits “B” license holders, such as Caliba, from self- performing as many trades as it wants (with the exception of “C-16” and “C-57” work). (See Business and Professions Code section 7057). Therefore, it is entirely appropriate for Caliba to self-perform the above listed scope.
Additionally, Caliba fully intends to self-perform all work in excess of 0.5% of the bid price and employs professionally skilled personnel for such work.
II. THE VALUE OF THE HVAC WORK IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 0.5%
OF THE BID PRICE
Caliba is not required to list subcontractors whose value of work is less than or equal to one half of one percent of the bid price. California Public Contract Code section 4104(a)(1).
Accordingly, Caliba’s HVAC subcontractor’s value of work does not exceed the one half of one percent requirement, and therefore, does not need to be listed on its bid.
III. CALIBA EMPLOYS QUALIFIED STAFF WHO ARE CAPABLE OF
MEETING THE 24-HOUR A DAY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
REQUIREMENT
The bid requires that the successful bidder must have qualified staff on-hand for site utility emergencies, with 24-hour a day responsiveness. Any general contractor who has qualified staff who are capable of performing underground utilities can meet this requirement.
Caliba is able to meet this requirement as it has done so in numerous K-12 public work projects.
IV. KAZONI’S BID WAS NON-RESPONSIVE
The City’s online bid form required the bidding general contractors to list the price of their subcontractors. Attached as Exhibit “A” is a true and correct copy of Caliba’s online bid form showing the pricing for its listed subcontractors. In contrast, Kazoni failed to include the pricing for its subcontractors in the online bid form it submitted to the City. A true and correct copy of Kazoni’s online bid form is attached as Exhibit “B.”
Caliba respectfully requests that the City find Kazoni’s bid to be non-responsive for its failure to include its subcontractors’ pricing in its online bid form.
V. CONCLUSION
Caliba complied with all requirements set forth by the City’s bid documents and the Public Contract Code. Caliba respectfully requests that the City deny Kazoni’s bid protest and award this Project to Caliba as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Please contact the undersigned at [email protected] or at (310) 312-5407 ATTACHMENT 3
3 should you have any further questions.
Very Truly Yours,
Adam H. Meyers, Esq.
for FELDMAN & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Cc: Mark A. Feldman, Esq.; Client
ATTACHMENT 3
EXHIBIT A
ATTACHMENT 3
2/26/24, 3:01 PM PlanetBids Vendor Portal
https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45476/bo/bo-detail/113279#bidResultDetail 1/6 Bid Result Detail
Showing 6 Subcontractors
FIRE STATION NO. 4 - TRAINING FACILITY (SITE IMPROV…
Continental Marble & Tile Company License #: 394 License Type: C-54 $60,829.00 Porcelain Tile
Name Address
Grand Total
$3,486,000.00 Done
ATTACHMENT 3
2/26/24, 3:01 PM PlanetBids Vendor Portal
https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45476/bo/bo-detail/113279#bidResultDetail 2/6 Continental Marble & Tile Company
60,829.00 1.74%
Porcelain Tile
C-54
394
10/31/2024
1000002594
2460 Anselmo Drive
Corona
California
United States
92879
DIAMOND CRETE CONCRETE COATINGS INC License #: 1067348 License Type: B,C-15 $35,675.00 Quartz Flooring
DIAMOND CRETE CONCRETE COATINGS
35,675.00 1.02%
Quartz Flooring
1684 BENTON WAY
PERRIS
California
$
$
Name
Amount
Percent
Description
Vendor Code
License Type
License #
Exp. Date
CADIR
Address
City
State
Country
Zip
Name
Amount
Percent
Description
Vendor Code
Address
City
State
Country
Grand Total
$3,486,000.00
ATTACHMENT 3
2/26/24, 3:01 PM PlanetBids Vendor Portal
https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45476/bo/bo-detail/113279#bidResultDetail 3/6 B, C-15
1067348
06/30/2025
1000701616
United States
92571
Heyden Contracting License #: 1110191 License Type: B $196,000.00 Concrete, Rebar, Steel
License Type
License #
Exp. Date
CADIR
Country
Zip
Name Address
Grand Total
$3,486,000.00
ATTACHMENT 3
2/26/24, 3:01 PM PlanetBids Vendor Portal
https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45476/bo/bo-detail/113279#bidResultDetail 4/6 Heyden Contracting
196,000.00 5.62%
Concrete, Rebar, Steel
B
1110191
09/30/2025
1001119616
19152 Shoreline Ln
Unit 6
Huntington Beach
California
United States
92648
NH Environmental Inc License #: 984458 License Type: A,B,C-21,C-22 $134,000.00 Abatement & Demo
NH Environmental Inc
134,000.00 3.84%
Abatement & Demo
229 N. California Ave
City of Industry
California
$
$
Name
Amount
Percent
Description
Vendor Code
License Type
License #
Exp. Date
CADIR
Address
City
State
Country
Zip
Name
Amount
Percent
Description
Vendor Code
Address
City
State
Country
Grand Total
$3,486,000.00
ATTACHMENT 3
2/26/24, 3:01 PM PlanetBids Vendor Portal
https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45476/bo/bo-detail/113279#bidResultDetail 5/6 A, B, C-21, C-22
984458
06/30/2025
1000011312
United States
91744
Solar Power Supply License #: 1008748 License Type: B $140,777.00 PV System Solar Power Supply
140,777.00 4.04%
PV System
B
1008748
11/30/2025
1000060172
12000 Magnolia Ave
Suite 100A
Riverside
California
United States
92503
$
License Type
License #
Exp. Date
CADIR
Country
Zip
Name
Amount
Percent
Description
Vendor Code
License Type
License #
Exp. Date
CADIR
Address
City
State
Country
Zip
Grand Total
$3,486,000.00
ATTACHMENT 3
2/26/24, 3:01 PM PlanetBids Vendor Portal
https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45476/bo/bo-detail/113279#bidResultDetail 6/6 Stumbaugh and Associates Inc. License #: 288724 License Type: C-61,D24,D34 $10,802.00 Toilet Accessories
Stumbaugh and Associates Inc.
10,802.00 0.31%
Toilet Accessories
C-61, D24, D34
288724
04/30/2024
1000004145
3303 N. San Fernando Blvd.
Burbank
California
United States
91504
$
Name
Amount
Percent
Description
Vendor Code
License Type
License #
Exp. Date
CADIR
Address
City
State
Country
Zip
Grand Total
$3,486,000.00
ATTACHMENT 3
EXHIBIT B
ATTACHMENT 3
2/22/24, 11:10 AM PlanetBids Vendor Portal
https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45476/bo/bo-detail/113279#bidResultDetail 1/2 Bid Result Detail
Showing 12 Subcontractors
FIRE STATION NO. 4 - TRAINING FACILITY (SITE IMPROV…
ABC Resources, Inc. License #: 538680 $0.00 asphalt paving Concrete Protection Systems West Inc License #: 988985 $0.00 Epoxy Danny Letner Inc, License #: 689961 License Type: B,C-39,C-43 $0.00 roo ng Empire Steel Erectors License #: 1072887 License Type: C-51 $0.00 Structural Stell HPS Mechanical, Inc. License #: 793014 License Type: A,B,C-2,C-4,C-10,C-16,C-20,C-34,C- 36,C-42,C-43,C-46,HAZ $0.00 Plumbing, site utilities
J Colavin & Sons License #: 260803 $0.00 ceramic tile JG Concrete Inc License #: 699433 $0.00 Concrete
Modern Metal Framing License #: 1073632 $0.00 Drywall Option One Corporation License #: 985340 $0.00 Solar Panels Picture Painting License #: 1002685 $0.00 Painting
Siege Electric License #: 1001521 $0.00 Electrical
T3 Contractors Inc. License #: 867365 License Type: C-21,ASB,HAZ,C-22 $0.00 demolition & abatement
Grand Total
$7,103,000.00 Done
ATTACHMENT 3
2/22/24, 11:10 AM PlanetBids Vendor Portal
https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/45476/bo/bo-detail/113279#bidResultDetail 2/2 Grand Total
$7,103,000.00
ATTACHMENT 3