City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Public Works
Meeting Date: June 8, 2026
Report #: 2512-5758
TITLE
Approval of Construction Contract C26197221 with Valentine Corporation in an Amount Not-to- Exceed $503,990 and Authorization for the City Manager or Their Designee to Negotiate and Execute Change Orders for Related Additional but Unforeseen Work that May Develop During the Project up to a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $50,399, for the Guardrail Repair Project, Capital Improvement Program Project PE-86070; CEQA Status – Exempt under Section 15301(c) and 15301(d)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager or their designee to execute Contract No.
C26197221 with Valentine Corporation in the not-to-exceed amount of $503,990, for the construction and installation of guardrails pursuant to the Guardrail Repair Project, Capital Improvement Program Project PE-86070; and
2. Authorize the City Manager or their designee to negotiate and execute one or more change orders to the construction contract with Valentine Corporation, for related, additional but unforeseen work that may develop during the project, the total value of which shall not exceed $50,399.
BACKGROUND
Three separate guardrails throughout the City of Palo Alto have been damaged and require repair. The three locations include the Alma Street and University Avenue interchange, the Alma Street and Oregon Expressway overpass, and the Park Boulevard and Oregon Expressway overpass (Attachment A). Two have been damaged by vehicle collisions, and one has deteriorated due to environmental exposure. The scope of this project is to demolish, remove, and replace the damaged portions of these guardrails using updated designs and materials.
Guardrails are a vital safety measure to protect pedestrians and vehicular traffic on these roadways, and repairing these damaged sections is necessary to ensure the continued safety of the public.
On February 24, 2025, the City hired Hohbach-Lewin, Inc. (Hohbach-Lewin) to design and provide construction support in the reconstruction of the damaged guardrails and sections of concrete sidewalks, curb, and gutter. Hohbach-Lewin completed designs, including details and drawings, to repair the guardrails. Hohbach-Lewin will also provide on-site inspections during construction, construction administration, and as-built drawings after project completion.
ANALYSIS
Staff recommends approval of Contract No. C26197221 with Valentine Corporation1 to carry out necessary repairs and rehabilitation work to return these guardrail systems to operational status. The scope of work includes the demolition of existing damaged guardrails and substructures, and installation of 250 square feet of new sidewalk, 100 linear feet of curb, and 70 linear feet of new guardrail.
Solicitation Process
On November 19, 2025, an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the Guardrail Repair Project was posted on OpenGov, the City’s eProcurement system. The bidding period was 34 calendar days. The City received one bid from a qualified contractor on December 23, 2025. This bid exceeded the City’s budget. Staff decided to rebid the project with changes to the IFB including additional project information and reformatting of the Bid Form. Public Works Engineering staff also contacted local companies to raise awareness about the project. On March 25, 2026, the City issued a rebid of the project and another notice inviting formal bids for the Guardrail Repair Project was posted on OpenGov. The bidding period was 37 calendar days. The City received five bids from qualified contractors on May 1, 2026, as listed on the attached Bid Summary (Attachment B).
Table 1: Summary of Invitation for Bids
Project Bid Name/Number Guardrail Repair Project IFB195842 Proposed Length of Project 60 calendar days
# of Bid Packages Downloaded by Builder’s Exchanges 1
# of Bid Packages Downloaded by Contractors 45
Total Days to Respond to Bid 37
Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting Yes
# of Company Attendees at Non-Mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting 2 Number of Bids Received 5
1 Valentine Corporation Construction Contract for Guardrail Repair Project C26197221 https://www.paloalto.gov//files/assets/public/v/1/public-works/staff-reports-all/2026/c26197221-valentine- corporation-guardrail-repair-project-final.pdf
Table 1: Summary of Invitation for Bids
Project Bid Name/Number Guardrail Repair Project IFB195842 Base Bid Price Range $334,369 - $450,000
Public Link to Solicitation https://procurement.opengov.com/port al/palo-alto-ca/projects/247830
The apparent low bidder was selected based upon the base bid. The bids ranged from $334,369 to $450,000 and from 15% to 37% below the engineer’s estimate of $530,682. Staff reviewed the submitted bids and recommends that Valentine Corporation be declared the lowest responsible bidder and the City accept the base bid submitted by Valentine Corporation in the amount of $334,369. Staff recommends awarding add alternate #1 in the amount of $169,621 in addition to the base bid to address environmental damage to the guardrail at the Park Boulevard and Oregon Expressway overpass. The total base bid plus the add alternates totals $503,990. The construction contingency amount of $50,399, which equals 10% of the contract value, is requested for related, additional, but unforeseen work which may develop during the project, implemented via City-approved Change Order.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Funding for the Guardrail Repair Project is available in the FY 2026 Adopted Capital Improvement Program Street Maintenance project (PE-86070). The Guardrail Repair project is appropriately categorized under street maintenance because the guardrail system is an existing component of the public roadway.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The guardrail work has been coordinated with the City’s Public Works and Utilities departments to ensure no impact on other projects. Public outreach, in the form of mailer notifications and NextDoor postings, will be conducted before and during the construction to keep the community informed throughout the process.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Sections 15301(c) and 15301(d) of the CEQA Guidelines. This work includes the repair, maintenance and/or minor alteration of the existing facilities as well as restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures and facilities in the interest of public health and safety. Therefore, no further environmental review is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Project Location Map
Attachment B: Bid Summary
APPROVED BY: Brad Eggleston, Director Public Works/City Engineer