City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: MARCH 3, 2026 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: 1 AND 2
SUBJECT: AWARD BID NO. 8202 TO BECKER PIPELINE COMPANY OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, FOR A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE THIRD STREET SEWER IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,611,570.00, PLUS A 20% CHANGE ORDER AUTHORITY IN THE AMOUNT OF $322,314, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,933,884.00 ISSUE:
Award Bid No. 8202 to Becker Pipeline Company of Riverside, California, for the construction of the Third Street Sewer Improvements Project in the amount of $1,611,570.00, plus 20% change order authority in the amount of $322,314, for a total amount of $1,933,884.00.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Award Bid No. 8202 for the construction of the Third Street Sewer Improvements Project to Becker Pipeline Company of Riverside, California, in the amount of $1,611,570.00; and Authorize 20% change order authority of $322,314, for a total contract amount of $1,933,884.00, to address unknown underground crossings, unusual pavement and soils conditions, and unforeseen material and other cost overruns related to inflation and/or tariffs; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Construction Contract with Becker Pipeline Company, including making minor and non-substantive changes, subject to the availability of budgeted funds.
BACKGROUND:
In April 2017, the City Council designated the Third Street/BNSF Line as the City’s highestpriority railroad grade separation project and directed the Public Works Department to initiate preliminary engineering design and environmental clearance activities.
Since that time, the Public Works Department has completed both the preliminary engineering design and the environmental clearance for the Project and has continued to advance detailed design efforts while pursuing funding opportunities. To date, Public Works has secured or received commitments for $81.25 million in local, state, and federal funding, with an additional $8,750,482 anticipated from state sources and BNSF railroad matching contributions. These combined funds total just over $90 million, fully funding the Project.
The Project is now nearing completion of the final engineering design and rightofway acquisition phases, which are expected to conclude by Spring 2026. Following their completion and upon receiving Caltrans’ approval, Public Works will proceed with advertising the Project for construction. Construction is anticipated to begin in Fall 2026 and is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Like most sewer systems in the City, the existing sewer main along Third Street at the railroad crossing operates as a gravity system. Because the Third Street Grade Separation Project will lower the roadway and construct a new railroad bridge, the existing sewer line must be rerouted around the lowered section of the street. The redirected flow will be discharged into an existing sewer pipe on Third Street between Vine Street and Market Street. However, this segment does not have sufficient capacity to accommodate the additional flow. Therefore, this Project proposes to increase the pipe diameter from 8-inch to 12-inch to ensure adequate capacity for the rerouted sewer flows (Attachment 1).
DISCUSSION:
On December 2, 2025, Bid No. 8202 for the construction of the Third Street Sewer Improvements Project (Project) was posted on Planet Bids seeking prospective bidders to perform the following work: Removal and replacement of existing gravity sewer main along Third Street between Market Street and Vine Street to accommodate future increase in sewer flows.
Prior to bid opening, there were 332 vendors notified and 91 prospective bidders on the list. The City did not schedule a pre-bid job walk. Bid No. 8202 notification actions are summarized in Table 1:
Table 1 – Bidding Notification Summary Table
Action
Number of Vendors
City of Riverside Vendors Notified
332
Vendors Who Downloaded Bid No. 8202
91 Questions Received
11 Addenda Issued
3 Bids Received
14 On January 13, 2026, fourteen (14) bids were received for the construction of the Project (Attachment 2). The lowest responsive and responsible bid was received from Becker Pipeline Company of Riverside, California, in the amount of $1,611,570.00, which is 17.84% below the original Engineer’s Estimate of $1,961,566.00 and outlined in Table 2.
Table 2 – Bid Summary
Bidder
City, State
Amount:
Ranking
Becker Pipeline Company
Riverside, CA
$1,611,570.00
1 Ramona, Inc.
Baldwin Park, CA
$1,630,841.00
2 Gentry General Engineering, Inc.
Colton, CA
$1,659,947.00
3 Dominguez General Engineering, Inc.
Pomona, CA
$1,719,205.00
4 Marjani Builders, Inc.
Mission Viejo, CA
$1,788,496.00
5 Q&E Pipeline Company
Pomona, CA
$1,800,794.00
6 TORO ENTERPRISES, INC.
Oxnard, CA
$1,816,799.40
7 Mamco, Inc. dba Alabbasi
Perris, CA
$1,979,797.00
8 Van Engineering
Wildomar, CA
$2,134,320.00
9 GHC Pipeline
Riverside, CA
$2,135,333.00
10 GRBCON
Baldwin Park, CA
$2,195,225.00
11 ANEEN CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Riverside, CA
$2,288,190.00
12 Weka, Inc.
San Bernardino, CA
$2,586,078.00
13 Big Ben, Inc.
Irvine, CA
$2,757,880.00
14 Per Purchasing Resolution 24101, Article Five, Section 508 states, “Contracts procured through Formal Procurement shall be awarded by the Awarding Entity to the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder.” The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommended actions comply with Purchasing Resolution 24101, Section 508.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $1,933,884.00 which includes a twenty percent (20%) change order authority (COA) in the amount of $322,314.00. The twenty percent (20%) COA allows the project to address unknown underground crossings, unusual pavement and soils conditions, and unforeseen material and other cost overruns related to inflation and/or tariffs. The estimated total construction cost including design engineering, construction, contingencies and contract administration is itemized in Table 3.
Table 3. Project Costs
Task
Amount
Design Engineering
$160,000.00
Construction Contract (Becker Pipeline Company)
$1,611,570.00
Construction Contingencies (20%)
$322,314.00
Subtotal (Total Fiscal Impact)
$2,093,884.00
Construction Engineering, Inspection, and Administration $161,157.00
Total
$2,255,041.00
Table 4. Project Funding
Fund
Project
Account
Amount
Measure A
Third Street Sewer Improvements
9932530-440313
$2,255,041.00
Prepared by: Thuy Nguyen, Principal Engineer
Approved by: Nathan Mustafa, Interim Public Works Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Project Location Map
Bid Award Recommendation
Bid 8202 – Third Street Sewer Improvements Contract Award ● Page 2