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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: July 15, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Lynn Merrill, Director of Public Works
Department: Public Works
Subject: Rejecting all bids for RFQ No. F-255-4059 for the installation of Solar-Powered Street Lights
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California reject all bids received for RFQ No. F-255-4059 for the installation of solar-powered streetlights and direct staff to re-evaluate the project scope, delivery approach, and funding strategy before any future re-advertisement.
City Manager's Comment
Based on the lowest bidder being considered non-responsive and second low bid exceeding the engineer’s estimate I concur with recommendation to reject all bids.
Executive Summary:
The Public Works Department issued RFQ No. F-255-4059 to solicit bids for the installation of solar-powered street lighting systems at various locations throughout the City. Thirteen bids were received.
After bid review, the apparent low bidder, Estate Design and Construction, was determined not to possess the required licensing and qualifications and withdrew its bid. The second lowest bidder, Aicon Technologies, also withdrew due to concerns regarding project sequencing, task-order bundling, lead times, and overall project execution. The next lowest responsive and responsible bid was submitted by Branson Industries in the amount of $1,400,016, which exceeded the available project funding.
Staff recommends rejecting all bids and re-evaluating the project scope, delivery approach, and funding strategy. Staff estimates that this re-evaluation will take approximately six months before determining whether the project should be modified and re-advertised.
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Background
The City continues to prioritize public safety and infrastructure improvements, including lighting improvements in areas where additional visibility can benefit pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. Solar-powered lighting systems may provide an alternative to traditional grid-powered lighting by using renewable energy and potentially reducing long-term operational costs.
The Public Works Department prepared and issued RFQ No. F-255-4059 for the procurement and installation of solar-powered lighting systems at locations throughout the City. The solicitation was released on December 2, 2025, with proposals due on December 23, 2025.
Discussion
The solicitation resulted in thirteen bids, which were reviewed for responsiveness, cost, licensing, and qualifications. The apparent low bidder, Estate Design and Construction, submitted a bid of $148,700. Upon further review, staff determined that the contractor did not possess the required licensing and qualifications for the work, and the contractor withdrew its bid.
The second lowest bidder, Aicon Technologies, submitted a bid of $772,800 but later withdrew due to concerns regarding project sequencing, task-order bundling, lead times, and uncertainty regarding overall project execution.
Following those withdrawals, the next lowest responsive and responsible bid was submitted by Branson Industries in the amount of $1,400,016. This amount substantially exceeded the available project funding.
Staff recommends rejecting all bids at this time. Rejection will allow staff to re- evaluate the scope of work, project delivery method, bid structure, and funding strategy to determine whether modifications can improve competition and reduce overall project costs before any future solicitation.
Below are the bids that were received:
Contractor Bid Amount
Estate Design and Construction*, Culver City $148,700
Aicon Technologies*, San Diego $772,800
Branson Industries, Eastvale, CA $1,400,016
Select Electric Inc, Anaheim, CA $1,546,944
Elecnor Belco Electric, Chino, CA $1,564,032
MC Electric. Chino, CA $1,719,331.68
Highlight Electric, Colton, CA $1,783,200
Amtek Construction, Orange , CA $1,854,036
Optima Energy Inc. Artesia, CA $1,871,702.40
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Crosstown Electric, Irwindale, CA $2,142,720
Yunex LLC, Riverside, CA $2,194,800
Bear Electrical Solutions, Alviso, CA $2,330,160
Espinoza Electric (QLE), Bloomington, CA $2,868,432
*Bidder withdrew from consideration.
Pursuant to the City’s purchasing policies and applicable provisions of the California Public Contract Code, the City may reject all bids when doing so is determined to be in the public interest.
Strategic Targets and Goals
This project consists of Key Strategic Target and Goal No. 3c: Evaluate and enhance the quality of public safety services: Improving Public Safety Increasing nighttime visibility in key areas. Enhancing safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists.
Infrastructure Improvements Expanding lighting infrastructure using renewable energy solutions. Sustainability Utilizing solar-powered lighting technology to reduce energy consumption and operational costs.
Fiscal Impact
There is no General Fund impact associated with this item. Funding for the solar lights was programed for FY 25/26 from the local Circulation Fund and Traffic Safety Fund.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California reject all bids received for RFQ No. F-255-4059 for the installation of solar-powered streetlights and direct staff to re-evaluate the project scope, delivery approach, and funding strategy before any future re-advertisement.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Vendor Quote Form
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
None
CC
Eric Levitt, City Manager
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