Engineering Division 910 Calle Negocio, Suite 100 San Clemente CA 92672 City of San Clemente
Engineering Division
Belgin Cuhadaroglu, P.E., Senior Civil Engineer
Phone: (949) 361-6128
[email protected]
April 13, 2026
Mr. Ronald Chaffee, President
RE Chaffee Construction Inc.
1253 Evergreen Rd
Wrightwood, CA 92397
SUBJECT: Response to Bid Protest Letters - Reeves Booster Pump Station Project No. 17405
Dear Mr. Chaffee,
The City of San Clemente acknowledges receipt of your bid protest letters, dated March 3, 2026, regarding the Reeves Booster Pump Station Project, following the bid opening on February 26, 2026. Please see below:
Protest Letter for Elegant Construction, Inc.
City staff has carefully reviewed the concerns raised in your protest letter regarding the bid submitted by Elegant Construction, Inc. After a thorough evaluation of the protest and the bid documents, City provides the following responses:
Experience:
The bid documents only requested completion of similar projects, not necessarily identical booster pump station projects. The projects listed by Elegant Construction Inc. include public works projects involving structural concrete, shoring, site work, underground utilities, and mechanical installations of water pumps, which are relevant to the scope of work required for this project.
Subcontractors:
You mention that Elegant Construction Inc. has listed Nexro Energy Inc. as an electrical subcontractor. This is not correct, Elegant’s electrical subcontractor as listed is Halcyon Electric Inc. who holds a C10 License since January 9, 1996. Elegant also holds all the other licenses required to perform the masonry, roofing, and shoring work in this project. These Attachment 5
City of San Clemente Page 2
licenses have been verified from the California Contractor State License Board website.
Signatures on Bid Docs:
Electronic signatures are permitted under California law, including the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA). The use of electronic signatures does not affect the validity or responsiveness of the bid and is not considered a defect.
Protest Letter for US Builders and Consultants, Inc.
The City is not awarding a contract to US Builders and Consultants, Inc.; therefore, no responses are provided to your comments.
Based on the above responses to your protest letter for Elegant Construction, Inc., staff finds Elegant Construction, Inc. bid to be responsive, and recommends that the City Council award a construction contract to Elegant Construction, Inc., as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in the City Council meeting on May 5, 2026.
The City appreciates your participation in the bidding process and your interest in this project.
Sincerely,
Belgin Cuhadaroglu
Senior Civil Engineer, P.E.
Attachments: Protest Letter from RE Chaffee Construction, Inc.