Title
Recommendation to Authorize the Interim City Manager to Execute an Agreement with W. Bradley Electric, LLC, for the Traffic Signal Upgrades Project, No. P.W. 07-24-18, in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $625,560, Including Contingency, Deny a Bid Protest from Bay Area Lightworks, Inc., and Approve Project Plans and Specifications.
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this action is categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities). (Public Works 310)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Adam W. Politzer, Interim City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On December 12, 2025, the City of Alameda (City) issued a request for bid for the Traffic Signal Upgrades Project, No. P.W. 07-24-18 (Project), which includes upgrading traffic signal equipment at three intersections and the reconstruction of two curb ramps to meet accessibility requirements. Staff recommends City Council authorize the Interim City Manager to execute an agreement with W. Bradley Electric, LLC, the lowest responsive bidder, in an amount not-to-exceed $625,560, including contingency, and approve the project plans and specifications, included as Exhibit 1 and 2 respectively, for the construction of the Traffic Signal Upgrades Project, No. P.W. 07-24-18. The proposed W. Bradley Electric, LLC agreement (Agreement) is included as Exhibit 3.
In accordance with Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-59.2, staff further recommends that the City Council delegate authority to the City Engineer to approve issued amendments and addenda to the project plans and specifications, and to authorize field changes through the change order process.
BACKGROUND
The Project aims to increase traffic signal reliability and pedestrian safety by installing upgraded signal equipment and rebuilding curb ramps. General public safety will also be increased with reduced emergency response times.
The Project will upgrade traffic signal equipment at the following three intersections:
1. Broadway / Central Avenue
2. Broadway / Santa Clara Avenue
3. Webster Street / Lincoln Avenue
Upgraded equipment includes cabinets, controllers, video detection, emergency vehicle preemption / transit priority, audible pedestrian signals and signal heads.
DISCUSSION
To solicit the maximum number of bids and most competitive price, plans and specifications were provided to 15 separate builders’ exchanges throughout the Bay Area. Notices were also sent to contractors on the Public Works Department Contractor List. In addition, notices were placed on the City’s website and published in the Alameda Journal. Bids were opened on January 13, 2026, after a bidding period of 35 days. Seven contractors submitted bids. The Engineer’s Estimate for construction was $633,050. The bid result is as follows:
|
Bidder |
Location |
Bid |
|
W. Bradley Electric, LLC. |
Novato, CA |
$568,560 |
|
Bay Area Lightworks, Inc. |
San Francisco, CA |
$594,975 |
|
Ray's Electric |
Oakland, CA |
$640,265 |
|
St. Francis Electric, LLC |
San Leandro, CA |
$657,000 |
|
Columbia Electric, Inc. |
San Leandro, CA |
$680,575 |
|
Tennyson Electric, LLC |
Livermore, CA |
$772,100 |
|
Mike Brown Electric Co. |
Cotati, CA |
$811,740 |
The City received a bid protest from the second lowest bidder, Bay Area Lightworks, Inc. regarding responsiveness of the bid from W. Bradley Electric, LLC. The bid protest, included as Exhibit 4, alleges W. Bradley Electric, LLC: 1) did not submit acknowledgement of Addendum 1, and 2) submitted an altered bid document. Upon review, W. Bradley Electric, LLC. included acknowledgement of Addendum 1 in their submittal package, a clerical error by the City omitted the addendum in an initial scan of the bid package. Bay Area Lightworks, Inc. correctly noted that W. Bradley Electric submitted altered bid document, specifically the bidder’s bond. Upon review, the bond language on the submitted form is exactly the same as in the solicitation language except for the section number and page number. Based on advice from the City Attorney’s office, Staff finds that the minor discrepancy is not material and would not have provided W. Bradley Electric with an improper competitive advantage. Staff recommends City Council deny the bid protest and award the Agreement to W. Bradley Electric, LLC.
The City has recently worked with most of these contractors and considers the bid to be competitive. Staff recommends awarding the Agreement to W. Bradley Electric, LLC, for a total amount of $625,560, which includes a 10% contingency in the amount of $57,000. The contractor is not guaranteed any of the contingency amount and use of the contingency will be at the sole discretion of the City for work not originally anticipated in the plans and specifications. The specifications also informed the successful bidder that they shall pay not less than the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations.
Staff recommends that City Council approve the Agreement attached as Exhibit 3, as well as the project plans and specifications attached as Exhibits 1 and 2, respectively. In accordance with Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-59.2, staff further recommends that City Council delegate authority to the City Engineer to approve issued amendments and addenda to the project plans and specifications, and to authorize field changes through the change order process.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may consider a range of alternatives:
• Award the Agreement, project plans and specifications, as recommended.
• Adjust or modify scope within the Agreement.
• Further consider the bid protest.
• Do not award the Agreement and provide alternative direction to staff.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Capital Improvement project (CIP) C13000 Traffic Signals and Systems - Traffic Signals 2026 has an available budget of $710,860 identified for the Project. Sufficient funds are available for the contractual expenses within CIP C13000 (sub) Traffic Signals and Systems - Pedestrian Safety.
|
HSIP Pedestrian Safety Project Construction Budget |
|
Project Tasks |
Expenses |
|
Contractual Services Expense |
$625,560 |
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The City of Alameda Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 General Plan supports investing in traffic signal technology. This project helps to implement City of policy TIE4: Upgrade traffic signal system technology for reliability and safety, reducing public response times. The traffic signal improvements included in this project are consistent with this Strategic Plan project. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is Categorically Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301 (Existing Facilities).
CLIMATE IMPACT
Transportation is the largest source of greenhouse emissions in Alameda. Improving pedestrian safety supports non-carbon emitting modes of transportation and the use of transit, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the City’s transportation sector.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the Interim City Manager to execute an agreement with W. Bradley Electric, LLC, for the Traffic Signal Upgrades Project, No. P.W. 07-24-18, in an amount not-to-exceed $625,560, including contingency, deny a bid protest from Bay Area Lightworks, Inc., and approve project plans and specifications for the project.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
By,
Cody Lim, Project Manager
Scott Wikstrom, City Engineer
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Ross MeCarthy, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Project Plans
2. Specifications (Project Manual)
3. Agreement
4. Bid Protest