San Benito County subcontractors will be given a shot to bid on
work
Four local companies are among the pre-qualified trade
contractors who will be considered to coordinate the various jobs
associated with the construction of the new $30 million San Benito
County Courthouse at the corner of Fourth and Monterey streets in
downtown Hollister.
Acknowledging that there is a
”
necessity to conform to code and financial requirements,
”
Gil Solorio, executive officer of the county’s superior court,
said that the goal is to open opportunities for local firms where
possible.
San Benito County subcontractors will be given a shot to bid on work
Four local companies are among the pre-qualified trade contractors who will be considered to coordinate the various jobs associated with the construction of the new $30 million San Benito County Courthouse at the corner of Fourth and Monterey streets in downtown Hollister.
Acknowledging that there is a “necessity to conform to code and financial requirements,” Gil Solorio, executive officer of the county’s superior court, said that the goal is to open opportunities for local firms where possible.
“It’s a community project, so there’s an interest from the court in having local contractors participate,” he said.
The four firms – Mark Nicholson Inc., Robert F. Enz Construction Inc., San Benito Drywall and R&R Acoustics – will be among the 183 firms considered for different parts of the build-out, from landscaping to flooring to elevator installation.
The companies selected for each aspect of the construction, whether or not they are local, must make an effort to solicit San Benito County subcontractors to supply materials, labor and equipment.
Specifically, contractors must provide evidence that they directly solicited bids from at least three local businesses qualified to perform the work or supply materials. If no local businesses are qualified, evidence of efforts to solicit local participation must still be provided.
“I’d like to think that (local subcontractors’) efforts would be as strong or even better than a contractor from Southern California, for example,” said Solorio, emphasizing that qualifications and price – not just local ties – will still be determining factors when subcontractors are hired.
Local businesses must have their headquarters or a manufacturing facility in San Benito County, or be locally-owned or operate within county lines. They must also have been in operation for at least a year and have paid business or property tax in Hollister or San Benito County during the most recent tax year.
While the ceremonial groundbreaking on the courthouse project has already been held, the official start of construction awaits state approval of the sale of bonds to finance the work, Solorio said. That approval is not expected until a state budget is approved.
Any delay in the sale of the bonds “would not kill (the project), it would delay it,” he said.
Some potential subcontractors are already contacting the pre-qualified trade contractors to offer their services, Solorio said.
“The Project Advisory Group attempted to merge the State’s financial and experience requirements with our strong desire to use local contractors and suppliers,” Solorio said. “Apart from the somewhat obvious goal of infusing the local economy with construction dollars, the Project Advisory Group felt it was appropriate, even beneficial to have local contractors and suppliers apply their skill and craftsmanship in the construction of a courthouse that will serve their very own community for the next 50 years.”
The Project Advisory Group includes Solorio, Judge Harry Tobias, Judge Steven Sanders, Reb Monaco, Doug Emerson, Clint Quilter, Pat Loe and Susan Thompson. It was formed as a way to gather community opinions about the project.
