San Clemente awards $4.17 million contract for Reeves Booster Pump Station after denying bid protest

San Clemente awards $4.17 million contract for Reeves Booster Pump Station after denying bid protestThe San Clemente City Council unanimously dismissed a bid protest and approved a construction contract with Elegant Construction, Inc. to upgrade local potable water infrastructure.

The City Council voted 5-0 to award the $4.17 million contract to Elegant Construction, Inc. for the Reeves Booster Pump Station project.

The council denied a bid protest from RE Chaffee Construction, Inc., waiving minor irregularities in Elegant Construction's bid.

A supplemental appropriation of $2.03 million from the Water Fund Depreciation Reserve was approved to fully fund the project.

AKM Consulting Engineers received a $183,048 contract for engineering construction support services.

On May 19, 2026, the San Clemente City Council unanimously approved a $4.17 million contract with Elegant Construction, Inc. for the Reeves Booster Pump Station Rehabilitation project. The pump station is designed to supply potable water from a regional water trunk line operated by the Joint Regional Water Supply System to the Forster Ranch and Marblehead areas. According to city documents, the project will address hydraulic restrictions during peak demand and provide an alternative supply source for the Reservoir 7 zone, thereby improving the city's potable water system reliability. The contract award followed a bid protest hearing. RE Chaffee Construction, Inc. had protested Elegant Construction's lowest responsive bid, citing alleged irregularities regarding listed experience, subcontractors, and electronic signatures. City staff reviewed the claims, determined the bid was responsive, and recommended the council waive any immaterial defects. Following a brief public hearing with no speakers, the council voted 5-0 to deny the protest and award the contract to Elegant Construction. To cover the project's costs, the council approved a supplemental appropriation of $2,037,200 from the Water Fund Depreciation Reserve. In a related consent calendar action, the council also awarded a $183,048 professional services agreement to AKM Consulting Engineers for engineering construction support services during the pump station's construction. The city authorized an exemption to the formal solicitation process for this support contract because AKM Consulting Engineers serves as the Engineer of Record for the project's design.