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 LAPM Chapter 15: Advertise and Award Project

  1. A consultant on retainer to act as the City Engineer or Director of Public Works may act as the person in responsible charge of a Federal-aid project.
    2. True

    False
  2. Advertising costs should be charged to the Preliminary Engineering authorization when there is one.
    3. True

    False
  3. An agency may advertise a project using Federal-aid funds before the project is authorized by Caltrans.
    4. True

    False
  4. A minimum advertising period of two weeks is recommended for all projects, and is required for those on the NHS.
    5. True

    False
  5. Bids cannot be accepted after the time designated for bid opening.
    6. True

    False
  6. FHWA policy requires all bids to be opened publicly and read aloud.
    7. True

    False
  7. A responsive bid is one that meets most of the requirements of the advertisement.
    8. True

    False
  8. A responsible bidder is one who is organized and equipped and financially able to undertake and complete the contract.
    9. True

    False
  9. Reasons for not reading a bid due to irregularities includes which of the following:
    10. Failure to sign the bid

    No bid bond

    Omission of unit prices

    No total bid amount shown

    Bid contains entries in pencil

    Failure to submit a noncollusion affidavit

    Not present at the bid opening

    Inclusion of conditions not provided for in the specifications

    Failure to submit an addenda certification statement

    Submission of a materially unbalanced bid

  10. A bidder may be deemed not responsible for which of the following reasons:
    11. Past unsatisfactory performance

    Failure to meet qualification requirements

    Federal or State suspension/debarment action

    Failure to make child support payments

  11. Negotiation with a contractor prior to award is only permitted when it is in the public's interest.
    12. True

    False
  12. A local agency cannot bid in competition with or enter into a subcontract with a contractor.
    13. True

    False
  13. Where the lowest bid exceeds the engineer's estimate by a large amount, or where competition is considered to be poor, all bids may be rejected, unless an award is deemed to be in the best public interest.
    14. True

    False
  14. It is not necessary to award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
    15. True

    False
  15. A bid analysis should be done for each project and is required for NHS projects.
    16. True

    False
  16. A bid analysis is an examination of the unit bid prices for reasonable conformance with those in the engineer's estimate.
    17. True

    False
  17. For NHS projects, written justification is needed where the low bid exceeds the engineer's estimate by 20% or more.
    18. True

    False
  18. Valid reasons for awarding in spite of high bids would include which of the following?
    19. The project will correct a current safety problem to the public

    The project is for an emergency repair to a damaged facility

    The project is needed to close an important link in an otherwise completed facility.

    The mayor wants it.

  19. Written justification should be placed on file when an award is made to someone other than the low bidder.
    20. True

    False
  20. Caltrans will mediate in disputes between an agency and its bidders.
    21. True

    False
  21. It is the responsibility of the agency to verify that adequate state and Federal funds are available and authorized before a project is awarded.
    22. True

    False
  22. Indications that bid rigging may be occurring would include which of the following:
    23. Consistent difference between the low bid and the estimate.

    Firms submit a bid and later become subcontractor on the same project.

    There is a rotation in the firms that are low bidder.

    Differences in unit prices by the same bidder on different projects.

  23. If a project is expected to overrun on costs, the agency should submit a Revised Detail Estimate and request a modification of the E-76.
    24. True

    False

 LAPM Chapter 16: Administer Construction Contracts

  1. It is not necessary to keep names and titles of all agency staff assigned to a contract in the project files.
    2. True

    False
  2. An agency must designate an employee who is empowered to administer the construction contract.
    3. True

    False
  3. An agency may employ a consultant to provide construction engineering services; however, the agency must provide a full time employee to be in charge of and have administrative control of the project.
    4. True

    False
  4. A consulting firm on retainer as City Engineer is considered to be a full time publicly employed engineer.
    5. True

    False
  5. Contractors must designate in writing the person or persons who are authorized to supervise the work and act for the contractor on the project.
    6. True

    False
  6. When formal partnering is desired, the contract should contain appropriate specifications for that purpose.
    7. True

    False
  7. The agency shall schedule a pre-construction conference for all projects, unless the project is of such a minor nature that it is not needed.
    8. True

    False
  8. The pre-construction conference minutes and list of attendees shall be kept on file.
    9. True

    False
  9. A written record of a decision and reasons not to hold a pre-construction conference need not be kept in the project file.
    10. True

    False
  10. For NHS projects, at least 10% of the contract work shall be performed by the prime contractor.
    11. True

    False
  11. Payroll, labor compliance, EEO, insurance and other contractual obligations do not apply for all subcontractors.
    12. True

    False
  12. The resident engineer and inspectors need not keep daily reports which include detailed information on all work performed.
    13. True

    False
  13. Project files must be complete, available at a single location, and organized and maintained in a manner that permits inspection by FHWA and Caltrans personnel.
    14. True

    False
  14. The agency's construction records must include source documents supporting payments made to contractors.
    15. True

    False
  15. An agency should promptly instruct a contractor how to correct an unsafe condition.
    16. True

    False
  16. Whenever it is necessary to shut down a contractors operation because of an unsafe condition, the agency safety coordinator and the State Division of Occupational Safety and Health should be notified.
    17. True

    False
  17. When labor compliance problems are found in contract work, the agency should report them to the DLAE, in addition to remedying the problem.
    18. True

    False
  18. Certified payroll shall be spot checked against daily diaries and prevailing wage rates.
    19. True

    False
  19. EEO requirements apply to all Federal-aid construction contracts, and subcontracts of $20,000 or more.
    20. True

    False
  20. Approval must be received in writing from the DLAE for additional funds for added cost contract change orders before the change order is approved by the agency.
    21. True

    False
  21. All information regarding approved change orders shall be retained in the project files.
    22. True

    False
  22. Changes during construction that affect environmental mitigation, permit conditions, agreements with resource agencies, or which introduce new social, environmental or economic issues, must be referred to Caltrans.
    23. True

    False
  23. Examples of non-participating work would include which of the following:
    24. Most maintenance work.

    Utility betterment not programmed.

    Plant establishment in excess of three years.

    Work outside of project physical limits.

    Deviations from design standards.

    Work done with non-conforming materials.

  24. If a change order delays a controlling operation of the contractor, an extension of time is warranted.
    25. True

    False
  25. Events which could warrant a time extension to a contract include which of the following:
    26. Acts of God

    Labor strikes

    Public protests to the project

    Stop work orders

  26. Events which usually do not warrant a time extension of contract include which of the following:
    27. Shutdowns for maintenance of equipment

    Breakdowns of equipment

    Stop work orders

    Materials delays

  27. The Blue Book adjusted rates for equipment rentals are the minimum rates for Federal participation in extra work payments.
    28. True

    False
  28. Standby rental rates for equipment may be taken as the same rate as when the equipment is working.
    29. True

    False
  29. The main elements of a Quality Assurance Program are acceptance testing and independent assurance sampling and testing.
    30. True

    False
  30. Acceptance tests are used to determine the acceptability of materials and workmanship incorporated into the project.
    31. True

    False
  31. Both California and ASTM test methods are acceptable on Federal-aid projects.
    32. True

    False
  32. For projects off the NHS, a local agency may adopt their own QAP, or may adopt the Caltrans QAP.
    33. True

    False
  33. Caltrans will not process a request for construction authorization without verification that a local agency has an acceptable QAP.
    34. True

    False
  34. For local agencies that develop thier own QAP, such program must be documented, and approved by the Director of Public Works or the highest level registered engineer in the agency.
    35. True

    False
  35. Sampling for acceptance testing should begin as soon as possible after the material is in place.
    36. True

    False
  36. Results from compaction and maximum density tests should be reported to the Resident Engineer within 24 hours of sampling.
    37. True

    False
  37. QC/QA specifications include pay factors that are set to encourage quality.
    38. True

    False
  38. Materials used which test relatively uniform and are well within specifications would warrant less rather than more testing.
    39. True

    False
  39. Acceptance of a product may not be established on the basis of certification made by the manufacturer or supplier that it complies with all required specifications.
    40. True

    False
  40. In relation to a Federal-aid project, the making or use of false statements is a felony punishable by a fine not more than $10,000, or imprisonment of not more than 5 years, or both.
    41. True

    False
  41. It is the agency's responsibility to furnish its contractor with a "False Statements" poster (FHWA-1022) and ensure that it is posted.
    42. True

    False
  42. Federal reimbursement will not be made if it has been determined that an agency acted in gross negligence, fraud, or other similar acts.
    43. True

    False