Twin Rivers - Public Works Contracting

Public Works Contracting

Construction, Major Repairs, Maintenance Contracting & CUPCCAA Procedures

Construction, Major Repairs, Maintenance Contracting & CUPCCAA Procedures

Twin Rivers Unified School District administers all construction, renovation, major repair, and maintenance contracting in compliance with the California Public Contract Code (PCC), the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA), prevailing wage requirements, and all applicable state and federal laws.

This page provides clear guidance for contractors, Facilities/Maintenance teams, and school sites on classification, bidding requirements, and compliance.

what counts as a public works project?

what counts as a public works project?

Public Works includes construction, reconstruction, erection, alteration, renovation, improvement, demolition, and repair work on any publicly owned, leased, or operated facility. (PCC § 22002(c))

This category also includes:

Major building system repairs (HVAC compressors, fire alarm panels, roof sections)
Upgrades or modifications to existing systems
Work that extends the useful life of an asset
Work that uses different or upgraded materials (e.g., fluorescent → LED)
Painting or repainting

This classification triggers prevailing wage, DIR registration, contractor licensing, and either informal or formal bidding depending on cost.

WHAT COUNTS AS MAINTENANCE?

WHAT COUNTS AS MAINTENANCE?

Maintenance is defined as: “Routine, recurring, and usual work for the preservation or protection of a publicly owned or operated facility for its intended purposes.” (PCC § 22002(d))

Maintenance includes:

Routine, recurring, usual work that preserves facilities for their intended purpose
In-kind repairs using the same rating, type, or grade of material
Minor repainting
Routine landscaping (mowing, trimming, irrigation servicing)
Equipment or fixture repairs that restore but do not upgrade performance

Even though maintenance is not classified as a “public project,” it is still considered a service, and therefore subject to service contract bidding thresholds under PCC §20111.

BIDDING AND PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS

BIDDING AND PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS

Maintenance & Repair Work

Maintenance work is not a “public project,” but it is still subject to the competitive bidding requirements that apply to contracts for services under Public Contract Code §20111(a).

At or below the amount specified in §20111(a) (as annually adjusted) →
May be contracted using quotations or other informal procedures permitted for service contracts.

Above the amount specified in §20111(a) →
Must be competitively bid unless the District applies the procedures available under the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA).

Because Twin Rivers Unified School District has adopted CUPCCAA, maintenance or repair work that exceeds the amount in §20111(a) but does not exceed the informal bidding limit in Public Contract Code §22032(b) may be procured using CUPCCAA informal bidding procedures.

When the total cost of maintenance or repair work exceeds the formal bidding limit in Public Contract Code §22032(c), the District must procure the work through formal competitive bidding, including public advertisement and award to the lowest responsible bidder.

CUPCCAA PROCEDURES

CUPCCAA PROCEDURES

Twin Rivers Unified School District uses the Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (CUPCCAA) to streamline procurement of both Public Works and qualifying maintenance/repair work.

CUPCCAA Informal Bidding — PCC §22032(b)

May be used when the total cost of the work:

Exceeds the amount in §20111(a), but
Does not exceed the informal bidding limit in §22032(b)

The District may:

Solicit informal bids through RFP-style documents
Use a best-value evaluation method
Award to multiple firms or by site, when appropriate

CUPCCAA Formal Bidding — PCC §22032(c)

Required when the estimated cost of the work exceeds §22032(c).
This includes:

Public advertisement
Sealed bids
Award to the lowest responsible bidder

Contractor Eligibility

All contractors must have:

Active DIR registration
Proper CSLB license classification
Prevailing wage compliance
Insurance and bonding capacity

These requirements apply regardless of the procurement method.

MAINTENANCE VS.

PUBLIC WORKS

HOW TO CLASSIFY YOUR PROJECT
MAINTENANCE VS.
PUBLIC WORKS

Use these questions to determine which rules apply:

1. Is the work routine and recurring?

Yes → Maintenance
No → Likely Public Works
- Example: removing a rotted tree = Public Works

2. Is the work preserving the system without upgrading it?

Yes → Maintenance
No → Public Works

3. Is it an in-kind replacement (same material, same type)?

Yes → Maintenance
No → Public Works
- Example: fluorescent → LED = Public Works

4. Does the work extend the useful life of the asset?

Yes → Public Works
No → Maintenance

5. Does the repair cost exceed 50% of replacement cost?

Yes → Public Works
No → Potentially Maintenance

Quick-Reference Contracting Threshold Chart

EXAMPLES - HOW COMMON WORK IS CLASSIFIED

EXAMPLES - HOW COMMON WORK IS CLASSIFIED

Maintenance

Irrigation valve or controller repair
Adding refrigerant
HVAC filter changes
In-kind lighting ballast replacement
Routine landscaping
Minor painting

Public Works

HVAC compressor replacement
Lighting retrofit (fluorescent → LED)
Fire alarm system replacement
Roof repairs or replacement
Tree removal (non-recurring)
Flooring replacement
Repairs >50% of asset replacement value

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