Article 31. City Councils—street Lighting Act Of 1931 of California Public Contract Code >> Division 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 31.

The provisions of this article shall apply to contracts by a city council, as provided in the Street Lighting Act of 1931, Part 2 (commencing with Section 18300) of Division 14 of the Streets and Highways Code.

At any time after the installment assessment becomes delinquent, the superintendent of streets may call for bids for such improvement and may fix a date, not less than 20 nor more than 30 days after the publication of a notice inviting bids for such improvement, for the receipt of such bids at his office at an hour not later than 10 a.m. on such date. Such notice shall be published once in a daily or weekly newspaper published and circulated in the city and designated by the city council for that purpose.

All bids for construction work shall be presented under sealed cover and shall be accompanied by one of the following forms of bidder's security which amounts to 10 percent of the bid:
  (a) Cash.
  (b) A cashier's check made payable to the city.
  (c) A certified check made payable to the city.
  (d) A bidder's bond executed by an admitted surety insurer, made payable to the city. The check or bond shall be forfeited to the city if the bidder depositing it does not within 10 days after the publication of a notice of award of the contract to him or her, enter into the necessary contract with the city. Upon an award to the lowest bidder, the security of an unsuccessful bidder shall be returned in a reasonable period of time, but in no event shall that security be held by the city beyond 60 days from the time the award is made.

The contract shall specify a date certain when the improvement shall be started, the date to be not more than 30 days after the execution thereof, and that the contract shall continue in force for a period of one year from the effective date of the contract.

The city council may, by resolution passed prior to the notice inviting bids, impose such other reasonable conditions, including faithful performance bonds and materialmen's bonds, as may in its discretion appear to be necessary and proper.