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Union urges review of Volta Elementary bidder; board pulls bid award
Summary
A NorCal Carpenters Union representative told the Los Banos Unified board the apparent bidder for the Volta Elementary modernization has a history of litigation and labor violations, prompting the district to pull the bid award and review bidder prequalification with counsel.
Palamon Fausto, a field representative for NorCal Carpenters Local 152, told the Los Banos Unified School District board that he had submitted documentation alleging problems with the bidder for the Volta Elementary modernization project and asked the district to review the firm's prequalification under state law.
"Bobo construction's questionable project completion history, litigation history, frequent regulatory and labor law violations" were included in the packet Fausto said he emailed to the district and provided for the record, a concern he said "raised doubts about their eligibility to be awarded the project under state law." Fausto identified himself at the podium as Palamon Fausto.
Board president noted earlier in the meeting that agenda item E — the bid award for the Volta modernization and site-work upgrade — had been pulled and would not be discussed tonight. After Fausto's remarks the board reiterated that legal counsel is reviewing next steps and said a special board meeting will likely be scheduled to consider new bids.
Why it matters: Volta Elementary is slated for administrative-area modernization and infrastructure upgrades; the district's facilities staff earlier described the building issues that make the project necessary and noted the site is eligible for Proposition 2 funding. A contested bid or questions about a bidder's responsibility can delay construction schedules and the district's plan to start work in March and finish by August 2025, according to staff presentations.
District response and next steps: The board did not take further action on the floor. The president said staff and legal counsel are coordinating the review and that the project will be brought back to the board when counsel and procurement staff recommend next steps. The board directed the public commenter to work with district staff if he had additional materials.
What was said (selected): "The purpose of my visit here today is to provide you all with the information to the Los Banos Unified School District regarding the recent bid for the Volta Elementary School administration, modernization project," Fausto said. "Local 152 would appreciate the notification on what steps you'd like to take on this matter, and we look forward to your response." The board president responded that the item had been pulled and that legal counsel was reviewing the matter.
What comes next: The board expects to revisit the Volta modernization procurement in a future meeting or special session after staff and legal counsel complete their review. The district advised it will restart the bidding process for the Volta modernization next week and will report back to the board on timing.
