El Portal 125 Tenant Improvement

The El Portal 125 Tenant Improvement project at the University of California, Merced, involves the construction of fire-rated partitions to create a separate art storage room and event area, reclassifying the space from B occupancy to A type occupancy. The scope of work includes modifications to the HVAC, lighting, and fire sprinkler systems, the installation of fire smoke dampers and rated doors, and general fire stopping. The contractor is responsible for all logistics, including site cleanup, protecting existing contents, and maintaining accessible pathways. Technical requirements mandate compliance with 2022 California building codes, NFPA 13 standards, and ADA requirements, with specific seismic design anchorage for TV installations. The project is estimated at 230,000 dollars and must be performed between October 15, 2026, and January 20, 2027, with a completion timeline of 90 days from the Notice to Proceed. Bids are due by October 14, 2026, and the university will select the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Qualified contractors must hold a California Contractor License A or B and be registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations. Required submissions include a lump sum base bid, a daily rate for compensable delays, and self-certification for SBE, DBE, WBE, or DVBE status. Performance and payment bonds are required for contracts exceeding 50,000 and 25,000 dollars, respectively, and all workers must be paid prevailing wages in accordance with the California Labor Code.