Report Prepared by: Joe Cardoso, P.L.S., City Surveyor, Engineering Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval to Purchase Survey Equipment in the Amount not to Exceed $60,0000 from California Surveying and Drafting Supply Through the State of California Leveraged Procurement Agreement (LPA Contract ID. 1-21-66-03)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers waiving the City’s competitive bidding requirement pursuant to Merced Municipal Code Section 3.04.210 and approving the purchase of survey equipment with California Surveying & Drafting Supply.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Waiving the City’s competitive bidding requirement as allowed by Merced Municipal Code Section 3.04.210 to utilize the State of California Statewide Contracting government procurement program; and,
B. Approving the purchase of survey equipment in the amount not to exceed $60,000.00 from California Surveying and Drafting Supply through State Leverage Procurement Agreement, Contract ID 1-21-66-03; and,
C. Authorizing the City Manager to execute any necessary documents and purchasing to issue purchase orders as required to purchase the Survey Equipment.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion)
AUTHORITY
Merced City Municipal Code Section 3.04.210 - Exemptions from competitive bidding.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 approved Mid-Year revised budget
DISCUSSION
Over the last several years, the City of Merced has purchased a variety of equipment and structures through the State of California Statewide Contracting government procurement programs.
On March 2, 2026, Action Item, City Council adopted adjustments to the approved budget during the FY 2025-26 Mid-Year Budget update which included $60,000 for survey equipment. Staff researched authorized Trimble Dealers in California and there are only two, California Surveying and Drafting Supply servicing northern California (CSDS) and Sitech Pacific servicing southern California.
Currently California Surveying and Drafting Supply provides service, support and maintenance to our survey equipment. These incudes our city-wide global positioning station (GPS) base station, GPS units and an older total station.
The new total station, data collector, survey rod and tripod will be an addition to our current survey equipment. This will allow staff to have two single-user total stations in the field at the same time and will allow staff to be more productive, locating public improvement, right-of-way lines, providing construction staking, locate survey monuments and collecting raw data. The new total station will also be an upgrade to our 15-year-old equipment. The additional funds will be used to provide much-needed software upgrades to current survey equipment such as our GPS units, total station, and data collectors.
The quote of $56,555.27 (attachment #1) from CSDS for the survey equipment provided to the City is based on the State of California Statewide Contract ID 1-21-66-03 (attachment #2) and followed the State of California Statewide Contract Users Instruction (attachment #3).
Staff is requesting Council approve the waiver of the competitive bidding requirements to purchase the survey equipment, warranty and maintenance from California Surveying & Drafting Supply for our existing survey equipment. The purchase of the survey equipment will allow staff to be more efficient in our day-to-day duties.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed; funding is available within Engineering Division account 30005000-590002.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Survey Equipment Quote
2. California Surveying & Drafting Supply’s Statewide Contract ID 1-21-66-03
3. State of California Statewide Contract Users Instruction