Contractor Prequalification Application Fiscal Year 2026-2027

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Palm Desert is inviting contractors to apply for prequalification to participate in certain construction projects for the fiscal year 2026-2027.

THIS APPLICATION IS ONLY FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OR MAINTAINENCE WORK THAT IS SUBJECT TO PREVAILING WAGE.  To apply for non-construction work, please use the General Vendor List application.  

Background

The City of Palm Desert ("City") has adopted purchasing procedures for construction/public project contracts valued at $250,000 or less (Municipal Code Title 3, Chapter 3.30).  Under the procedures adopted by the City, potential bidders must complete and submit a pre-qualification application and be deemed by the City to be a "qualified bidder" based upon qualifications criteria established in the application.

For projects up to $75,000 the City will solicit quotes from prequalified vendors.  For projects over $75,000 and up to $250,000, the informal bidding process shall be utilized.  Under informal bidding, the City will notify all qualified bidders on record in the applicable trade categories of the availability of the project. Notices will be issued at least five (5) days prior to the latest date for submission of bid proposals.  An Applicant must be a California licensed contractor for the classification of Contractors’ License required for each trade category for which pre-qualification is requested.

The following trade categories will be subject to informal bidding procedures (CSLB License Classification):

(A) General Engineering Contractor
(B) General Building Contractor
(B-2) Residential Remodeling Contractor
(C) Specialty Contractor
C-2 - Insulation and Acoustical Contractor
C-4 - Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fitting Contractor
C-5 - Framing and Rough Carpentry Contractor
C-6 - Cabinet, Millwork and Finish Carpentry Contractor
C-7 - Low Voltage Systems Contractor
C-8 - Concrete Contractor
C-9 - Drywall Contractor
C-10 - Electrical Contractor
C-11 - Elevator Contractor
C-12 - Earthwork and Paving Contractors
C-13 - Fencing Contractor
C-15 - Flooring and Floor Covering Contractors
C-16 - Fire Protection Contractor
C-17 - Glazing Contractor
C-20 - Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Contractor
C-21 - Building Moving/Demolition Contractor
C-22 - Asbestos Abatement Contractor
C-23 - Ornamental Metal Contractor
C-27 - Landscaping Contractor
C-28 - Lock and Security Equipment Contractor
C-29 - Masonry Contractor
C-31 - Construction Zone Traffic Control Contractor
C-32 - Parking and Highway Improvement Contractor
C-33 - Painting and Decorating Contractor
C-34 - Pipeline Contractor
C-35 - Lathing and Plastering Contractor
C-36 - Plumbing Contractor
C-38 - Refrigeration Contractor
C-39 - Roofing Contractor
C-42 - Sanitation System Contractor
C-43 - Sheet Metal Contractor
C-45 - Sign Contractor
C-46 - Solar Contractor
C-47 - General Manufactured Housing Contractor
C-49 - Tree and Palm Contractor
C-50 - Reinforcing Steel Contractor
C-51 - Structural Steel Contractor
C-53 - Swimming Pool Contractor
C-54 - Ceramic and Mosaic Tile Contractor
C-55 - Water Conditioning Contractor
C-57 - Well Drilling Contractor
C-60 - Welding Contractor
C-61 - Limited Specialty

Subcategories

D-1 - Architectural Porcelain (Now under D-64)
D-2 - Asbestos Fabrication (Now under C-2)
D-3 - Awnings
D-4 - Central Vacuum Systems
D-5 - Communication Equipment (Converted to C-7)
D-6 - Concrete Related Services
D-7 - Conveyors-Cranes (Now under D-21)
D-8 - Doors and Door Services (Now under D-28)
D-9 - Drilling, Blasting and Oil Field Work
D-10 - Elevated Floors
D-11 - Fencing (Converted to C-13)
D-12 - Synthetic Products
D-13 - Fire Extinguisher Systems (Now under C-16)
D-14 - Floor Covering (Converted to C-15)
D-15 - Furnaces (Now under "A" or C-20)
D-16 - Hardware, Locks and Safes
D-17 - Industrial Insulation (Now under C-2)
D-18 - Prison and Jail Equipment (Under relevant class)
D-19 - Land Clearing (Now under C-12 or "A" if license is required)
D-20 - Lead Burning and Fabrication (Now under D-64)
D-21 - Machinery and Pumps
D-22 - Marble (Now under C-29)
D-23 - Medical Gas Systems (Now under C-36)
D24 - Metal Products
D-25 - Mirrors and Fixed Glass (Now under C-17)
D-26 - Mobile Home Installation and Repairs (Converted to C-47)
D-27 - Movable Partitions (Now under D-34)
D-28 - Doors, Gates and Activating Devices
D-29 - Paperhanging
D-30 - Pile Driving and Pressure Foundation Jacking
D-31 - Pole Installation and Maintenance
D-32 - Power Nailing and Fastening (Now under D-64)
D-33 - Precast Concrete Stairs (Now under C-29)
D-34 - Prefabricated Equipment
D-35 - Pool and Spa Maintenance
D-36 - Rigging and Rig Building (Now under "A")
D-37 - Safes and Vaults (Now under D-16)
D-38 - Sand and Water Blasting
D-39 - Scaffolding
D-40 - Service Station Equipment and Maintenance
D-41 - Siding and Decking
D-42 - Non-Electrical Sign Installation
D-43 - Soil Grouting (Now under C-32, C-12 or "A")
D-44 - Sprinklers (Now under D-12)
D-45 - Staff and Stone (Now under C-29)
D-46 - Steeple Jack Work (under relevant class)
D-47 - Tennis Court Surfacing (Now under C-12 or "A")
D-48 - Theater and School Equipment (Now under D-34)
D-49 – Tree Service (Converted to C-49)
D-50 - Suspended Ceilings
D-51 - Waterproofing and Weatherproofing (under relevant class)
D-52 - Window Coverings
D-53 - Wood Tanks
D-54 - Rock scaping (Now under C-15 or C-27)
D-55 - Blasting (Now under C-12 or "A")
D-56 - Trenching Only
D-57 - Propane Gas Plants (Now under "A")
D-58 - Residential Floating Docks (Now under "A")
D-59 - Hydroseed Spraying
D-60 - Striping (Now under C-32)
D-61 - Gold Leaf Gilding (Now under D-64)
D-62 - Air and Water Balancing
D-63 - Construction Clean-up
D-64 - Non-specialized
D-65 - Weatherization and Energy Conservation

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-Prequal Appl-190
• Department: Finance Department
• Department Head: Veronica Chavez (Director of Finance)

Submission Requirements

• Applicant Information
• Firm Name (as it appears on license) (required)
• DBA, if applicable
• Company Type (required)
• If firm is a sole proprietorship or partnership, list owners of the company
• Contact Information (required) —

  Contact Person: 
  Address: 
  Phone: 
  Fax: 
  E-mail Address: 

• Please attach your completed and signed IRS W-9 form. If you are a foreign business entity, please upload a W-8 form instead. —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• California Contractors' License(s) and Expiration Date(s) (required)
• Applicant DIR Registration Number and Expiration Date (required)
• Annual Revenue
• Enter the firm's annual gross revenue for the past three years.  Include the average amount of all contracts, and the largest contract amount for each year.  If the Applicant is engaged in business enterprises other than construction, responses to the following are limited to the Applicant’s construction operations. (required)
• Insurance and Bonding —

  Please attach certificates and/or evidence of coverage for the sections below.

• Provide proof of General Liability Insurance (required)
• Provide proof of Workers Compensation Insurance (required)
• Provide proof of Automobile Liability Insurance (required)
• Fleet Compliance Certification (required) —

  I hereby acknowledge that I have reviewed the California Air Resources Board’s policies, rules and regulations and are familiar with the requirements of Title 13, California Code of Regulations, Division 3, Chapter 9, effective on January 1, 2024 (the “Regulation”).  I hereby certify, subject to penalty for perjury, that the option checked below relating to the Bidder’s fleet, and/or that of their subcontractor(s) (“Fleet”) is true and correct:

• Fleet Compliance Documentation (required) —

  Please attach supporting documentation for the selection made in the above item.

• Bonding Information (required) —

  Please enter information to demonstrate bonding capacity.  Include the Surety broker name and contact information, as well as maximum capacity per project and in aggregate for all projects.

• References
• Customer References (required) —

  Please upload a document with at least three relevant customer references.  Include the following information:

  1. 1. Customer Firm Name
     2. Address
     3. Contact Name
     4. Phone Number 
     5. Email
• Vendor References (required) —

  Please upload a document with at least three vendor references.  Include the following information:

  1. 1. Vendor Firm Name
     2. Address
     3. Contact Name
     4. Phone Number
     5. Email
• Supplemental Questions —

  Applicant will not be pre-qualified if the response to any of the following essential questions results in a “Not Qualified” designation.  

• Applicant possesses a valid and currently in good standing California Contractors’ license for the trade category(ies) for which the Applicant requests pre-qualification. (required)
• Applicant is a DIR registered contractor. (required)
• Applicant maintains a commercial general liability insurance policy with a coverage amount of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate. (required)
• Applicant maintains an automobile liability insurance policy with a coverage amount of at least $1,000,000. (required)
• Applicant has a current workers’ compensation insurance policy as required by the Labor Code or is legally self-insured pursuant to Labor Code § 3700. (required)
• Applicant has bonding capacity of at least Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) per project and One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in the aggregate for all projects. (required)
• Within the past twenty-four (24) months, has the Applicant provided public works construction services under a direct contract with a public owner where the value of the construction services provided by the Applicant was greater than $50,000? (required)
• The Applicant is ineligible or debarred from submitting bid proposals for public works projects or public works contracts pursuant Labor Code § 1777.1 or Labor Code § 1777.7. (required)
• Within the past three (3) years a public agency has determined that the Applicant. or any predecessor to the Applicant, is not a “responsible” bidder for a public works project or a public works contract. (required)
• During the past three (3) years, the Applicant or any predecessor to the Applicant, or any of the equity owners of the Applicant been convicted of a federal or state crime involving fraud, theft, or any other act of dishonesty. (required)
• During the past three (3) years a Surety has completed any project or the Applicant’s obligations under a construction contract. (required)
• The Applicant’s Worker’s Compensation Insurance prior five (5) year average Experience Modification Rating (“EMR”) rating over the past five (5) years is more than 1.5 (required)
• The Applicant’s Worker’s Compensation Insurance current average Experience Modification Rating (“EMR”) rating is more than 1.5. (required)
• CAL OSHA or OSHA has cited and assessed penalties against the Applicant for “serious and willful” or “repeat” violations of its safety or health regulations in the past five (5) years. (required)
• Asbestos Work; Hazardous Substance Removal Certifications. —

  Each Applicant must respond to Questions 6.1 and 6.2 even if the Applicant does not request pre-qualification for asbestos work or hazardous material substance removal work.

• Applicant possesses a current and in good standing ASB-Asbestos Certification issued by the California Contractors’ State License Board. (required)
• Applicant possess a current and in good standing HAZ-Hazardous Substance Removal Certification issued by the California Contractors’ State License Board. (required)
• Trades Requested for Prequalification. —

  Applicants must select each trade category for which the Applicant requests to be pre-qualified.  An Applicant must be a California licensed contractor for the classification of Contractors’ License required for each trade category for which pre-qualification is requested.  

• CSLB License Classification
• Nondiscrimination Certification* (required) —

  The City of Palm Desert is committed to promoting equal opportunity in its contracting activities. We ensure that all individuals seeking to do business with the city treat contractors, subcontractors, and employees fairly, without discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, domestic partner status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, or membership in any other protected class.

  For any purchase exceeding $10,000, vendors must certify compliance with the City’s nondiscrimination policy (G.C. 3.30.200) before contract award. No contract will be awarded until the contractor submits this certification.

  By clicking the confirmation box below, the vendor certifies that they have read the code and agree to comply with its requirements. Failure to comply may result in termination of any agreement entered into with the vendor.

• Authority and Certification
• By selecting the box below, the submitter affirms the following: (required) —

  The submitter is duly authorized to execute this Pre-Qualification Application under penalty of perjury on behalf of the above-identified Applicant.  The submitter warrants and represents that he/she has personal knowledge of each of the responses to this Pre-Qualification Application and/or that he/she has conducted all necessary and appropriate inquiries to determine the truth, completeness and accuracy of responses to this Pre-Qualification Application.  The undersigned declares and certifies that the responses to this Pre-Qualification Application are complete and accurate; there are no omissions of material fact or information that render any response to be false or misleading; and there are no misstatements of fact in any of the responses.  The Applicant acknowledges and agrees that if the City determines that any response herein is false or misleading or contains misstatements of fact, the Applicant will not be deemed qualified to participate in the City’s Informal Bidding procedures.

• Submitter (required) —

  Enter name and title of person submitting this application.