Section 650.320  Analyzing Requests for Authorization to Bid

a)         In analyzing a contractor's request for Authorization to Bid, it is necessary to determine the contractor's available bidding capacity.

1)         The total value of all uncompleted work awarded to the contractor, as shown on the Affidavit of Availability, is deducted from the financial rating shown on the Certificate of Eligibility.  The result is the Available Financial Rating.

2)         The value of each type of work uncompleted and included in pending low bids the contractor will perform with its own forces as a prime or subcontractor, as shown on the Affidavit of Availability, is deducted from the corresponding category of work rating shown on the Certificate of Eligibility.  The result is the Available Work Rating in each category.  If a contractor has a work rating designated for "Illinois Work Only," then only Illinois work is deducted from the corresponding category of work rating; however, all work must be shown on the affidavit to determine the Available Financial Rating.

3)         When the proposed work requires more than one construction season (18 months or 168 working days) to complete, the work ratings shown on the Certificate of Eligibility are multiplied by the number of construction seasons required for completion.  The Available Work Rating is then determined as stated in subsection (a)(2) of this Section.  Similar consideration is given to work reported on the Affidavit of Availability.  Each work category of a project is divided by the number of construction seasons to complete the project.  The Available Work Rating is then determined as stated in subsection (a)(2) of this Section.

4)         Contractors who have ratings in major work categories are given credit for work in applicable minor work categories.  For example, a contractor with a rating in Portland Cement Concrete Paving or Structures is given credit for work in the minor work category of Concrete Construction.  The work category definitions in Appendix A of this Part will indicate if a minor work category is applicable.  Credit given for a minor work category is deducted from the contractor's available rating in the corresponding major work category.

b)         In order to be issued an Authorization to Bid, a contractor's Available Work Ratings for all applicable categories must equal or exceed 50 percent of the estimated value of the contract, less designated specialty items.  For Division of Aeronautics work, the Available Work Ratings must equal or exceed 51 percent of the estimated value.  A contractor's Available Financial Rating must equal or exceed the total estimated value of each contract.  However, the low bidder will not be awarded the contract unless the Available Financial Rating equals or exceeds the actual price bid.

c)         The Department will occasionally advertise for bids a contract which consists of an item or items which are of the type commonly constructed by the Capital Development Board (such as general building construction, roofing, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning) rather than by the Department of Transportation.  In such instances, the advertisement will indicate waiver of prequalification under the rules of the Department according to Section 650.70 and will specify prequalification by the Capital Development Board pursuant to 44 Ill. Adm. Code 950.  Any contractor requesting Authorization to Bid on such a project should include a current "Capital Development Board Certificate of Contractor Prequalification."

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 7989, effective May 8, 2008)