Contractor Prequalification
🚀 Exciting Update: Quality Bidders Platform Now Live!
The Quality Bidders platform is now available for use. Application reviews and approvals will begin in December, while the current prequalification list will remain in effect through the end of the 2025 calendar year.
The District has contracted with Colbi Technologies, Inc. to provide a web-based process for prequalification called QualityBidders. With QualityBidders, the prequalification process becomes faster, simpler, and more convenient—helping you get connected with the District and start working sooner!
Thank you for your interest in prequalifying and working with the Visalia Unified School District.
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS CALLING FOR PREQUALIFICATION APPLICATIONS
California Assembly Bill (AB 1565) went into effect on January 1, 2014. AB 1565 requires ALL General Contractors and M/E/P Subcontractors be prequalified on certain projects funded in whole or in part with State Facility Bond funds. This applies to the following license numbers ONLY. If you do not have one of the following licenses, please do not submit paperwork. We are only prequalifying for license categories as listed below.
In accordance with Public Contract Code 20111.6, Notice is hereby given that the Visalia Unified School District has determined Bidders performing as both a Prime Contractor and General Contractor (A or B license), or an Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing Contractor utilized as a Prime Contractor or Subcontractor must be prequalified prior to bidding on certain State Funded Projects. For purposes of this prequalification, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing contractors are contractors holding either a C-4, C-7, C-10, C-16, C-20, C-34, C-36, C-38, C-42, C-43, and C-46 California State Contractors license.
Who Must Prequalify?
You must apply if you hold one of the following California license classifications and intend to bid on State-funded VUSD projects:
General/Prime Contractors: A or B
M/E/P Contractors: C-4, C-7, C-10, C-16, C-20, C-34, C-36, C-38, C-42, C-43, C-46
If your firm does not hold one of the above license types, you do not need to apply for prequalification.
How to Apply
All prequalification applications must be submitted online only:
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Step |
Action |
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1 |
Visit www.qualitybidders.com and create an account |
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2 |
Complete the online Questionnaire and upload the required Financial Statement |
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3 |
Submit your application through the Quality Bidders system |
📌 No mailed or paper packets will be accepted.
Important Information
- Applications accepted year-round
- Prequalification approval is valid for one (1) calendar year from the date of approval
- Submit and obtain approval at least 10 business days before any bid opening for projects of $1 million or more. Firms not prequalified will be ineligible to bid on applicable projects
- Notification of Prequalified Bidders: For applicable projects, the District will issue a notification of prequalified bidders via addendum at least five (5) business days prior to the bid submission deadline.
Contractors must maintain current information and renew as needed
CUPCCAA Informal Bid Registration
Bids for informally bid projects are solicited through notices to construction trade journals and/or notices sent to contractors on a list of registered contractors maintained by the District. CUPCCAA is an acronym for the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act. Since 1983, school districts that adopt CUPCCAA procedures may perform public project work up to $75,000 with their in-house workforce, and informally bid construction projects up to $220,000 to contractors.
Districts may accept applications to be added to their list of CUPCCAA interested contractors at any time; however, all applications are renewed between November and December of each year. This registration will also take place through Quality Bidders.
Confidentiality & District Rights
- All prequalification materials, including financial statements and Questionnaire responses, are confidential and not public records, to the extent permitted by law. Information may be shared for verification, investigation, or appeal purposes. Names of contractors applying for prequalification status are public records; the first page of the questionnaire will be used for this purpose.
- If any information becomes inaccurate after submission, firms must notify the District immediately in writing
- The District reserves the right to:
- Reject any or all prequalification applications
- Waive irregularities
- Request additional information
- Solicit bids from outside the prequalified pool if deemed in the best interest of the District
- Contractors failing to comply with submission requirements or deadlines will be deemed non-responsive and ineligible to bid
Support & Resources
- Direct questions to Regina Lira, Purchasing Specialist, at bids@vusd.org·
- Step-by-step instructions are available on the Quality Bidders website
- For technical support, email qbsupport@colbitech.com