San Rafael-based Ghilotti Brothers Inc. won the contract, but getting it was anything but normal.

There were 11 contractors who bid on the project, with the California Department of Transportation stipulating that a tiebreaker would be the additional amount to be paid to subcontractors. If that ended up in a dead heat, the final tiebreaker would be the cost of setting up a field office for the work.

But six of the 11 bidders said they would not charge a mark-up fee or any money for a field office, creating a six-way tie for the work.

"This is the first time in my entire career of contracting experience that I have seen a tie on a bid between more than two bidders," said Mike Ghilotti, president of Ghilotti Brothers Inc.

According to the rules set forth by Caltrans: "If the field office mobilization bids are also tied, then contract award is at the sole discretion of the department official conducting the bid."

But faced with six different bidders, Caltrans officials felt uneasy about selecting one, Ghilotti said. So last week, Caltrans told the half-dozen contractors they would settle the issue the democratic way: an arbitrary draw of a ping-pong ball. Six orange balls were marked with a pen and put into a container at Caltrans' Oakland offices.

"Everyone was on pins and needles," Ghilotti said. "The

That six firms bid at cost and tied illustrates the difficult times contractors are having finding work.

"The low bids on this work are a reflection of the weak construction economy and a highly competitive construction market," Ghilotti said.

The contract gives the Marin firm a step into the $1.1 billion project, which will see several more contracts issued.

"It's a high-profile project, so it was great to get this," said Ghilotti, who has about 60 full-time employees and employs upwards of 175 seasonal construction workers.

The work will begin June 25 with relocation of Pacific Gas and Electric lines and phone lines, said Lauren Wonder, Caltrans spokeswoman. Wonder said the initial phase of the project should have little effect on traffic.

"It won't be visible at all, and you have to move everything before the heavier work starts," she said.

Wonder said heavy work probably will likely begin the fall. Work is beginning early because Caltrans now thinks it can complete the entire project in about 31Ú2 years instead of four years, Wonder said.

The final $50 million missing piece of funding fell into place in March when Caltrans announced it had added the project to its list of projects to receive federal economic stimulus money, although the money has yet to arrive.

Built in 1935, Doyle Drive connects San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge. Many fatal accidents have occurred on the 11Ú2-mile stretch of highway, and it is seismically questionable, officials have said.

Contact Mark Prado via e-mail at mprado@marinij.com