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Public works seeks bids for delivered rock, plans new on-call engineering contracts and negotiates final Eric Creek change order
Summary
Cowlitz County public-works staff asked commissioners to approve a call for bids for delivered rock stockpiles, said they will solicit new three-year on-call civil-engineering qualifications, and described ongoing negotiation of change order No. 4 for the Eric Creek fish-passage project involving additional traffic-control days and bypass pumping.
Cowlitz County public-works staff outlined three agenda items: a call for bids to deliver and stockpile rock at county shops, a solicitation for new three-year qualifications for on-call civil engineering services, and a motion item to approve change order No. 4 for the Eric Creek fish-passage project.
On rock procurement, public-works staff described a request for bids for 3,000 tons of 5/8" minus rock and 500 tons of 1 1/4" minus rock to be delivered and stockpiled at the Longview, Kelso and Kalama shops. The 3,000-ton amount is intended to roughly match shoulder-rocking and overlay season needs; the 1 1/4" material was requested for rebuilding work at the Longview shop. Staff said this approach tests delivered-material options (barge, rail or truck) as existing local stockpiles may be less available in the future.
On engineering services, county engineer Genes said the current on-call civil engineering contracts were signed in 2022 and the county has spent about $2.5 million with the three current consultants since then. Staff asked to solicit new three-year qualifications; existing contracts will receive extensions so consultants can finish assigned work, and the county plans fresh contracts in 2026.
On the Eric Creek fish-passage project, public works described negotiations for change order No. 4 with Active Construction. The change order would pay for 21 additional days of traffic control (signal rental and related items) using a daily rate derived from the lump-sum bid prorated over the contract amount; it also includes additional bypass-pumping costs. Earlier change orders 1–3 were no-cost; one earlier item included a deduct for rebar testing and paperwork/training matters with WSDOT. Staff said the contractor initially claimed 45 delay days; county negotiation reduced that to 21. The county said the project is functioning and change order No. 4 is the only one with a cost to the county and is intended to close out work.
Commissioners asked for the number of working days included in the original contract; staff did not have the exact figure on hand but said they would provide it the next day.
Ending: Staff will bring the change-order documentation and the working-day totals back to the board for final approval and will proceed with the procurement and qualifications processes as described.
