Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement Restrooms topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select Board rejects bids for municipal restroom renovations; will rebid after annual town meeting
Summary
Faced with bids that included work on a potentially replaceable Harbour Master Building, the Nantucket Select Board voted unanimously to reject current construction bids and rebid after the annual town meeting to avoid spending on a building that could be removed.
The Nantucket Select Board voted on Oct. 8 to reject three construction bids for a package of municipal restroom renovations and to rebid the project after the next annual town meeting.
Finance staff and the Department of Public Works briefed the board on options. A qualifications-based design contract with SMRT had produced construction documents for visitor services, Sconset restroom, the Harbour Master Building and the Murph building. When bids were opened in September, the low general-contractor bid for the full package was $3.3 million from Pearl Company; other bids were $3.6 million (JJ Cardosi) and $4.2 million (Marin Construction).
Why it matters: Town staff said including the Harbour Master Building in the lump-sum bid could leave the town spending roughly $850,000 renovating a building that the Select Board is simultaneously evaluating for replacement. To avoid the risk of significant spending on a structure that may be replaced, staff recommended rejecting the bids and rebidding after the annual town meeting so the town can confirm whether the Harbour Master project will proceed.
Discussion and options: Staff presented three options: (1) award to the lowest responsive bidder and proceed (which would likely complete two priority facilities for the season but risk investing in a building slated for replacement); (2) reject bids, revise drawings to remove the Harbour Master Building and rebid (which could have allowed earlier work but staff said the summer schedule made on-time completion unlikely); or (3) reject bids and rebid after the annual town meeting with the Harbour Master Building as an alternate. Finance staff and DPW recommended option 3.
Board members raised procurement and staffing constraints on island contractors and noted state procurement rules (Chapter 149) and DCAM certification requirements limit the pool of bidders. Several members said they preferred delaying the work to avoid spending on a structure the board may demolish or replace.
Action and vote: The Select Board voted unanimously by roll call to reject the bids and rebid after the annual town meeting (Malcolm McNabb, Matt Faye, Brooke Moore, Tom Dixon and Don Hill all voting Aye).
Next steps: Staff will rebid the project after the annual town meeting to incorporate the board's decision on the Harbour Master Building. If work cannot be scheduled in time for next summer, staff said portable restroom facilities could be required at high-priority sites while the project is completed under a revised schedule.
