Committee delays $547,824 chiller replacement after contractor says it cannot meet responsible-bidder rules

The Administration and Public Works Committee voted to advance a neutral recommendation to the full City Council after tabling consideration of a $547,824 turnkey contract with Carrier Corporation to replace chillers at the Police–Fire Headquarters.

Committee members tabled the item after staff reported Carrier told the city it "will be unable to meet the requirements of that responsible bidders ordinance," and members raised questions about local-hire and subcontracting requirements.

Why it matters: staff said the chillers have a roughly 20-week lead time for fabrication and that replacement before next cooling season is time-sensitive. Committee members balanced the city's procurement standards against the operational need to keep police and fire headquarters cooled through summer.

City staff described the procurement route and timeline. Chris Sousse, assistant city engineer, said Carrier notified staff that it could not meet the responsible bidder ordinance criteria. Alex Ruggie, corporation counsel, told the committee a waiver to the city's responsible bidder ordinance "is not…