Council signals preferred base bid for Pershing Avenue; MoDOT concurrence expected before award

University City staff asked council Aug. 11 to authorize notifying the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) that the city prefers the project’s base bid for Pershing Avenue; council approved the request and staff said the formal contract award will appear on a future agenda after MoDOT concurrence. Public Works Director Sally Solange (presented as "Sally") told council the project is federally funded through the Surface Transportation Program (STP); eight responsive bids were received at the Aug. 5 opening and staff recalculated bid tabulations before preparing corrected figures for the packet. After council indicates a preference, staff will forward the three lowest bids to MoDOT for review of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation and for concurrence, a process the director estimated could take two to four weeks. Council member Brenner asked about start dates; Solange said construction is slated to begin this calendar year and is anticipated as a winter project, with October or November mentioned as possible starting months. Council member Clay asked whether the city tracks DBE participation; staff said MoDOT reviews the DBE goal and whether bidders meet requirements. Council member Brenner moved to approve the staff recommendation; Council member Tiemann seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. Staff noted the item before council authorized sending the preference to MoDOT but did not constitute a contract award, which will come later once MoDOT returns concurrence and the city issues a notice to proceed.