Lansing council adopts responsible-bidder rules and 100-point scoring system for construction contracts

Lansing City Council on Aug. 25 voted 7-1 to amend the city procurement code to allow awarding construction contracts to the "lowest and most responsive and responsible" bidder and to adopt a 100-point scoring system that assigns 40 points (40%) to price and 60 points (60%) to non-monetary criteria, including workforce-training measures such as U.S. Department of Labor–registered apprenticeships.

The ordinance and accompanying scoring resolution were presented as tools to prioritize contractors who can deliver projects safely, on time and within budget while investing in local jobs. Council Member Garza moved the ordinance and the scoring resolution; both measures were adopted with seven yes votes and one no vote.

Why it matters: The change alters how the city evaluates bids for publicly funded construction, shifting significant weight to contractor qualifications and workforce practices rather than price alone. Supporters said that should reduce costly delays, improve construction quality and boost pay and training for local tradespeople; opponents warned the system could be subjective and potentially favor organizations with political ties.

Proponents from several building trades and unions spoke during public comment, urging the council to require or favor contractors that run DOL-registered apprenticeship programs. Dustin Howard, business manager for Plumbers, Pipefitters & HVAC Local 333, said the registered-apprenticeship requirement is about training and long-term workforce development: "The real value lies in the comprehensive training and experience that comes with the registered apprenticeship program," he told the council.

Jacob Toomey, deputy director of government affairs for the Michigan Laborers District Council (Michigan LiUNA), cited academic and regional studies and said the policy would increase bid participation and raise wages in heavy-construction trades. "This policy is good for the city of Lansing. It's good for taxpayers, and it's good for the hardworking folks performing these contracts," Toomey said.

Council debate focused on two main concerns: (1) whether the new criteria and the scoring rubric introduce too much subjectivity into procurement decisions, and (2) whether affected bidders would have sufficient procedural protections. Council Member Jackson voiced those concerns directly: "If based on this ordinance ... someone is determined non-responsible without a hearing or otherwise, is that a violation of due process?" he asked.

City Attorney Venker, who helped draft the ordinance, told the council his office vetted the measure and said the city has broad discretion over how it spends public dollars. "I would not bring it forward if I thought that it was constitutionally deficient," Venker said, adding the city is entitled "wide latitude in determining how we spend our dollars." He explained that the scoring rubric formalizes criteria already used in procurement practice and that panels will still evaluate submitted materials and performance history.

Details of the scoring system explained at the meeting: price will account for 40 points; the remaining 60 points are divided among non-monetary factors drawn from the procurement code language. Venker described how some categories contain enumerated subitems with fixed points and reserve additional points for reviewers' assessment of related evidence. Council Member Jackson pointed out that a registered-apprenticeship entry in the rubric carries substantial weight; the draft discussed at the meeting assigns up to 8 points for apprenticeship-related scoring within the non-price category.

Supporters — including leaders and representatives from IBEW Local 665, Ironworkers Local 25, Laborers Local 499, Carpenters Local 1004 and others — argued the rubric protects taxpayers by encouraging bidders that invest in training and safety. Opponents and some public commenters questioned the timing and possible political effects. Public commenter Farhan Sheikh Omar said the change could favor politically connected groups: "This is gonna come down to who can donate the most money to politicians in the city," he said while identifying himself as a resident and school-district employee.

Outcome and next steps: The ordinance amending Chapter 206.02 of the Lansing Codified Ordinances and the council resolution establishing the 100-point construction bid scoring system were adopted. Council members voted to give the ordinance immediate effect. The city controller and purchasing officer are now charged administratively with applying the rubric to construction bid evaluations and publishing implementation procedures, and city staff said the resolution will guide contract award panels going forward.

The council's action does not change statutory state procurement law; it updates local procurement policy for city-funded construction. Several council members and public speakers warned the new system could invite legal challenges if applied arbitrarily; the city attorney said the office does not consider the ordinance constitutionally deficient.

The measures passed after committee review; proponents said similar rubrics are used successfully in other Michigan municipalities and by some counties. Council members who opposed the measures said they preferred not to codify what could be handled administratively or worried about the potential for politicized application.

Votes at a glance: The ordinance amending Chapter 206.02 (procurement criteria for construction) and the accompanying 100-point scoring resolution were each approved 7–1. Council Member Jackson cast the lone no vote on both items.

What remains: Implementation details, including the full rubric and administrative procedures for procurement staff and scoring panels, will be finalized by the city controller's office and the purchasing officer. The council and public will have the opportunity to review how the rubric is applied on future construction procurements.