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Council approves $765,000 contract for Principal Park bullpen work after questions on low bid and change orders
Summary
The City Council designated Ball Team LLC as low bidder for bullpen relocation at Principal Park and discussed why a low bid was submitted and how staff will scrutinize change orders during the stadium rehab.
The Des Moines City Council on June 23 approved plans and designated Ball Team LLC as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder at $765,000 for bullpen relocations at Principal Park.
Carol Maher, a downtown Ward 3 resident, urged the city to seek public access or events to show taxpayers improvements paid for with public funds. “I believe we’re rounding third base on this project with this three quarters of a million dollars being spent,” Maher said.
Tom Block, deputy city engineer, told the council the low bid likely reflected the contractor’s familiarity with the project and MILB timing standards and that staff contacted the bidder to verify the bid covered the full scope. “We did reach out to them and say, are you sure you didn’t miss anything in their bid? And they said, no. They bid the full package of the plans and specifications,” Block said. He explained prior change orders mainly reflected added scope, and that change orders on the first phase equaled about 6.6% of the total bid.
Councilmembers pressed for scrutiny of future change orders. One member asked for additional legal or contract mechanisms to limit change-order-driven cost growth; staff said they review every change order and will require contractor justification before approving additional payments.
The council approved the contract designation and related action on the low bid by a voice vote of 7–0. Staff said the contractor met schedules on earlier phases and that experience on the site was a factor in the competitive price.
The approval authorizes staff to proceed with contract award processes and to bring any significant requested scope changes or disputed change orders back to council for review as necessary.
Ending
