Commission pauses award of multi‑use fairgrounds field RFP after two divergent bids; staff to clarify irrigation, parking and scope

Morgan County received two responses to an RFP for construction of a multi‑use field at the fairgrounds, but staff and commissioners identified substantial differences between the bids and asked for clarification rather than awarding the contract. Nut graf: One bidder proposed a package that included a deep well and a constructed parking area and higher‑end features, resulting in a bid materially higher than the draft budget; the other bid presented a lower total but different assumptions. Commissioners said the solicitation was a design‑build and the bids had different interpretations of scope, especially regarding the water supply (drilled well vs. extending county irrigation lines), parking, fencing and sprinkler infrastructure. Because the county previously installed an 8‑inch main and larger electrical pedestals for future use, commissioners asked staff to meet with bidders, reconcile the scope and return with a revised procurement for August 5. Staff noted no bids were received on a separate fairgrounds electrical solicitation and advised either rebidding or purchasing state‑contract components and hiring a subcontractor to install. The commission agreed to delay selection on the field RFP and directed staff to return with clarified scope, cost adjustments that remove in‑kind county work and updated procurement options. Ending: Staff will reconvene with public‑works and procurement and reach back to the two bidders with clarified requirements on irrigation source (county shares vs. drilled well), grading and parking scope; the commission will consider an updated recommendation at the next regular meeting.