Assembly awards parks security contract after Q&A on price variance and services
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Summary
The assembly approved a one-year contract with Guardian Security Systems Inc. for opening/locking and drive-through security services at eight borough recreation areas, amid committee questions about wide bid variance between vendors and whether in-house staffing could be cheaper.
The committee approved IFB number 25076, awarding Parks and Recreation security services to Guardian Security Systems Inc. for $42,798 for the initial one-year period and $42,798 for each renewal year; the total maximum contract value if all renewals are exercised was presented as $213,990.
John Hoss and Director Corey Beal described the contract scope: guards will open and close access gates and lock bathroom doors at eight borough parks, perform drive-through checks of facilities, and perform limited on-site security tasks. "The security they provide is that. Just a drive through," Beal said, describing routines at sites such as Tanana Lakes and Birch Hill. Staff explained that contractor presence reduces late-night trespass, dumping, and repeated cleanup costs the borough previously incurred.
Assemblymember Guttenberg pressed staff on a wide range in the bid tabulation: the second-lowest bidder was roughly double the low bid and a third bidder was five times the low bid. Staff said that divergence stemmed largely from geographic presence and labor-cost differences: out-of-town vendors without local staff or equipment must mobilize resources to operate in Fairbanks; other vendors performing in remote locations pay Davis-Bacon wages on some projects and are unwilling to accept lower local rates.
Committeemember Broderman asked whether the contract was limited to gate opening and closing; staff confirmed guards also perform drive-through checks and sometimes lock cars in if they cannot locate owners. Mr. Guttenberg and others asked whether borough staff could perform the work; Beal replied the contractor model is cheaper when accounting for staff pay and vehicle costs.
The motion to award the IFB passed on roll call with a 6-0 vote.
Ending: Staff said they would return to the committee if operational issues arise; the contract is structured as one year with four renewal options and includes routine contractor adjustment requests for renewals per borough policy.