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Logan wastewater project bids rise; EPA review delays award for Biomag expansion
Summary
Public works staff told the council a smaller solid‑handling ("Biomag") expansion bid rose from about $6.4 million to about $6.9 million and must undergo EPA review because federal American Iron and Steel and procurement rules apply. Staff said EPA told them to expect about four weeks for final approval before award.
Sam, who leads the public‑works capital program presentation, told the Logan City Council that work to expand solids handling at the wastewater plant (the "Biomag expansion") went out to bid and that the low bid rose from approximately $6,400,000 to about $6,900,000.
"That being said, that project went out of bid. We opened the bid, and the bid drained from 6,400,000.0 to 6,900,000.0. We have not awarded the project because it has to go to the EPA for their review of the bid documents, the procurement method, and everything," Sam said. He added that the EPA told staff the review would take about four weeks.
Sam explained why the expansion was broken into a smaller, equipment‑focused project rather than building a full new bioreactor: earlier EPA conditions would have attached American Iron and Steel requirements and other federal strings to the entire larger tank project, and the city elected to parcel out a scope limited to magnetite‑recovery drums, screens, pumps and piping so the federal requirements apply only to that funded portion. Sam said that approach should still increase solids‑handling capacity substantially and make plant operations more flexible.
Sam also summarized the larger Bioreactor 4 option previously budgeted as a roughly $30,000,000 project (about $19.8 million for the tank and piles and $10.1 million for mechanical/electrical equipment), and said the city could tentatively bid that larger facility in 2027 or 2028 depending on reserves and project timing. For the Biomag equipment bid, Sam said the city expects to use roughly $2,000,000 of previously allocated federal funding and return the remainder of earlier allocations to reserves if the final award aligns with the current lower federal share.
The council asked about EPA timeline and bid validity; Sam said bids are typically valid for 60 days and EPA estimated a four‑week review. No formal award was made during the workshop; staff said they will return for procurement approval after EPA review.
