Albany Board of Contract and Supply authorizes sale of surplus fire apparatus, opens bids and approves multiple contracts and change orders

The Albany City Board of Contract and Supply on May 20 authorized use of a third-party broker to sell surplus specialized firefighting apparatus, opened competitive bids for tree maintenance and park resurfacing, awarded multiple construction contracts for city projects and approved several change orders to existing contracts.

During the meeting the board read a resolution from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services authorizing the purchasing division to engage a third-party broker to market and sell surplus specialized firefighting apparatus, with broker fees not to exceed 12% of the sale price. The reading cited "Section 42-2-10 of the City Code" as authority for the action.

The board also authorized advertising for bids for multiple projects, including the "City of Albany fee of installation project 2025" and a City Parks resurfacing contract; the board required that each bid include a bid deposit equal to 5% of the total bid and a bid bond or certified check. The board rejected the bids received for the Complete Streets Land Services Replacement Project 2025 and authorized re-advertisement as read.

Procurement staff opened competitive proposals for tree maintenance and emergency tree work for the Albany Water Board. Bidders whose proposals were read into the record included Jane Tree Specialist, LLC (labor/day $2,320; equipment/day $8,800), Advantage Tree Services, and Ruthie King's Tree Services, each with differing daily, weekly and hourly labor and equipment cost breakdowns. The opening record summarized line-item labor and equipment rates and emergency overtime rates; no award for that item was announced immediately after the openings.

The board awarded multiple contracts as the lowest qualified bidders for city capital projects. Contracts read into the record included, among others, an award for plumbing work at Albany South Community Center to H. M. Plumbing for $299,500; mechanical work at the same site with a low bid of $916,000; and electrical work with the low bid listed at $513,600. Additional awards and low-bid amounts were read for projects described as Almond Community Boots Industrial Construction BMR (low bid $6,250,000) and other city capital projects.

The board also approved several contract change orders. Notable actions included a decrease to a contract for Luxury Quarter improvements (new contract value $3,676,000.82); a decrease of $1,300 to a roof replacement and improvements contract for 200 County Johnson Boulevard/Albany Fire Department (new value $409,511); a decrease of $8,484.42 to a renovation contract for Fire Department Engine Number 4 (new value $178,003.58); and an increase of $12,797.60 for the Lincoln Park Pool Bathhouse contract for material changes. The board approved a $1,000,000 increase (change order) to the Albany West project contract 87 line 3 line 1 to provide a contingency line for soil disposal costs, pool design and other construction items, raising that contract's value to $13,830,000.

David Hovind (Budget Department), Nate Riley (Treasurer's Office), Robert McGee (corporate counsel) and Wayne Lacaille (City Engineering) were recorded as present for the board reading. The board moved and approved the agenda as read; the chair called the roll by voice and the board approved the items with a voice vote.

The actions set procurement processes in motion for several capital projects, established bidder requirements, and adjusted contract values on active projects; several items require follow-up by purchasing and project managers to finalize awards and implement approved change orders.