Hampstead awards PFAS pipeline contract to Mid Atlantic Utilities, contingent on MDE funding

The Hampstead Town Council voted to award the contract for the PFAS treatment centralization raw water mains to Mid Atlantic Utilities, contingent on funding approval from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

The project is part of a townwide water system centralization and PFAS treatment modernization effort. Council members approved the award after staff reviewed four bids and checked references; the council’s motion to award was passed with no recorded opposition.

Town staff told the council that ECM Corporation submitted the lowest bid at $2,295,000, followed by Metro at $2,386,000, Mid Atlantic at $2,726,000, and Monumental Paving at $3,100,000. An engineering estimate prepared before bids was $2,730,000, which placed Mid Atlantic’s bid near the expected cost. Town staff reported numerous deficiencies in references ECM provided and problems with ECM’s prior local work; Metro’s references initially looked stronger but staff cited reporting that Metro had been removed from Baltimore City worksites and temporarily barred for failing to pay subcontractors. Town staff said Metro answered “no” on its bid form when asked whether it had been barred within the last five years, and staff treated that inaccurate response as rendering Metro non-responsible for award.

“We spoke with three different MDE departments,” Town Manager said during the discussion, “and all three of the different people that I spoke to all said that we should take this course and go with Mid Atlantic.” Town Manager also said, “because they were not honest on their application, that basically deems them non-responsible in their bid,” referring to Metro’s bid responses.

Councilmember (unnamed) moved to award the contract to Mid Atlantic Utilities, contingent on MDE funding; another councilmember seconded. When asked, the council chair called for a vote: “All those in favor of the award? Okay. Anyone opposed?” The motion carried with no recorded objections.

The award remains contingent on MDE approving the town’s grant agreement and the procurement steps MDE requires, including paired approval of construction inspection services and the construction contract so inspection fees fall within MDE limits. Town staff said they have informed MDE of their review process and that MDE staff concurred with proceeding with Mid Atlantic.

Project documents discussed at the meeting note that construction inspection bid packages must align with the pipeline construction bid and that the town will present the contracts to the Board of Public Works for funding after MDE signs the grant agreement. The town’s staff estimate and the cited bids indicate the project budget will be in the low-to-mid $2 million range; final award is subject to state funding approval.

The council’s approval advances the PFAS treatment centralization project toward the construction phase but does not authorize expenditure until MDE’s grant agreement and Board of Public Works funding approvals are complete.