Local contractor protests COVID isolation facility RFP; commissioners say rules bind board

A Suwannee County contractor told the Board of County Commissioners on March 4 that a December request for proposals (RFP) for a COVID isolation building unlawfully excluded locally licensed building contractors by adding a requirement that bidders be certified general contractors.

Luke McInnis of O'Brien said certified building contractors'—who are licensed to build single‑story buildings and accessory structures under state rules'—were effectively barred after addenda changed the bid qualifications. He asked the board to "reject all of the bids" and rebid the project so local contractors could compete.

County staff and the county attorney responded that although McInnis raised substantive objections, county protest rules were not followed in a timely way and the county lacks authority under its own adopted procedures to throw out the bids now. County…