Council awards contract for new decant facility; construction largely Ecology‑funded

Pullman City Council on March 4 voted to award a construction contract for a new decant facility on city property at 800 Northwest Guy Street to POW Contracting and authorized execution of the contract.

The decant facility will provide a location to manage liquid and solid waste from city vacuum trucks and street sweepers. Clayton Forsman, Deputy Public Works Director, told the council the project received eight bids and staff identified POW Contracting as the lowest responsible bidder. Forsman said construction is expected to be completed by this fall and that the project is partially funded by a Washington State Department of Ecology grant covering 85% of construction costs; the local match will come from the stormwater and sewer utility funds.

Forsman said staff thoroughly reviewed bids and the contractor's qualifications and noted POW Contracting has completed prior work for the city. “Following an in‑depth review, staff determined that the submitted prices are reflective of the actual price to complete the project and that the low bidder, POW contracting, is qualified to perform the work,” Forsman said.

Councilors asked about bid evaluation and the gap between the engineer's estimate and the low bid. Forsman said the consultant’s estimate was based on past projects, that bids arrived when the market was competitive and that the low bidder had previously completed city projects successfully.

The council approved Resolution R10‑25 to accept POW Contracting’s bid and authorize the contract. The meeting record shows the motion carried (voice vote); no roll‑call vote tally naming individual council members was recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance • Resolution R10‑25 — Award decant facility contract to POW Contracting; outcome: approved (voice vote). Staff packet lists bid results and the engineer’s estimate; the low bidder was identified after a qualifications review. • Consent agenda (approved by single motion): approval of meeting minutes (02/11/2025); multiple accounts payable disbursements and electronic payroll transfers (check ranges and totals read into the record); administrative services contract with Pullman‑Moscow Regional Airport for 2025; equipment quotes and contract ratifications; and three project resolutions (see authorities). Those consent items were approved without separate discussion.

Construction and funding details in the staff presentation indicate the Department of Ecology grant will cover most construction costs and that the local match will be covered by stormwater and sewer utility funds. Forsman said staff will monitor the schedule and coordinate construction oversight; he did not provide a calendar with start or completion milestones beyond the general target of completion by fall.

The council entered an executive session later in the meeting and did not take further action on the project during that session.