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Cowlitz County public works opens Toutle wastewater bid; seeks $211,000 inspection amendment for Gibson Olsen
Summary
Public Works reported receipt of eight bids for the Toutle Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements and recommended the low bidder; staff also requested an amendment to the design engineer's contract to fund daily inspection and submittal review during construction, paid from ARPA funds.
Cowlitz County Public Works told the Board of Commissioners it opened bids for the Toutle Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project and is recommending award to the low bidder, and separately requested an amendment to the design engineer's contract to provide daily inspection during construction.
Susan Eugeneus, Cowlitz County county engineer, said eight bids were opened and the low bid of $1,584,213.15 from Tapani (name as transcribed) was roughly $92,000 below the engineer's estimate. "The top three bidders were all below the engineer's estimate," Eugeneus said. Public Works said past experience with the low bidder informed confidence in the price.
Eugeneus said the Toutle project is funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money and includes miscellaneous plant improvements: equipment replacement, adding a flow meter and an emergency generator. Staff estimated much of the work will be complete by fall but noted delivery lead times for the generator and electrical controls could push some work into early 2026.
Separately, staff requested amendment number two to the design contract with Gibson Olsen for additional inspection and submittal review. Eugeneus said the county is seeking $211,000 for full‑time on‑site inspection and engineering submittal reviews for the duration of the roughly 250‑day construction contract. "This is not their normal type of work," Eugeneus said of inspectors and added the estimate is consistent with the typical 10–15% of construction cost reflected in inspection budgets.
Eugeneus said inspection reports will be sent daily to the county construction manager and to her; the construction manager will review day‑to‑day items and escalate issues as needed. She told commissioners that the amendment could be paid from ARPA funds, and that eligibility had been confirmed.
The board discussed bid differences and the county's bid clarification process, including addenda and job walks. The Gibson Olsen amendment was described as larger than typical amendments, and staff said all engineering documents will continue to go through the county construction manager and county engineer before returning to the board for approval.
No formal award or contract amendment approval appears in the meeting transcript; staff presented the items as recommendations and requests to be scheduled on the consent or regular agenda for formal action.
