Warwick seeks to rescind chlorine award after repeated delivery failures; committee approves reaward

Warwick public works staff told the finance committee on Monday they are asking the council to rescind an award for liquid chlorine for McDermott Pool and to reaward the purchase to the second‑lowest bidder after repeated delivery failures left the pool without chlorine.

Chrissy Moretti, identified as a public works representative, described a sequence of missed deliveries and incorrect equipment on an order placed Dec. 30. "We placed an order on December 30 for chlorine. We were told that it would be delivered on January 7. On January 10, they came to deliver. They did not have the right attachment for our tank," Moretti said. She said subsequent attempts to deliver failed and that a driver’s illness, incompatible attachments and scheduling problems left the pool without chlorine on the weekend of the failure.

"So we are requesting to rescind this, and then the next step is to reaward to the second lowest bidder," Moretti said.

Committee action The finance committee took the request up as part of the bid package review and voted to approve the recommendation to rescind and reaward the chlorine contract so the pool can be supplied. Committee members repeatedly noted the operational need to keep the pool properly chlorinated and thanked public works staff for their persistence in trying to resolve the delivery issues.

Context The committee also reviewed larger bid packages and other routine items during its meeting. Public works said the original state piggyback contract and vendor delays contributed to the late resolution; staff will finalize the administrative steps to formally rescind and reaward the contract and return documentation to the clerk’s office.

Ending Finance staff said they will post the formal rescind/reaward documents and update the council’s procurement files. Public works noted the urgency of replacing chlorine supplies so McDermott Pool can remain open as scheduled.