DuPage County transportation panel approves multiple equipment and service contracts, concurs to increase Darien retaining-wall participation

The DuPage County Transportation Committee on an unspecified 2025 date approved multiple equipment and professional-services contracts, accepted several contract-close amendments that reduced final county costs, authorized overnight travel for the county engineer to a regional conference in Schaumburg and agreed to increase DuPage County’s share of a retaining-wall project in Darien after staff reported unanticipated design and right-of-way costs.

The committee approved purchase and service contracts for the Division of Transportation including small equipment and vehicles, professional traffic design and architectural services, and a managed-application services contract for permitting software. Committee members voted by voice on each motion; staff described the Acela contract as a sole-source, proprietary support agreement exempt from competitive bidding.

Why it matters: The approved contracts fund vehicles and engineering work the county uses to maintain roads and facilities, and the committee’s concurrence to increase participation in the Darien retaining-wall project adjusts the county’s exposure to a single local infrastructure repair that staff said the county will ultimately be responsible for if the project is deferred.

Most important actions

- Equipment and vehicle purchases: The committee approved three procurement contracts to furnish a tack cart trailer, two Ford Broncos and one semi tractor for the Division of Transportation, with contract totals not to exceed $37,108.40; $64,421.08; and $187,012, respectively.

- Professional services: The committee approved a contract with DLZ Illinois for professional traffic design engineering services (period through 10/31/2026) not to exceed $400,000, and a contract with FGM Architects Inc. for architectural and engineering services for a highway maintenance facility not to exceed $3,330,863.

- Contract-close amendments: The committee approved amendments to reduce and close several existing contracts, including reductions that resulted in final county costs of $215,017.52 (Burns & McDonnell, Grand Avenue improvements), $331,964.41 (AECOM, Gary Avenue Trail…