Committee recommends $320,000 award for compost maintenance project to Sellen Construction

The General Services Public Works Committee on Jan. 13 recommended that the City Council accept the low, responsible bid from Sellen Construction and approve a contract totaling $320,000 for the compost maintenance project.

Capital program manager Mike Becker told the committee the project would convert the compost building’s existing perforated pipes to a trench-drain system already used in building No. 2, allowing operators to build and dismantle compost piles without exiting loaders and reducing pipe breakage and maintenance. Becker said the change improves operations and eliminates recurring pipe purchases.

Becker said bids received in the prior year were substantially higher; after rebidding the project staff received more competitive proposals and recommended awarding the base bid of $314,000 plus add alternative No. 1 (grinding the existing asphalt floor) for $6,000, bringing the contract to $320,000. Staff also said the plan is to reuse the asphalt grindings on-site to reduce mud tracking from the compost facility to city streets.

Staff reported that Sellen Construction (based in Wenatchee) was the lowest responsible bidder, is in good standing with the Idaho Public Works Construction Department and the secretary of state, and had previously performed satisfactorily on a streets department project. The committee moved to recommend council approval of the award and add alternative; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

Committee members praised the inclusion of the add-alternate at a relatively low incremental cost and expressed support for the operational efficiencies and material reuse. The committee asked no substantive changes to the staff recommendation.

The committee will forward its recommendation to the full City Council for final contract award and execution.