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Council rejects T-hangar bid for municipal airport; city to rebid project
Summary
Council voted 8–0 to reject Vokesparga Construction’s bid for T-hangar and taxi-lane work at Beatrice Municipal Airport after a post-bid price increase; city plans to rebid and expects grant funds and FAA funding to remain available.
The Beatrice City Council unanimously rejected the bid from Vokesparga Construction LLC for construction of a new T-hangar, taxi-lane upgrades and hangar approach reconstruction at Beatrice Municipal Airport and directed staff to re-advertise the project for bids. The resolution to reject the bid passed 8–0.
City staff explained that four bids were received in March with a 90-day bid-hold period. Vokesparga, which had previously been the city’s second-ranked bidder after a low bidder had a DBE certification error, requested an increase of $277,184.25 after the 90-day period expired. Staff and the city’s engineer reviewed that increase and concluded the price change was not justifiable.
Staff told the council the FAA and other grant funds for the hangar project remain available and that federal appropriation money the city received from Senator Fisher is in place. The council discussed rebidding the project with updated dates and a shorter bid-hold window; staff said new bids were expected around the Christmas timeframe and that previous bidders — including the prior low bidder — would be eligible to bid again.
Council members asked whether the bid parameters would change; staff said they would not materially change the project specifications but would shorten the bid-hold period to reduce the time bidders must hold their prices. The resolution to reject the bid and re-advertise passed unanimously on a voice vote.
