Valley County rejects low bid, awards Abstein Road bridge contract amid funding shortfall concerns

Valley County Commissioners on Sept. 11 voted to reject the apparent low bid for the Abstein Road bridge replacement project and awarded the contract to the next lowest responsive bidder after finding the low bidder did not acknowledge a required addendum.

The board read a formal notice of bid award on the record saying Moreno and Nelson Construction Corp submitted the apparent low bid but “did not acknowledge addendum number 2 on its bid form.” The board declared that failure a material deviation and awarded the contract to Bridal Facility Services and Construction as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder for the Abstein Road EDA bridge replacement (EDA grant no. 077907648).

County officials said the rejection was tied to Addendum No. 2, issued Aug. 6, which included environmental and technical clarifications — including requirements for turbidity monitoring, fish salvage, under-bridge containment, waste disposal and riprap specifications — that the board found materially affected scope, cost and delivery. The county read a finding on the record that failing to acknowledge the addendum made it unclear whether Moreno and Nelson intended to be bound by those obligations and therefore rendered that bid nonresponsive.

Why it matters: The project is tied to an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant and was enabled by Valley County’s 2019 FEMA declaration. County staff warned commissioners that if the county does not proceed now, it risks losing EDA funding and could face repayment obligations.

County staff (Cody) told the board the EDA has been “quite clear there won’t be any additional funds.” Commissioners and staff discussed an estimated funding shortfall between the EDA award and the next bidder’s price; county staff estimated the gap at roughly “somewhere between 700 and 800 thousand,” and said the EDA will not advance construction until the county has the balance paid or otherwise committed.

Commissioners and staff discussed possible local funding sources, including the road department’s budget, LTAC (local tourism allotment/commission), state bridge funds and PILT. No new funding source was committed at the meeting; commissioners directed staff to pursue options and flagged the urgency of contracting because the manufacturer’s lead times were already compressing the construction schedule.

County officials said the existing historic bridge will be left in place as a pedestrian structure. A county speaker described the current bridge as a wooden structure originally constructed in the 1920s, moved in the 1950s, and serving about 30 residences plus the Yellow Pine drinking water treatment center. Staff said the old structure is “structurally okay” for light use but is load-limited and cannot carry heavy equipment needed for water-system work.

The board read the notice of bid award into the record and then took the vote to reject the low bid and award to Bridal Facility Services and Construction. The record shows the motion and a second followed by vocal assent from commissioners. Commissioner Caldwell stated earlier in the discussion that he needed to abstain; the board nevertheless proceeded with the award. After the vote the chair urged staff to “find some funding.”

Next steps: County staff must notify bidders in writing of the rejection and award, and pursue identified funding options so the contractor can mobilize. County staff warned construction timing is tight and procurement and funding must be resolved before a contractor can mobilize to site.